Conservative MPs in Saskatchewan look forward to working under Poilievre

Kevin Waugh says he’s already seeing the Conservative Party begin to unite under new leadership.

The MP for Saskatoon-Grasswood said there is a vision for the party now that it’s moving forward with Pierre Poilievre newly instated at the helm. Poilievre, who represents the Ottawa riding of Carleton, was announced as the party’s new leader Saturday, winning the leadership by a wide margin.

“He worked hard,” Waugh said. “He got young people mobilized. They raised a lot of money. They sold a lot of memberships.”

Winning 332 of 338 ridings in Canada, Waugh called Poilievre’s win “the largest margin ever in Conservative Party history,” saying, “if that isn’t a loud enough margin of victory, I don’t know what is.”

The first caucus meeting for the Conservatives under their new leader took place Monday, with Poilievre speaking for more than an hour about the suffering of Canadians due to inflation, Waugh said.

“The rising cost of living every day in this country is hurting a lot of Canadians,” Waugh added, saying Conservatives are aiming to promote the message that they will get the cost of living back under control.

It was during that caucus meeting that Waugh said he saw the party really begin to come together again.

“We all support Pierre,” he said. “Canadians want hope, and with Pierre Poilievre, there is hope now.”

Waugh said he was happy to see Regina MP Andrew Scheer named House Leader on Tuesday by Poilievre. He said appointing someone like Scheer, a former speaker who is very well-versed in parliamentary procedures, to dictate the day-to-day issues in parliament will be an asset.

“He will represent, not only Saskatchewan, but our party and Canadians very well in the House of Commons,” Waugh said.

Waugh noted that he was disappointed to see the resignation of Quebec conservative MP Alain Rayes, who he worked closely with for the past two years as part of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. Rayes announced his departure from the party Tuesday to sit as an independent MP, saying his values do not align with the party’s new direction.

As the party prepares to return to Parliament, Waugh said the upcoming fall session will certainly be an interesting one.

Like Waugh, Regina-Wascana MP Michael Kram said he’s also excited about the new leader of his party.

Kram said he endorsed Poilievre back in February, “because I have a great deal of confidence in his ability to unite our party and to win the next election.”

After his work on Poilievre’s campaign, Kram said he wasn’t surprised by the win or the margin, especially after hearing so much positive feedback from members.

Kram said he’s looking forward to holding Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party to account on their record, particularly when it comes to the cost of living.

“I think that has been Pierre’s focus for quite some time now,” Kram said, voicing his confidence.