Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre (second from left) with the party's Okanagan's MPs: Dan Albas, Tracy Gray and Mel Arnold (Photo credit: Facebook/ Pierre Poilievre)

By Pete McIntyre

Year-end interview

MP says Poilievre’s relatability to ‘everyday Canadians’ is fueling rise in polls

Dec 29, 2023 | 5:30 AM

The North Okanagan-Shuswap’s rep in Ottawa believes there is a simple explanation for why Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party have seen a dramatic rise in the polls in 2023.

Mel Arnold says it comes down to relating to ordinary Canadians.

“I think part of it is he understands the pain and suffering everyday Canadians are going through, because of the cost of living increases that we’re seeing after eight years of the current government,” Arnold told Vernon Matters in a year-end interview.”

The Conservative MP said the last time Canada saw this kind of inflation and cost of living increase was when Justin Trudeau’s father, Pierre, was prime minister.

“The inflation and interest rates at that time were absolutely punishing, and now we’re seeing it again under Trudeau the second. And until we make a change in that, it could continue to be tough times for Canadians,” Arnold said.

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Arnold said Poilievre “sees the pain and hurt out there” and “wants to bring back common sense government.”

“He wants to let people keep more of their own paycheques in their own pockets instead of being reliant on government programs.”

Arnold said he’s hearing very positive things from his constituents about Poilievre.

“And any that are questioning it, once they learn more about him and our policies, they are more and more comfortable with the leader and our positions.”

Arnold is not willing to speculate if Justin Trudeau will be leading the Liberals into the next federal vote, scheduled for October 2025.

“The only one that probably knows the answer to that is Justin Trudeau,” Arnold told Vernon Matters. “He shows no signs of backing down at this point. Whether the party will force him out, or push him out, that is more behind the Liberal backbenches than I can see at this time. But either way, his cabinet and MPs have been backing him and his policies all of this time so it will be hard for them to put any distance between themselves and this failed leader.”

The most recent polls on the website Canada388 (Dec. 24) put Poilievre and the Conservatives at 39 per cent nationally, the Liberals at 27 per cent and the NDP at 19 per cent.