Front Burner (CBC)

Episode: Is Pierre Poilievre’s leadership in trouble?
Host: Jayme Poisson
Guest: Stephen Maher (longtime federal politics reporter)
Date: November 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jayme Poisson and Stephen Maher break down an extraordinary week in Canadian federal politics, marked by one Conservative MP crossing the floor to join the Liberals and another MP resigning amid rumors he would do the same. The episode focuses on how these dramatic events signal a deepening crisis for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, what this means for the party, and whether his leadership is at risk. Maher also discusses the broader impact—on the Liberals, political culture, and the future of Conservative politics.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Political Drama: Floor Crossing and Resignation

• Chris d’Entremont (Nova Scotia MP) crosses the floor to the Liberals.

  • D’Entremont resigned from the Conservative caucus on Budget Day and officially joined the Liberal caucus the next day (01:20–02:29).
  • Cited Pierre Poilievre’s “negative approach to politics” as a main reason:
    • “It’s time to actually try to lead. Lead a country, to try to make it better and not try to knock it down, not to continue to be negative in my case.” — Chris d’Entremont, [02:29]
  • Stephen Maher notes d’Entremont is a “Red Tory,” representing a more moderate, collegial style out of sync with Poilievre’s attack politics (03:13–04:47).

• Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux resigns amid rumors of also crossing.

  • Did not publicly state his reasons, but Maher highlights the “intense pressure” he faced within the party and rumors of harsh, possibly ugly tactics to keep him in line (06:57–08:57).
  • “I find the specific and detailed nature of these rumors kind of rattling… it sounded like really ugly politics, intense pressure on him.” — Stephen Maher, [07:57]

2. The Conservative Response and Fallout

• Tension, Discontent, and Fear of More Defections

  • Floor crossing “probably didn’t roll out as it was supposed to.” Reports that senior Conservatives (Andrew Scheer, Chris Warkinton) confronted d’Entremont harshly (05:07–06:36).
  • Conservative leadership’s public attacks on d’Entremont after his exit, accusing him of “spinning more lies” (06:36).
  • Discussion of a defensive and uneasy mood within Conservative ranks: “The MPs who I’ve been communicating with…are being kind of guarded and defensive. This has been a very difficult week for them.” — Stephen Maher, [10:25]
  • Toronto Star reports 10–15 MPs “very frustrated” with Poilievre and his team, possibly leading to more crossings (10:49–11:07).

• Leadership Control and Loyalty

  • Poilievre’s tight inner circle — described as having a “frat house atmosphere”:
    • “A lot of times I felt it was a part of a frat house rather than a serious political party.” — Chris d’Entremont (recollected by Maher), [17:12]
  • Historic loyalty and organization among Poilievre, Jenny Byrne, Andrew Scheer, Chris Warkinton — “a tight-knit team” with deep Reform Party roots (17:38–18:08).

3. Comparisons, Precedents and Broader Political Culture

• Handling Floor Crossings: What Went Wrong?

  • Maher discusses the importance of trust-building in successful party switching, noting Liberals may have mishandled attempts to bring over Jeneroux (11:51–13:38).
  • Draws comparison to Belinda Stronach’s 2005 floor crossing, where careful mediation helped ensure success (12:50–13:20).

• Pressure Campaigns and Past Scandals

  • Pressure tactics evoke memories of the Chuck Cadman affair, when Conservatives were accused of offering inducements to prevent a critical vote loss (14:53–15:59).

• Stakes for Both Parties

  • For PM Mark Carney, every defection helps shore up a minority government and avoid committee-driven scandals (15:59–16:30).
  • For Poilievre, even one or two more crossings could “fatally undermine” his leadership.

4. Is Poilievre’s Leadership in Real Trouble?

• No Clear Challenger Yet

  • “The way these things typically work is…no one is presenting themselves. Nobody is saying, ‘Well, if you get rid of Poilievre, here I am.’” — Stephen Maher, [18:37]
  • Potential rivals (Jason Kenney, Caroline Mulroney, Doug Ford) discussed, but none actively moving (19:50–20:29).
  • Latest polling shows no clear successor who would outperform Poilievre, but mood could shift rapidly with a new contender (20:29).

• Disarray is Liberals’ Gain

  • The drama has focused media attention away from the budget and onto Conservative chaos, a blessing for Carney and the Liberals (21:26–22:23).

5. What’s Next?

• Immediate Questions and Party Function
  • Will Matt Jeneroux ever publicly explain his side? Will more MPs defect? (22:23–22:31)
  • Maher cautions that the opposition must move on: “I hope the Conservatives get their shit together…they need to stop messing things up, get their team together, and focus on providing decent opposition for the people of Canada.” — Stephen Maher, [23:11–23:48]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Leadership Styles:
  • “We [Maritimers] are always trying to find ways to work together to solve the issues…[Poilievre’s] attack style kind of feels like a poor fit.” — Stephen Maher, [03:28, paraphrased]
• On the Public Confrontation after Floor-Crossing Rumors:
  • “[They] push my assistant aside, rush in, push…push it wide open…’tell me how much of a snake I really was and turning my back on my constituents’…” — Chris d’Entremont, [05:07]
• On Conservative Party Culture:
  • “A lot of times I felt it was a part of a frat house rather than a serious political party…it was about who was friends with who…who could be the most cutting, that kind of stuff.” — d’Entremont (via Maher), [17:12–17:19]
• On Party Survival:
  • “Both sides are highly motivated to do things they might not normally think about doing in order to get through these next couple weeks.” — Stephen Maher, [18:08]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:20 — Episode kicks off: “biggest crisis so far” for Poilievre
• 02:29–04:24 — D’Entremont’s reasons for floor crossing, Red Tory context
• 05:07–06:36 — Confrontation after Politico leak, party discipline
• 06:57–09:16 — Jeneroux resignation, rumors of pressure and exit context
• 10:25–11:07 — Mood in the caucus, possibility of more crossings
• 11:51–13:38 — How successful floor crossing is managed (Stronach example)
• 14:53–15:59 — Pressure campaigns and the Chuck Cadman affair
• 17:12–18:08 — Poilievre’s tight inner circle and party culture
• 18:37–20:29 — Is Poilievre’s leadership fatally undermined?
• 21:26–22:23 — Impact on Liberals and the budget
• 22:31–23:48 — What’s next and the fate of the Conservative opposition

Tone and Language

• Informal, candid, at times wry in humor (“I hope the Conservatives get their shit together…”)
• Real-time reaction to breaking news and shifting party fortunes
• Emphasis on insider knowledge and behind-the-scenes perspective

Summary

This episode offers an in-depth, nuanced portrait of a turbulent week for Canadian Conservatives, centering on high-profile party defections and the mounting crisis for Pierre Poilievre’s leadership. With direct testimony, candid analysis, and clear-eyed context, Poisson and Maher dissect the motives, mishaps, and stakes—highlighting both the fractious party culture and a political landscape primed for further drama. For listeners seeking a detailed, insiders’ guide to the turmoil embroiling Canada’s Conservative Party, this episode delivers both substance and compelling storytelling.