Podcast Summary: Front Burner – Poilievre Tries to Turn the Page

Host: Jamie Poisson
Guests: Kate Harrison (Summa Strategies), Fred DeLorey (Northstar Public Affairs, former Conservative national campaign director)
Date: November 13, 2025

Overview

This episode examines Pierre Poilievre's leadership of Canada’s Conservative party in the aftermath of two high-profile MP departures: Matt Genaro’s resignation and Chris d’Entremont’s crossing to the Liberals. Host Jamie Poisson is joined by two longtime Conservative strategists, Kate Harrison and Fred DeLorey, to discuss the party’s response, internal tensions, and whether Poilievre is the right leader to take the party forward.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fallout: Two MP Exits and Rumors of Party Discord

Timestamps: [00:46]–[05:17]

• Jamie Poisson recounts recent chaos: Genaro resigns, and Dontermont (Chris d’Entremont) defects to the Liberals, overshadowing Conservative plans to attack the Liberal budget.
• Jamie: "There remain stories of intense pressure campaigns, accounts of office screaming sessions and analysis that questions how badly all of this has wounded Poliev's political future." [00:46]
• The party's internal management and discipline are thrown into the spotlight by these public events.
• Focus shifts to Chris d’Entremont’s allegation he was aggressively confronted by House Leader Andrew Scheer and Whip Chris Warkinton, which the party disputes.
  • Kate Harrison acknowledges emotions ran high: "Politics is a team sport, and when you have a member of the team depart, and depart on such a critical day like budget day in Ottawa, I can appreciate that things would have been very tense." [03:25]
  • She concludes the truth is likely “somewhere in the middle.” [04:15]
  • Dontermont: "I had the leader, the House leader and the whip barge into my office... to sit there and, you know, tell me how much of a snake I really was." [03:56]

2. Conservative Party's Aggressive Response

Timestamps: [07:03]–[10:06]

• Jamie notes the party took an offensive stance, publicly criticizing Dontermont and even questioning his motives as tied to a deputy speaker role and pay.
• Fred DeLorey gives context: "Anytime there's a floor crossing, it's bad for your party." [05:31]
• On public, emotional party responses:
  • Fred: "It's hard, it's hurtful. When someone leaves the family, they are leaving it." [08:10]
  • Jamie pushes for whether this is the right moment for strategic calm. Fred is pragmatic: “Sometimes it’s best to fill the airwaves with something, even if it may not be... the most calm type of message.” [09:26]

3. Fissures Within: Internal Frustration and the Leadership Question

Timestamps: [10:06]–[14:04]

• Reporting suggests 10–15 MPs are frustrated with Poliev's leadership.
• Kate Harrison downplays the numbers, citing always-present party frustrations: “…that is not unique to the Conservatives... it's a larger caucus. We were so close to winning that last election. You're seeing some of that frustration a little bit.” [10:31]
• Jamie notes the stakes: “They only need like two [cross-overs]... to form a majority government.” [11:49]
• Fred DeLorey argues internal dissent is small and not organized:
  • “Fifteen that are frustrated, that's actually a small number when you consider there's 144.” [12:41]
  • He urges Poilievre to identify and address weak points but distinguishes casual frustration from real risk: "Being frustrated with the leader and quitting the party are two very different things." [13:40]

4. Party Culture Under Poilievre: ‘Frat House’ Accusations and Tone

Timestamps: [14:33]–[17:49]

• Dontermont, post-defection, criticizes the party’s culture as a “frat house, not a serious political party.” [14:51]
• Kate Harrison questions the timing and motivation of this criticism, but forcefully rejects the notion: "It's really difficult to look at the last 10 years and not see that the Conservatives are gaining ground, which is not what an unserious political party does." [15:15]
• Discussion of the ‘tone’ under Poilievre — accusations of being "angry," "divisive," even "Trumpy."
  • Fred: "I think it's more of some of his messaging and who he's communicating with... and there's that balance I think he should be trying to find." [16:49]
  • Jamie distinguishes between populist passion and negative behavior: "What I have heard people say is they didn't like how he talked to that reporter when he was munching on an apple." [17:49]
• The “apple” moment is seen as both off-putting and energizing, depending on the viewer.
  • Fred: "There's those people who feel left behind and out of the system that... appealed greatly to. There is a side of that that works." [18:52]
• Kate: “I don't think Poilievre is in a competition for Miss Congeniality. Right. His job is to draw contrast with the current government.” [19:37]
• Doug Ford’s rise is mentioned as a precedent: despite being divisive, he managed three Ontario majorities.

