EDITORIAL: So now it’s un-Canadian to disagree with the PM?

As Opposition leader, Poilievre’s job is to hold Carney to account.

Published Sep 11, 2026  •  Last updated 13 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre (left) and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Photo by Bryan Passifiume / Greg Southam /Postmedia Network

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By any measure, the foray by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre into a round of U.S. media interviews this week was a triumph. He came across as intelligent, measured and forthright.

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In a wide-ranging, in-depth panel discussion on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Poilievre pitched the “Fortress North America” concept as a way for Canada and the U.S. to move forward with a free trade deal.

Pressed by host Joe Kernen on whether Prime Minister Mark Carney was “acting in good faith,” by walking away from negotiations, Poilievre sidestepped the question, saying he wasn’t going to attack Carney “on foreign soil.”

“My mission here is to fight for my country, not to score political points,” Poilievre said. Kernen jumped on that, suggesting Poilievre would attack Carney in Canada.

It’s a sentiment commentators here have picked up on.

“This is pretty good,” one Globe and Mail columnist grudgingly admitted in a post on X. Then he continued, “The ‘I’m not going to attack my prime minister on foreign soil’ bit was a little too cute though. It suggests that he had plenty to attack him for, but only his patriotic self-restraint prevents him. Indeed, in context it amounted to an implicit endorsement of his host’s suggestion that Carney was negotiating in bad faith. The best way to not attack your opponent on foreign soil is not to attack him – not to announce with great fanfare that you are not doing so.”

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There’s a pretzel-shaped hole in his logic. As leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, Poilievre’s job is to hold Carney to account. Canada isn’t an autocracy – yet. A vigorous Opposition that holds government to account is the bedrock of democracy. Is it now unpatriotic to disagree with Carney? Carney has tacitly proved the value of a strong opposition by adopting many of Poilievre’s policies.

There are aspects of Poilievre’s leadership that rightly have given rise to strong criticism. When he falters, that’s fair. But his performance in the U.S. this week was laudable. If those who are quick to slam Poilievre for his failings can’t also offer praise when it’s deserved, the only conclusion a reasonable person can reach is that he could walk on water and he would be criticized for not knowing how to swim.

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