Ontario Premier Doug Ford arrives with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston as they hold a press conference at Queen's Park in Toronto on March 4.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
The Progressive Conservative premiers of Ontario and Nova Scotia called on Pierre Poilievre to build bridges within the conservative movement by reaching out to them, after tensions between the provincial and federal parties were laid bare during the federal election campaign.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston spoke at separate news conferences Wednesday about their lack of relationship with the federal Conservative Leader, whose party gained seats in Monday’s vote but ultimately failed to form government. Mr. Poilievre‘s future at the helm of the party is now in question, after he lost his own Ottawa-area seat in an election that was seen as a sure Conservative win just months ago.
Fractures between the federal Tories and the Progressive Conservative premiers spilled out into public view during the federal campaign. Mr. Ford and one of his top advisers publicly criticized the Conservative Party’s electoral strategy, while tensions between Mr. Houston’s office and Mr. Poilievre‘s campaign manager, Jenni Byrne, were revealed when Mr. Houston was absent for the federal leader’s only stop in Nova Scotia.
Speaking to reporters in Halifax on Wednesday, Mr. Houston said the federal party needs to start reflecting on what it means to be conservative.
“There are many shades of blue, and it can be a big tent,” he said. “I think that after four consecutive losses to the Liberal Party, it’s time for them to do some soul searching. I hope they do.”
Mr. Houston said there were opportunities during the election campaign for the Conservatives to reach out and work with others, but they decided not to.
“I think the Conservative Party of Canada was very good at pushing people away, not so good at pulling people in, and I think they probably saw that in some of the results they had across the country,” Mr. Houston said.
Mr. Ford, speaking in Mississauga at an announcement focused on strengthening the bail regime, told reporters Wednesday he felt he shouldn’t interfere in the federal election campaign. He had previously told his own MPPs to focus on Ontario, although one of his high-profile ministers, Caroline Mulroney, publicly endorsed Mr. Poilievre.
Mr. Ford said that federal Conservatives were instructed not to help him in the February provincial election, in which his party won a third majority.
“Last time I checked, Pierre Poilievre never came out in our election. Matter of fact, him or one of his lieutenants told every one of his members, ‘Don’t you dare go out and help the PCs.’ Isn’t that ironic?” Mr. Ford said.
“The people spoke, and I have no say in who people vote for, but I’ll tell you one thing, we have a government democratically elected. I will hold them accountable. I’ll hold them accountable like I would no matter if it’s a Conservative government or a Liberal government. My interest is protecting the people of Ontario.”
The Conservative Party did not respond to a request for comment about Mr. Ford’s and Mr. Houston’s remarks.
Long-time Conservative MP and former party leader Andrew Scheer dismissed the premiers’ concerns, saying their comments are “demonstrably false” because the party grew its vote share in the election, particularly in Ontario, where Mr. Poilievre got more votes – but fewer seats – than Mr. Ford’s party. The federal election also had a higher turnout, meaning more votes were cast.
“You can’t simultaneously say we pushed people away when we got more votes. That’s just factually incorrect,” Mr. Scheer told CTV’s Power Play on Wednesday. He asked if Mr. Houston’s “feelings are hurt” and said his party is not worried about “interpersonal relationships with someone like Doug Ford.” He added that he expects Mr. Poilievre to stay on as leader. “He’s a fighter,” Mr. Scheer said.
Asked Wednesday how the federal party can mend the relationship, Mr. Ford said: “Well, all they have to do is make a phone call.”
In turn, re-elected Conservative MP Jamil Jivani – a one-time adviser to Mr. Ford – lashed out at the Ontario Premier on election night, accusing him of sabotaging the campaign and of being a “hype man” for the federal Liberals. Mr. Jivani on Wednesday posted a doctored photo on social-media platform X of Mr. Ford dressed as wrestler, ripping off an Ontario PC shirt to reveal a Liberal one underneath.
Still, heading into Monday‘s vote Mr. Poilievre‘s party did better than expected in Ontario, winning 53 of the province’s 122 seats, compared to 69 for the Liberals.
The Conservatives lost two seats to the Liberals in Nova Scotia, leaving one lone Tory MP elected in a province with a large Progressive Conservative majority.
Mr. Houston said he and Mr. Poilievre don’t have a relationship. When asked what the federal party can do to build bridges with him, he echoed Mr. Ford’s comments from earlier in the day: “Reach out,” he said.
Mr. Poilievre, campaigning near Mr. Houston’s home in Nova Scotia last week, did not ask for help during the federal election race and did not reach out to say he would be in the province.
Mr. Houston also referred to a Globe and Mail story describing Ms. Byrne, Mr. Poilievre’s then-chief adviser, sending multiple text messages to Mr. Houston’s office complaining that the Premier had insulted Mr. Poilievre and warning that she wouldn’t forget the transgression. The Globe report was based on three sources who were involved in Mr. Houston’s re-election campaign, and who The Globe agreed not to name because they were not authorized to disclose the contents of the private communications.
Ms. Byrne also served as Mr. Ford’s principal secretary during his first year in office.
During the campaign, Mr. Ford defended Kory Teneycke, his campaign manager, who said the federal party was committing “campaign malpractice” by blowing a 25-point lead and that Mr. Poilievre should have pivoted earlier to focus on the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump‘s tariffs.
“Sometimes the truth hurts,” Mr. Ford said at the time.