PENTICTON, B.C. – The two-day federal Conservative caucus retreat has wrapped in British Columbia, with leader Pierre Poilievre taking great pains to leave without being seen by media and cameras.
Poilievre addressed caucus in a 20-minute speech open to coverage in Penticton Wednesday, but otherwise had no photo-ops and took no questions from the media during the retreat, nor did he offer any thoughts on how things went.
While caucus members left the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre Thursday afternoon through a front and side door, an RCMP SUV was waiting at a third back door for the leader.
Media gathered there in an effort to ask Poilievre questions and capture his departure, in a spot deemed permissible by the RCMP. A press secretary and party staffer eventually joined and waited alongside.
Suddenly, the RCMP SUV zoomed down the street, away from the building.
When someone asked the press secretary why they appear to be hiding Poilievre, he replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m just waiting here with you guys,” then laughed and walked away.
The same press secretary confirmed Poilievre had left the building shortly after.
CTV News has asked the party for clarification as to why the leader departed in that manner, and whether he was led through an exit in the attached, but several-minute walk away, Penticton Community Centre.
CTV News has reported on concerns about Poilievre’s leadership voiced by more than a dozen caucus sources over the past month.
MPs asked about divisions at the retreat mainly offered messages about strong party unity.
“This is not the position that we want to be in at this juncture,” said Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman when asked about party morale Wednesday.
When asked whether any changes were planned so the party could avoid the path of the B.C. Conservatives, currently in turmoil, Lantsman said yes.
“You’ll hear about those changes, I think, throughout the day, and you’ll see some of those changes when we come back to Ottawa.”
