A prominent Conservative Party strategist is publicly criticizing his own party’s election campaign, suggesting leader Pierre Poilievre has mismanaged what was once a commanding lead in the polls.
Kory Teneycke, who successfully managed three winning campaigns for Ontario Premier Doug Ford and previously served as communications director for former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, described the current situation as “campaign malpractice at the highest level.”
“Blowing a 25-point lead and being like 10 points down is campaign malpractice at the highest level,” Teneycke said Thursday on the Curse of Politics podcast, comments that quickly circulated among political observers.
The rare internal criticism comes as recent Nanos Research polling shows the Liberals now leading by several percentage points, halfway through the election campaign. This represents a dramatic reversal from the double-digit advantage Conservatives maintained for nearly two years.
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Teneycke specifically criticized the campaign’s dismissive attitude toward polling data. At a Poilievre rally Wednesday, supporters were seen wearing shirts and waving signs reading “Do you believe the polls?” The Conservative campaign has stated these were not official party materials.
“Saying that you don’t believe in polls, if you’re managing a campaign, it’s delusional,” Teneycke told CTV Power Play host Vassy Kapelos on Tuesday.
The veteran strategist also pointed to a contentious exchange between Poilievre and Globe and Mail reporter Laura Stone as counterproductive. When Stone questioned whether Poilievre should broaden his message beyond talking points about the “woke mob” and other divisive topics, the Conservative leader responded by questioning her estimate of his rally attendance.
Teneycke characterized this as Poilievre “attacking a female reporter in a ‘gross’ way” that could further damage the party’s standing among women voters.
He also suggested the Conservative campaign has failed to properly address concerns about newly re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump, noting it was clear “way back in December” that Trump was becoming a primary voter concern.
Instead, Teneycke argues, Poilievre has adopted rhetoric reminiscent of Trump, including a “Canada First” slogan that echoes Trump’s “America First” messaging.
When asked why he would publicly criticize his own party mid-campaign, Teneycke, who regularly appears on CTV’s Question Period, maintained that while he remains a Conservative voter, his role as a political commentator requires honest analysis.
The Liberals saw a comeback after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned and was replaced by Mark Carney, just as the trade tensions and annexation threats from the new Trump White House were escalating.
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