Rebel News Podcast – The Ezra Levant Show

Episode: What happened inside the Conservative Party convention

Air Date: February 2, 2026
Host: Ezra Levant
Location: Conservative Party Convention, Calgary
Guests & Contributors: Sheila Gunn Reid, Tamara Leach, Andrew Lawton, Chris Elston ("Billboard Chris"), Dallas Brody, more

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a comprehensive report from inside the 2026 Conservative Party of Canada convention in Calgary. Hosted primarily by Ezra Levant, with fieldwork and interviews by Tamara Leach and Sheila Gunn Reid, the show provides insights into the mood of the party, key policy debates, grassroots activism, and media dynamics. The coverage includes in-depth conversations with Conservative MPs, activists, and notable figures, alongside candid commentary on Pierre Poilievre’s leadership affirmation, hot-button resolutions, and the party’s posture ahead of potential national elections.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Pierre Poilievre’s Leadership Confidence Vote

• Ezra Levant opens with the news that Pierre Poilievre received 87.4% support in a leadership review, comparing his numbers favorably against predecessors (00:15).

  • “That’s about as high as Stephen Harper got after his first election attempt when he didn’t make it.”
  • "The party seems united. And of course, there's the old saying, you can't beat someone with no one. By which I mean, if not Pierre Poilievre, then who?" (00:44)

• Levant notes negative portrayals from Liberal-aligned media and pop culture skits (e.g., CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes), arguing much criticism comes from opponents rather than inside the party (01:17–02:49).

Importance of Independent Media

• Levant emphasizes that independent journalists and influencers are crucial:
  • “If they are going to have any hope of getting their message out, it's not going to be through liberal mouthpieces like the CBC or CTV. It's going to be through independent people like Rebel News and the influencers who are here.” (04:17)

Tamara Leach’s Role at the Convention

• Leach, recently hired by Rebel News and covering the convention under legal exemption due to her house arrest stemming from the Freedom Convoy protests, receives strong support and numerous selfie requests from attendees (04:27).
  • “Just watching the people here come up to her and take selfies with her and hug her is very affirming for her and we're so proud…” (04:27)

Interviews with Conservative Figures

Andrew Lawton – MP from Ontario

Discussion on party unity, Poilievre, Emergencies Act ruling, Alberta’s independence movement

• “It’s always good to be around members of our Conservative family from across the country. We had a great showing last night, really decisive results in support of Pierre Poilievre’s leadership.” (05:34)
• On the Emergencies Act ruling:
  • “If the Liberals appeal it, they have to own that decision…and they have to basically own that they do not believe they broke the law, even though two courts have ruled that they did.” (06:19)
• On holding Liberals to account:
  • “We vow to not go down that road. And I think those judges’ rulings need to be a really important warning that you can't just for political convenience target your political opponents in those sorts of ways.” (07:36)
• On Alberta grievances and the unity of Canada:
  • “I also am not going to be an Ontarian that's going to come and tell Albertans that they…don't have grievances with the status quo.” (08:53)
  • “We need to sell that [Conservative vision] to all Canadians in the next election.” (09:08)

Billboard Chris Elston – Advocate on Gender Policy

Resolution on parental rights and gender therapy

• “A resolution to make it so that children could get therapy to feel comfortable in their skin…did not pass.” (10:28)
• “It's a crime if your little girl says she's a boy…to help her to feel comfortable as a girl.” (11:30)
• “For some reason this Conservative Party is too afraid to tell the truth about this. They don’t even want to hear about it.” (13:17)

Notable exchange:

• Gunn Reid: “We would expect that the Conservative Party would be fundamentally different than the left on this issue…But we saw that it is completely divided in the room.” (13:02)
• Chris Elston: “Let the radical left scream. Who cares?...And you can do what is right and you can stand up to protect kids. But here in Canada, not even the Conservative Party will do it.” (15:14–15:41)

Resource Policy and Economic Concerns

Bill C-69, natural resources, property rights, investment obstacles

• “We have so much ingenuity…incredible wealth of natural resources. We just need the government to get out of the way and give this country back to those who built it.” (17:23)

• “If you start compromising private property rights, who in their right mind is going to invest a cent in Canada?” (18:53)

• On lost investment:

  • “Investment is kind of like trust. It leaves on horseback and returns on foot. So it can be a lot easier to lose it than it is to get it back.” (20:05)

Western Independence and BC Politics – Dallas Brody

• “I’m doing this because my ancestors…built Vancouver, parts of British Columbia. They loved it and they gave us so much and they fought in wars and we owe it.” (23:08)
• On Premier David Eby’s rhetoric:
  • “It is not treasonous to say [separatists] are making some arrangements...If the people vote to leave, they have the right to make arrangements with other countries for support.” (25:58)
  • “We need a big correction…we have net outward migration out of British Columbia for the first time in our history.” (27:31)

