Mark Carney’s Win and Andrew Scheer’s Misstep: A Conservative Voter’s Frustration
I’ll admit—I didn’t see Mark Carney coming. Like many others, I assumed Pierre Poilievre would win the 2025 federal election by default. But I was wrong. Not only did Carney win, he also secured the popular vote.
For context, Andrew Scheer previously won the popular vote against Justin Trudeau, proving that even a moderate, soft-spoken conservative platform could outperform the Liberals—despite competition from Maxime Bernier and the People’s Party of Canada (PPC). Bernier’s PPC still managed to attract over 100,000 votes, highlighting a strong desire among Canadians for bold, unapologetic conservatism.
With over 42% of Canadians now leaning toward a Conservative government, the lesson should be obvious: taking a firm stance against Liberal policies resonates with voters.
But Then Comes Andrew Scheer… Again
So why is Andrew Scheer now advocating for tariffs and taxes on Canadians as if this is a new and brilliant idea?
Let’s be honest—Mark Carney lied throughout his campaign, and many of his supporters were either unaware or chose to ignore it. If you voted for Carney despite his repeated dishonesty, you effectively voted for a banker to run the country—and you’ll get exactly what bankers are known for: a love of debt financing, spreadsheets, and cold economic calculations focused on cash flow, not people.
I expect Carney’s tenure to be negative overall for Canada’s economy. But my frustration right now isn’t even with him—it’s with Andrew Scheer, who seems to be talking down to the Conservative base as though we don’t understand basic economics.
Tariffs Aren’t a Conservative Selling Point
Most left-leaning voters don’t understand what tariffs are—and frankly, they don’t care. Their political strategy is often rooted in “ends justify the means” thinking, and that’s how their arguments are structured.
So when Scheer talks about tariffs as if they’re beneficial, he alienates the very people who do understand them—his own Conservative base. It’s politically tone-deaf and, quite frankly, insulting.
This reminds me of Doug Ford’s “Progressive Conservative” brand, where trying to appease everyone ends up pleasing no one. If you’re going to embrace that kind of centrist posturing, you might as well reintroduce the word “Progressive” into the party name and be honest about it.
Give Credit Where It’s Due—Then Lead
Pierre Poilievre made a smart, measured comment when he said he hopes Mark Carney “steals all of his ideas.” That’s a confident, forward-thinking statement. If Andrew Scheer had any political sense, he’d frame Carney’s adoption of Conservative ideas as a win for the right—while positioning his party as the originators of smart policy.
Instead, Scheer is making the mistake of speaking emotionally, frustrating those of us who expect a principled and economically literate opposition. If he continues on this path, he risks further alienating voters who are already skeptical of watered-down conservatism.
Final Thought
The Conservative base isn’t ignorant. We understand tariffs. We understand policy. And we understand when our leaders start treating us like we don’t. Andrew Scheer would do well to remember who he’s speaking to, stop reacting emotionally, and start articulating a clear, strategic message.