Canada's Tories pick populist to take on Trudeau

Conservative Party of Canada members have chosen Ontario MP Pierre Poilievre to be their new leader.

In the end, it wasn’t much of a contest. Poilievre easily clinched victory with an impressive 68.15 per cent of the available points on the first ballot — a decisive result that puts the right-wing and populist politician in a strong position to lead a united party into the next general election.

Poilievre didn’t just dominate in the points — he nearly swept every riding in the country. …

The campaign was nasty at times. Poilievre was in a pitched battle with Charest — a more moderate Tory — not only for the leadership but for the party’s identity.

Poilievre accused Charest of being a closet Liberal, while Charest slammed his opponent in turn as a radical who has sought the support of criminals associated with the Freedom Convoy.