Reflections on the Freedom Convoy & Federal Leadership

• Leach and others criticize Liberal response to the Freedom Convoy and the use of the Emergencies Act, describing a lack of empathy and doubling down by party leadership (28:14–31:47).
  • “It is so cruel. Because it has no empathy to understand that your policies, just because they didn’t hurt you doesn’t mean they didn’t destroy someone else’s life.” (31:47)
  • “If you're a leader, you lead all of your people, even if you don't agree with them. You don't vilify and demonize a portion of society just because they don't agree with you.” (31:58)

Operational and Policy Resolutions at the Convention

Defunding the CBC and Media Policy

• Sheila Gunn Reid reports on a policy motion to force the CBC to compete in the free market, which passed despite internal debate.
  • “There was a policy motion…to force the CBC, if the Conservatives ever form government, to exist in the free market. That just passed.” (36:56)
  • Ezra Levant: “Why are we even discussing it still? It should be unanimous. But you’re telling me it passed?” (39:44)

Free Speech, Jordan Peterson Rule, Professional Organizations

• Resolutions supporting property rights, free speech, and protecting professionals from censorship by regulatory bodies also passed (40:02).

Influence of Youth and Social Media

• The convention is described as “overwhelmingly young,” with emphasis on the party’s outreach to independent social media influencers:
  • “Bring in the influencers. That's pretty smart.” (41:11)
  • Ezra Levant notes: “The party is reaching out to the online media because social media is the only way you're going to defeat the $1.5 billion here to the CBC.” (40:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with timestamps)

• On unity and leadership:

  • Ezra Levant: "If not Pierre Poilievre, then who? And I think a lot of the disparagement of Pierre Poilievre is bad faith criticism by people who hate him." (00:44)

• On the Emergencies Act:

  • Andrew Lawton: “If the Liberals will accept the Federal Court of Appeal ruling on the Emergencies Act and accept that they violated the constitutional rights of Canadians or if they would appeal it. And again, it's another example of they're trying to disclaim responsibility…” (06:19)

• On party discomfort with gender policy debates:

  • Chris Elston: “Let the radical left scream. Who cares?...But here in Canada, not even the Conservative Party will do it [protect children in gender issues].” (15:14–15:41)
  • Sheila Gunn Reid: “We would expect that the Conservative Party would be fundamentally different than the left on this issue…but we saw that it is completely divided in the room.” (13:02)

• On Western alienation and the foundation of Canada:

  • Andrew Lawton: "We have to take the long term view. This country's been around for over 150 years. It's one of the longest continuous democracies in the world." (21:29)
  • Dallas Brody: “It is not treasonous to say they're making some arrangements. If the people vote to leave, they have the right to…” (25:58)

• On lack of empathy from the federal government:

  • Tamara Leach: “It is so cruel. Because it has no empathy to understand that your policies, just because they didn’t hurt you doesn’t mean they didn’t destroy someone else’s life.” (31:47)

• On CBC and media priorities:

  • Ezra Levant: “I went to the CBC homepage…couldn't find a single story about that [mass killings in Iran]…they're talking about Minnesota, they're talking about Trump.” (38:53)

• On Rebel News’ independence:

  • Ezra Levant: “We are not just going to echo. I mean, we call Doug Ford a Liberal, which is what he is. We criticize conservatives, and I think they know it. So some of them are a little scared to be interviewed by us…” (45:00)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:15 — Opening commentary from Ezra Levant: convention size, Poilievre vote, media dynamics
• 05:24 — Tamara Leach interviews Andrew Lawton on leadership vote, Emergencies Act, Alberta grievances
• 10:07 — Sheila Gunn Reid, with Billboard Chris Elston: gender identity policy debate fallout
• 16:22 — Tamara Leach interviews Aaron Gunn (with Lawton participation): policy, resources, property rights
• 22:43 — Lise Merle & Dallas Brody: BC politics, independence, generational responsibilities
• 28:09 — Tamara Leach & Michelle Rempel: Freedom Convoy, Emergencies Act court ruling, Liberal leadership critique
• 34:33 — Ezra Levant and Sheila Gunn Reid: convention overview, CBC defunding motion, youth demographics, social media
• 40:02 — Policy resolution updates: property rights, free speech, “Jordan Peterson rule”
• 46:32 — Closing reflections on Rebel’s role, party accountability, and future strategies

Tone and Language

• The episode is highly partisan, permeated with skepticism about mainstream media and federal Liberals.
• The tone alternates between combative, celebratory, and introspective, especially regarding activism and grassroots energy.
• Use of humor (sometimes biting), direct challenge, and emotional testimony on policies (especially concerning gender, freedom, and Western alienation) is consistent.

Summary

This episode offers a panoramic look at the Conservative Party's national convention, casting it as both a moment of internal celebration and a battleground over the party’s soul on major cultural, economic, and unity issues. It highlights the surge of youth and influencer activism, stringent grassroots energy, and lingering frustrations with both Liberal governance and perceived shortcomings among Conservative leadership. Rebel News positions itself and its personalities as vital counterpoints to establishment media, vowing to challenge both Liberals and Conservatives to uphold their declared values.