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Or sign-in if you have an account.Official Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at the Royal Canadian Legion in downtown Calgary on Monday, June 8, 2026. Gavin Young/PostmediaCALGARY — Canada could use some champions right now, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre should be seen as a welcome addition to the federalist team.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorOf course, that pro-Canada coalition is rather loose to begin with and there should be no expectation of a coherent or cohesive message. Certain voices are going to be more effective in making certain arguments and reaching certain segments of the population.To that end, Poilievre represents an advantage, even if his case for Canada is starkly different from what you’d hear from Prime Minister Mark Carney or Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi or Forever Canadian petitioner Thomas Lukaszuk. But, arguably, it’s a case for Canada most likely to reach the ones most in need of being reached.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againPolievre’s much-hyped national unity speech Monday in Calgary may have come across to some as especially partisan or harshly critical of the federal government, but it was a necessary contribution to the discourse. It does not help the fight against separatism to be blind to its major drivers.As Poilievre put it, “If we want frustrated Albertans to vote for Canada, the absolute worst thing we can do is to dismiss their legitimate grievances and thus signal there is no hope of fixing them.”Of course, the speech wasn’t entirely about the policy failings of the last decade; although it’s difficult to separate that from everything else. When Poilievre says to frustrated Albertans, “we hear you,” they’re more likely to believe he’s telling the truth if he reflects what it is they’re saying.Poilievre believes many who say they want to leave really just “have a problem with the federal government,” and, as such, “We do not need a different country in Alberta. We need different government policies in Ottawa.”For one, it’s undeniably true that had Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives triumphed in the last federal election, the political climate and debate in Alberta would be night and day from what it is at the moment.It’s also true the Liberals — or, at least, certain Liberal policies and attitudes — have fanned the flames of the separatist movement and bear much responsibility for the high levels of frustration and disillusionment in Alberta.But if the answer to Canada’s problems is to oust the Liberals — and surely that couldn’t hurt — is that something Poilievre can actually deliver on?There was much hope in Alberta that Poilievre and the Conservatives could finally bring the Trudeau era to a close. As it turned out, it was a combination of Donald Trump and Mark Carney that ended the Trudeau era and, in doing so, pre-empted the Poilivere Conservative era. It’s been downhill in many ways since then for the Conservative leader.So while it’s fair to hold the government to account for the national unity crisis on their watch, does Poilievre have too much of a vested interest to call both balls and strikes?Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, for example, has celebrated the progress made around the pipeline MOU and the assorted “bad laws” identified by the province, and she has made this a key component of her “remain” message. It doesn’t help that cause to echo the separatist talking point that this is all empty and meaningless.To his credit, though, Poilievre did emphasize that “Canada is more than a government,” and that we should “not forget what we have here and what we helped build together.”Even as separatist sentiment has taken hold, there’s still an appetite for Poilievre’s message of “no more tearing down statutes, libelling our heroes, cancelling our history,” and instead one of “love of our common history, our common achievements, our common heroes, and our common belief that we are the best country in the world.”Poilievre’s embrace of an unapologetic patriotism is an effective counter to those who would wonder whether there’s anything left or worth saving. It’s easier to give up on Canada if you believe that it no longer means or stands for anything.There’s an effective sales pitch for the country here, and the salesman vows he won’t be shy about communicating that message: “I will be speaking to Albertans on both sides of this referendum to hear their thoughts and to make the respectful case for Canada.”It’s also easier to make that case when ultimately, it’s selling the idea of a win-win for Alberta and for the country.Poilievre urged Albertans “to lock arms” with Canadians in other provinces, which “is the practical, realistic path to a Stronger Alberta within a United Canada.” That’s a laudable goal.It was at times a speech that almost drifted into campaign territory and well-worn slogans, but in the end, the Conservative leader offered a potent and compelling case for Canada — at a time when it’s badly needed,National PostRob Breakenridge is a Calgary-based podcaster and writer. He can be found at robbreakenridge.ca and reached at rob.breakenridge@gmail.com Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.