5. Can Poilievre Expand His Appeal?

Timestamps: [21:09]–[24:28]

• Cites David Coletto/Abacus data: “Elections are usually won by persuading those outside your tribe... only 3% of those who don't currently support the Conservatives feel very positively about Poliev... 52% say they have a very negative impression.” [21:09]
• Fred advocates balancing base mobilization with outreach:
  • “I would be advising him to... try to grow into the middle... Harper did this in ‘05... he came out as one of his top issues on healthcare... and he removed that weapon immediately.” [22:10–23:04]
• Kate agrees: party needs to keep gains with youth (housing as a core issue), and reach out to older male voters potentially left behind by economic transitions: “...zero in on that particular demographic and talk about policies and a political home for those voters.” [23:33–24:28]

6. Leadership Prospects: Should Polievre Stay on?

Timestamps: [24:28]–[26:45]

• Jamie asks both guests directly: should Poilievre remain party leader?
• Kate: “You look at how Poilievre polls compared to other Conservatives in the movement, compared to previous leaders... this is not a sign to shake things up. We’re in a minority government... None of that is a cocktail for changing things up with the leadership.” [25:00]
• Fred draws on history:
  • “I look back at Stephen Harper. We lost in ‘04… there was talks in the summer of ‘05 of maybe not going again. And I'm grateful he did, and I think we all are... I do think [Poilievre] is well placed to do that. And again, I do hope he finds that path to victory.” [25:48]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dontermont’s Allegation:
  “I had the leader, the House leader and the whip barge into my office... tell me how much of a snake I really was.” ([03:56] Chris Dontermont)
• Kate Harrison on Party Emotions:
  “Politics is a team sport, and when you have a member of the team depart... I can appreciate that things would have been very tense.” ([03:25])
• Fred DeLorey on Floor Crossing:
  “Anytime there's a floor crossing, it's bad for your party. There's no other way around it.” ([05:31])
• Jamie on Stakes:
  “They only need like two [crossovers]... to form a majority government. So... it is pretty high stakes, just to state the obvious, I guess.” ([11:49])
• Party Tone Critiques:
  “Too angry, too divisive, too Trumpy.”—summarizing public reaction to Poilievre
• Kate Harrison on Divisive Leaders:
  “Doug Ford in 2018 was by far the most divisive option... He has now led three successful majority governments at the Ontario provincial level.” ([19:37])
• Fred DeLorey on Lesson from Harper:
  “Harper did this in '05... he came out, one of his top issues was on healthcare... and he removed that weapon immediately.” ([23:04])
• Kate Harrison on Staying the Course:
  “This is not a sign to shake things up. We’re in a minority government… None of that is a cocktail for changing things up with the leadership.” ([25:00])
• Fred DeLorey on Learning and Leading:
  “Will he learn from it? Will he get better?... I do think he is well placed to do that. And again, I do hope he finds that path to victory.” ([25:48])

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment Topic | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Opening, recap of MP departures | 00:46–02:29 | | Dontermont confrontation incident | 02:40–05:17 | | Party’s public response and emotional reactions | 07:03–10:06 | | Internal party frustrations and stakes | 10:06–14:04 | | Dontermont’s 'frat house' remarks, party culture | 14:33–17:49 | | Discussion of Poilievre’s tone, expanding appeal | 17:49–24:28 | | Should Poilievre stay on as leader? | 24:28–26:45 |

Summary

This episode provides an in-depth look at the recent turbulence within Canada’s Conservative Party, analyzing the causes and consequences of public defections and how these events reflect on Pierre Poilievre’s leadership. While both guests agree that such episodes are painful and carry risks, they also argue that these moments are survivable and that the data does not support a change in leadership. The discussion highlights the difficulties in balancing base enthusiasm with broad electorate appeal and acknowledges that, despite criticisms (including tone and party culture), Poilievre remains best positioned to lead the Conservatives through this period—provided he can learn, adapt, and unite a diverse coalition.

Listeners gain insight into both the emotional and strategic calculations at play within the Conservative Party during a challenging time, with nuanced perspectives on what it will take to move forward—and whether Poilievre is the right leader for that journey.