Carney, Poilievre say they want to work together after one-on-one meeting

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are pushing for collaboration after a one-on-one meeting on Parliament Hill on Wednesday.

It was the first meeting between the two leaders in 2026 and coincides with the start of the winter sitting.

In a post to X following the roughly 30-minute gathering, Carney said “we need Parliament to move swiftly to deliver for Canadians” and wrote that it’s “an important time to be working together.”

The Liberal government currently hold 169 seats, which is three seats shy of a majority, meaning opposition support is required to pass legislation.

A spokesperson for Poilievre, meanwhile, described the conversation as a “good meeting,” saying Poilievre “pushed the prime minister to introduce fast-track policies for an affordable, safe and self-reliant Canada.”

Leading up to the meeting, a senior government source told CTV News that the prime minister intended to raise several key issues where he wanted to see direct collaboration from the opposition, including the Budget Implementation Act and key funding for programs that will address affordability.

The source also said Carney planned to discuss crime and violence, including legislation to strengthen the criminal code and Bill C-9, which aims to protect places of worship from threats of violence and hate.

Prior to the rare one-on-one meeting, Poilievre spoke with reporters, saying he wanted to work with the government to address the cost of living.

“We have been working to fast track anything that we believe, however modest, might make life a little more affordable, little safer, and our economy a little stronger,” Poilievre said, later claiming that Carney has been the one “holding up the show.”

Poilievre also said he wants to support the federal government to address trade tensions between Canada and the United States.

“Mr. Carney had promised that he would get us a deal by last July. My message to him today is Conservatives are here to work with the prime minister and with the government to knock down these unjust tariffs and fight for our workers,” Poilievre added.

In a video posted to X on Monday afternoon, Poilievre said he was “seeking an urgent meeting with the prime minister” to “bring practical solutions, an openness to hear other ideas and work together to fast-track results.”

Speaking with CTV’s Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Monday, Conservative campaign manager Steve Outhouse was asked about the strategy behind Poilievre’s more conciliatory tone in recent weeks.

“I think everyone acknowledges this a very serious time for Canada. There’s a lot of challenges that are being faced, both domestically and internationally,” Outhouse said. “For this domestic agenda that’s there, let’s get it done. Let’s get it through Parliament, and let’s move the debate.”

Back in January, Poilievre wrote an open letter to Carney in which he offered his party’s help to “turn rhetoric into reality, by fast-tracking policies (Carney has) long delayed.”

The meeting also comes after MPs unanimously approved a Conservative motion on Monday proposing to speed up deliberations over Bill C-19, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Act, that will see it clear the House of Commons by Wednesday.

Despite the latest attempts at public outreach, a senior government source told CTV News earlier this week that plans were already in the works for the prime minister to meet with opposition party leaders prior to Poilievre’s video message on Monday.