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Pierre Poilievre and the anti-elite populism that won the day

Jean Charest’s message of moderate conservatism failed to resonate in party leadership contest

As a university student, Pierre Poilievre won $10,000 for an essay explaining how, as prime minister, he would build his government on a platform of freedom — a message he just used to move a step closer to that job by becoming leader of the Conservative Party.

During his campaign for the leadership, Poilievre promised to make “Canada the freest country on Earth” by limiting the reach of government.

It was a theme lifted straight out of that 2,500-word essay he wrote while a 20-year-old student at the University of Calgary.

CBC’s smarmy condescension just drips off the screen.

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