At just 20, Pierre Poilievre had already mapped out his vision for Canada – a country led by low taxes, limited government, and expanded economic freedom.
Pierre Poilievre, the combative Conservative leader known for his fiery speeches, is now closer than ever to the Prime Minister's Office. As Canada prepares for a federal election on April 28, Mr Poilievre finds himself in a two-way showdown with newly appointed Liberal leader Mark Carney. The 45-year-old has spent nearly two decades in Parliament.
Who Is Pierre Poilievre?
At 20 years of age, Pierre Poilievre had already written his political playbook. In an essay outlining what he would do as prime minister, he argued for smaller government, lower taxes, and more economic freedom - ideas he still champions today.
Now over two decades later, Mr Poilievre leads Canada's Conservative Party and is inching closer to the job he imagined decades ago. With Justin Trudeau stepping down and Mark Carney taking over as Liberal leader, the next election is shaping up to be a fierce contest between two sharply different visions for Canada.
While Mr Poilievre's Conservative Party has long led in national polls, the race has tightened since Trudeau's resignation, with Prime Minister Mark Carney emerging as a strong contender.
Early Life And Education
Pierre Poilievre was born in Calgary, Alberta, on June 3, 1979, to a teenage mother who gave him away. He was adopted shortly after birth by two school teachers. He grew up in a middle-class home in suburban Calgary.
Growing up in Calgary, Pierre Poilievre delivered newspapers for the 'Calgary Sun' and attended Henry Wise Wood High School. An early shoulder injury ended his stint on the wrestling team, prompting him to explore politics as a hobby.
At 14, he began attending local Tory meetings. By 16, Mr Poilievre was selling Reform Party memberships for former Conservative leader Jason Kenney, canvassing for campaigns, and attending party conventions. He graduated high school in 1997.
He went on to study international relations at the University of Calgary.
It was at university that he met Stockwell Day, a cabinet minister under former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Day was then running for leadership of the Canadian Alliance, a right-leaning party that would eventually merge into today's Conservative Party. Impressed by Mr Poilievre's energy and focus, Day brought him on board to help with outreach on campus.
Business
Pierre Poilievre co-founded a political communications company called 3D Contact with his friend Jonathan Denis, who later served in various high-ranking roles in Alberta's provincial government, including Minister of Justice and Attorney General. The company specialised in outreach and voter contact services, helping Mr Poilievre earn money before and during the early stages of his political career.
Political Career
After Stockwell Day's successful leadership bid, Pierre Poilievre moved to Ottawa as his assistant. One winter evening, Mr Poilievre told Stockwell Day he wanted to run for office himself.
He won his first seat (Nepean-Carleton) in 2004 at the age of 25, becoming one of the youngest Conservative MPs in the House. He defeated Liberal leader David Pratt and has held that seat ever since.
In Ottawa, Pierre Poilievre earned the nickname "Skippy" from colleagues and opponents alike due to his youthful energy and quick, often sharp, retorts in Parliament.
He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and later to the Prime Minister. In 2013, he was appointed Minister of State for Democratic Reform, followed by a brief tenure as Minister of Employment and Social Development in 2015.
