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In Ottawa, Poilievre was given the nickname Skippy by peers and foes alike due to to his youthful enthusiasm and sharp tongue.
He built a reputation for being “highly combative and partisan”, said Randy Besco, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Toronto.
Behind the closed doors of Conservative caucus meetings, Poilievre showed his diplomatic side, Day said.
“Pierre was always good at saying, ‘Okay, you know what? I hadn’t thought of that,’ or he would listen and say: ‘Have you thought of this?'” said Day.
Still, confrontational politics became a cornerstone of Poilievre’s public persona. After becoming Conservative leader in 2022, he would target Trudeau with biting remarks as a way to connect with disaffected voters.
It has landed him in trouble at times. In April, he was expelled from the House of Commons for calling the prime minister a “wacko”.
Poilievre told the Montreal Gazette in June that he is a fan of “straight talk”.
“I think when politesse is in conflict with the truth, I choose the truth,” he said. “I think we’ve been too polite for too long with our political class.”
His combative style has also been divisive, and he has been criticised for oversimplifying complex issues for political gain.
While Canadians have been open to the opposition leader’s message as a change from Trudeau’s brand of progressive politics, just over half of them hold an unfavourable opinion of him, according to the latest polls., external
Poilievre has also had to shift his sights since Trudeau’s resignation announcement, to get ahead of the inevitable match-up between him and the next Liberal leader.
