{"id":89342,"date":"2023-10-01T16:00:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-01T20:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&#038;p=89342"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:37:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:37:05","slug":"pierre-poilievre-career-politician-good-bad","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/pierre-poilievre-career-politician-good-bad\/","title":{"rendered":"Pierre Poilievre is a career politician: Is that good or bad?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-max  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n                    \n                    \n            \n    <div class=\"cu-wideimage relative flex items-center justify-center mx-auto px-8 overflow-hidden md:px-16 rounded-xl not-prose  my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 bg-opacity-50 bg-cover bg-cu-black-50 pt-24 pb-32 md:pt-28 md:pb-44 lg:pt-36 lg:pb-60 xl:pt-48 xl:pb-72\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-492443487.jpg); background-position: 50% 50%;\">\n\n                    <div class=\"absolute top-0 w-full h-screen\" style=\"background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.600);\"><\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"relative z-[2] max-w-4xl w-full flex flex-col items-center gap-2 cu-wideimage-image cu-zero-first-last\">\n            <header class=\"mx-auto mb-6 text-center text-white cu-pageheader cu-component-updated cu-pageheader--center md:mb-12\">\n\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold mb-2 text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] cu-pageheader--center text-center mx-auto after:left-px\">\n                        Pierre Poilievre is a career politician: Is that good or bad?\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                            <\/header>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"absolute bottom-0 w-full z-[1]\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 1280 312\">\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M26.412 315.608c-.602-.268-6.655-2.412-13.524-4.769a1943.84 1943.84 0 0 1-14.682-5.144l-2.276-.858v-5.358c0-4.876.086-5.358.773-5.09 1.674.643 21.38 5.84 34.646 9.109 14.682 3.59 28.935 6.858 45.936 10.449l9.874 2.089H57.322c-16.4 0-30.31-.16-30.91-.428ZM460.019 315.233c42.974-10.074 75.602-19.88 132.443-39.867 76.16-26.791 152.063-57.709 222.385-90.663 16.7-7.823 21.336-10.074 44.262-21.273 85.004-41.688 134.719-64.193 195.291-88.413 66.55-26.577 145.2-53.584 194.27-66.765C1258.5 5.626 1281.34 0 1282.24 0c.17 0 .34 27.596.34 61.3v61.299l-2.23.375c-84.7 13.718-165.93 35.955-310.736 84.931-46.494 15.753-65.427 22.076-96.166 32.15-9.102 3-24.814 8.198-34.989 11.574-107.543 35.954-153.008 50.422-196.626 62.639l-6.74 1.876-89.126-.054c-78.135-.054-88.782-.161-85.948-.857ZM729.628 312.875c33.229-10.985 69.248-23.523 127.506-44.207 118.705-42.223 164.596-57.709 217.446-73.302 2.62-.75 8.29-2.465 12.67-3.751 56.19-16.772 126.94-33.597 184.17-43.671 5.07-.91 9.66-1.768 10.22-1.875l.94-.161v170.236l-281.28-.054H719.968l9.66-3.215ZM246.864 313.411c-65.041-2.251-143.047-12.11-208.432-26.256-18.375-3.965-41.73-9.538-42.202-10.074-.171-.214-.257-21.38-.214-47.046l.129-46.618 6.654 3.697c57.313 32.043 118.491 56.531 197.699 79.143 40.313 11.521 83.459 18.058 138.669 21.059 15.584.857 65.685.857 81.14 0 33.744-1.876 61.306-4.93 88.396-9.806 6.396-1.126 11.634-1.983 11.722-1.929.255.375-20.48 7.769-30.999 11.038-28.592 8.948-59.288 15.646-91.873 20.147-26.36 3.59-50.015 5.627-78.35 6.698-15.584.59-55.209.59-72.339-.053Z\"><\/path>\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M-3.066 295.067 32.06 304.1v9.033H-3.066v-18.066Z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n\n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<p>This article is <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/pierre-poilievre-is-a-career-politician-is-that-good-or-bad-213803\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">republished<\/a> from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. All photos provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Conversation<\/a> from various sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/experts.carleton.ca\/louise-cockram\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Louise Cockram<\/a> is an instructor of political science at Carleton University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/narrations.ad-auris.com\/widget\/the-conversation-canada\/pierre-poilievre-is-a-career-politician-is-that-good-or-bad\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Conservative Party is currently riding high in the polls <a href=\"https:\/\/abacusdata.ca\/conservatives-lead-by-15-as-government-disapproval-jumps-4-points\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">with a 15-point lead over the Liberals.<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2023\/09\/18\/pierre-poilievre-trudeau-canada-00116084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Political commentators credit this polling success to the popular appeal of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poilievre&#8217;s political messaging on the housing crisis and inflation, in particular, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/poilievre-convention-speech-analysis-1.6961268\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">seems to be resonating with Canadians.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Poilievre&#8217;s career background is a double-edged sword. The same political background that makes Poilievre an effective parliamentarian may make him vulnerable to being characterized as out of touch by opposition parties and voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"career-politicians\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Career politicians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>British academic Anthony King <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/193490\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">coined the term &#8220;career politician&#8221; in 1981, and it&#8217;s been part of the political lexicon ever since.<\/a> According to King, career politicians are parliamentarians who devote their professional life to politics, entering politics in their 30s and leaving at retirement age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This definition has <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1057\/s41293-017-0061-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">since expanded to include MPs who were previously political staffers.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poilievre closely matches King&#8217;s definition of a career politician. He was first elected to his Carleton riding in 2004 at the age of 25, not in his 30s. Prior to his election as an MP, Poilievre had worked almost <a href=\"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/news\/ottawa%20&amp;%20area\/pierre-poilievre-the-minister-of-nepean-carleton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">exclusively in the political sphere (apart from a brief stint in corporate collections at Telus).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/poilievre-campaign-freedom-anit-otoole-1.6577412\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Poilievre interned in then-MP Jason Kenney&#8217;s office<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/news\/ottawa%20&amp;%20area\/pierre-poilievre-the-minister-of-nepean-carleton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">worked as a political assistant to Stockwell Day, former leader of the right-wing Canadian Alliance.