Pierre Poilievre tried to change the channel yesterday in order to sound the alarm about property rights in BC, ginning up outrage about the Cowichan land title decision by the BC Supreme Court (which is a superior court), and the false claim this puts all property rights at risk in the province. It’s not true, of course, and the federal government is appealing that decision (which the Cowichan leadership have stated point-blank has nothing to do with private property), but well, the media had no interest in asking him about that. Instead, it was all about his own leadership in the wake of yet another defection by an MP.
Some of the own-goals are just amazing.
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-04-09T15:24:00.893Z
Rest assured, Poilievre is not reflecting on his leadership, because he assures us he got such a high mark from his leadership review and such a great result in the last election. Surely that means that he’s blameless. Instead, he’s going to start insisting that floor-crossers run in byelections, which is a position he never used to hold, and to insist on recall petitions, both of which are antithetical to how a Westminster parliamentary system operates. People vote for the candidate, not the party, which means the MP gets to make their own decision. If you think that means that their votes somehow don’t count, then the technical term for that is “sore-loser.” (Also, people do not choose “majority” or “minority” parliament on their ballots).
Pierre Poilievre’s Personal Assistant Explains Why Everyone Is Leaving Himyoutu.be/PhpH36ZZX1I
— Clare Blackwood (@clareblackwood.bsky.social) 2026-04-09T20:42:58.342Z
Meanwhile, Mark Carney had to answer his own questions about Gladu’s views, and he insists that they talked about it and that she’ll vote with the party, which would have been nice to hear from the horse’s mouth yesterday. Carney also continues to insist that the Liberals are still the party of the Charter, which is getting harder to believe all the time. Gladu herself had to answer questions about her views at a media availability at the party’s convention, and she did nuance some of her positions, and fair enough, but this should have been part of the discussion yesterday and not a day-and-a-half later.
Ukraine Dispatch
Putin has declared a 32-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Easter (but we’ll see if he actually honours it). Russia turned over1000 bodies it claims are from the Ukrainian military, while Ukraine turned over 41 dead Russians.
Good reads:
- Mark Carney says that Canada and allies are pushing to ensure that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire deal with Iran.
- Canada is seeking observer status in the development programme for a “sixth-generation” fighter jet.
- Some of Canada’s trade partners are complaining to the WTO about the new “Buy Canadian” procurement policies, as it violates our trade agreements.
- The National Post takes a deep dive into the problem of how to fix 24 Sussex Drive.
- Questions continue to be asked about just who wouldn’t be welcome in Carney’s big tent now that the likes of Marilyn Gladu is part of it.
- The Liberals are planning a major get-out-the-vote push in Terrebonne for Monday.
- Alberta’s lawyers made nonsense arguments against the challenges by First Nations regarding separatism petitions.
- Paul Wells makes a few observations about the Gladu floor-crossing and what it says about Carney and his premiership of the country.
- My Xtra column looks at how Danielle Smith is attacking queer and trans rights as part of the Orbán playbook to pacify the separatists in her party and keep power.
Odds and ends:
You are going to cut groceries prices by 40% by spending $7.50 per Canadian? How does anyone take this seriously?
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