Liberals release attack ads after Poilievre’s leadership survives review

The federal Liberals have released a series of attack ads against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, calling him “the wrong choice,” and “divisive.”

It comes as Poilievre passed a leadership review with a record-breaking 87.4 per cent support from party members on Friday night. The previous record was held by then-Official Opposition Leader Stephen Harper in 2005 when he secured 84 per cent support.

In their ads, the Liberals shared reactions from its MPs on Poilievre’s victory, stitched together a series of seemingly controversial clips from Poilievre’s political career, and poked fun at his speech calling it “all spin and slogans” in comparison to one of Carney’s serious deliveries.

The ads were posted onto the party’s X account, one after the other, over the course of 16 hours.

Canadians react to Liberal attack ads

The attack ads prompted mixed reactions online, with many pointing to the irony of the Liberals calling Poilievre “divisive.”

“This is not the right message to send right now. There should be a show of unity between parties that they are willing to work together,” an X user wrote.

“Divisive politics?? This is an attack ad. Talk about divisive,” another user wrote.

“Pot calling the kettle black there,” another wrote.

Pierre Poilievre wins 87.4% support from party members 

For hope.

For the affordable future every Canadian deserves.

Thank you, Conservatives. Let's get to work. pic.twitter.com/vivRsjSXTL

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 31, 2026

Leadership reviews are conducted following an election loss, providing an opportunity for party members to oust a party leader. Unlike a leadership race, leadership reviews are a matter of ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as to whether the members support a sitting leader or not. Under traditional Conservative Party practice, a support less than 50 per cent would see the leader resign immediately.

This year’s leadership review took place on the second day of the Conservative Convention in Calgary, Alberta, following a 45-minute keynote speech by the party leader. Only Conservative delegates attending the convention participate in the vote (this year it was just south of 3,000), which means the 87.4 per cent support is not reflective of a nationwide support for the leader of the opposition. However, it is still the highest number seen by any other Conservative leader whose leadership has undergone a review, making Poilievre the most popular leader in party history.

Poilievre’s leadership was in question since loss to Carney

2025 was a turbulent year for the Opposition Leader, losing not only the federal election but also his own Ottawa riding of 20 years. This prompted questions about his fitness as party leader.

Read More

• ‘He must take responsibility,’ Canadians have mixed feelings about Pierre Poilievre remaining as Conservative leader
• Some Conservative MPs voice support for Poilievre as party stays silent on next moves
• Is Poilievre’s job on the line? What a leadership review could mean for the Conservatives

Conservative MP Damien Kurek temporarily resigned from his riding in May, providing Poilievre with a platform to regain his seat in Parliament. At the time, Kurek wrote, “Offering this seat to our Party Leader is an important step [to make changes].”

Read More

• A Conservative MP is resigning to allow Pierre Poilievre to run in a by-election, Canadians divided over the news

His landslide victory in the riding of Battle River–Crowfoot of Alberta in August 2025 saw Poilievre return to the House. Kurek had said he intends to run in the riding in the next general election.

Read More

• ‘Welcome home,’ Pierre Poilievre returns to Ottawa after winning Alberta by-election

Since then, Poilievre has continued to be a vocal critic of Prime Minister Mark Carney and his measures against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

Read More

• ‘We’ve had enough words,’ Poilievre urges Carney to follow through on his Davos speech

His speech last night was no different, pointing to the country’s affordability crisis and the growing separatist movement in Alberta and Quebec under the Liberal government.

Pierre Poilievre: "Canadian citizens now open more businesses in the United States of America than they do in their home country."

"That's Elbows Out!" pic.twitter.com/1DNajS7cm6

— Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) January 31, 2026

What Canadians think about the Conservative party and its leader

The most recent poll from Abacus Data on close to 2,500 Canadian voters shows 54 per cent approve of the federal government under Carney’s leadership. The same survey shows that Poilievre‘s image has rebounded “modestly,” demonstrating a relatively stable level of support from voters.

The Conservatives outperform the Liberals in three provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, while the Liberals hold a narrow lead in Ontario. Age of voter also seems to play a factor, with the Conservatives appealing to middle-aged voters (30 to 59 years old) while the Liberals are more supported by youths and seniors.

The overall findings conclude that if an election were held today, the Liberals lead nationally with 43 per cent while the Conservatives follow with 39 per cent.