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poilievre entered politics at an early age and stayed there. It&#8217;s safe to say he&#8217;s the textbook definition of a career politician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-benefits-of-career-politicians\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The benefits of career politicians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Poilievre&#8217;s background has obvious advantages to his own career and the success of the Conservative Party. For one, his long career in politics, including as a political staffer, has given him a keen understanding of the legislative process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/constitution-unit.com\/2019\/10\/21\/from-candidate-to-elected-member-will-new-mps-face-a-trial-by-fire-after-the-2019-canadian-federal-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">According to my research<\/a> on the orientation of new MPs, former political staffers have an advantage when it comes to understanding the job of an elected member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to help their MP bosses, political staffers need a strong understanding of the legislative process and the standing orders of the House of Commons. Poilievre likely translated the procedural knowledge he gained as a political staffer into his work as an MP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New MPs need to quickly get up to speed on procedure to begin work in the House. Poilievre&#8217;s constituents, along with the Conservative Party faithful, no doubt appreciate his mastery of the standing orders and <a href=\"https:\/\/macleans.ca\/longforms\/why-is-pierre-poilievre-so-angry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">his ability to hold his own in debates.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-problem-with-career-politicians\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The problem with career politicians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common criticism of <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jpubeco.2007.10.006\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">career politicians<\/a> is that they are insulated from life outside of formal politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poilievre has likely heard concerns and demands from Canadians inside and outside of his constituency as Conservative leader and MP for Ottawa&#8217;s Carleton riding. But listening to constituents&#8217; problems is different from experiencing and understanding them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prof. Donald Savoie of the University of Moncton <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/opinion\/the-perils-of-the-career-politician\/article20924219\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">has suggested that<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;Career politicians \u2026 bring a narrow skill set to their governance. They excel at partisan politics \u2026. But they lack the ability to test policy prescriptions against<br>\nexperiences gained outside politics.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The business of the House of Commons is <a href=\"https:\/\/utorontopress.com\/9781487550882\/the-paradox-of-parliament\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">often viewed as a political game that alienates both MPs and voters.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An example of this gamesmanship is shown in a report from the Samara Centre for Democracy. A former Canadian MP recalled their party voted against an opposition amendment to correct a proofreading mistake on a piece of legislation. The MP said their party <a href=\"https:\/\/uploads-ssl.webflow.com\/637bf69c5352661ca8b6d15b\/649ef54d8f6a1bba5e624df4_Flip%20the%20Script%20-%20By%20the%20Samara%20Centre%20for%20Democracy.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">did not want to give the opposition the &#8220;win,&#8221; even though the opposition amendment did not substantively alter the legislation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These partisan games are par for the course in Ottawa. However, they don&#8217;t do anything to help the constituents MPs are elected to represent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"out-of-touch\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Out of touch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the past, <a href=\"https:\/\/macleans.ca\/longforms\/why-is-pierre-poilievre-so-angry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Poilievre has been labelled a partisan attack dog,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www-hilltimes-com.proxy.library.carleton.ca\/story\/2020\/01\/13\/will-conservatives-follow-skippy-over-the-cliff\/266602\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">primarily interested in dealing blows to the other parties.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His recent popularity <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/poilievre-convention-speech-analysis-1.6961268\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">appears to stem from talking about the issues Canadians care about.<\/a> If Poilievre becomes prime minister, he&#8217;ll have a hard time maintaining popularity if he focuses primarily on partisanship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poilievre isn&#8217;t the only career politician in Canada. He&#8217;s also not the only federal leader vulnerable to accusations of being &#8220;out of touch.&#8221; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/opinion\/justin-trudeau-makes-history\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">grew up in politics as the son of Pierre Trudeau<\/a>, and he&#8217;s often been criticized for being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/trudeau-tofino-trip-truth-reconciliation-1.6201475\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">out of step with the average Canadian.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fact that both Trudeau and Poilievre can be described as out of touch raises broader questions about representation in Canada.<br>\nCan a politician with a relatively narrow life experience represent the diverse needs of Canadians?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to Poilievre, this remains to be seen \u2014 if elected prime minister, he may use his experience as a career politician to advocate for issues important to Canadians, or he may choose to focus on partisan games in Ottawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>__<br>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\">Carleton Newsroom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/213803\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Conservative Party is currently riding high in the polls with a 15-point lead over the Liberals. Political commentators credit this polling success to the popular appeal of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre&#8217;s political messaging on the housing crisis and inflation, in particular, seems to be resonating with Canadians.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":69303,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[1623],"cu_story_tag":[],"class_list":["post-89342","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-expert-perspectives"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/89342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/89342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89361,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/89342\/revisions\/89361"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=89342"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=89342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}