After two years of Pierre Poilievre as their leader, many Conservative MPs say they are much less free now than they were before his arrival.

The man who promised during his leadership run to make Canada “the freest country in the world” maintains tight control over the actions of his caucus members.

Normally loquacious Conservatives close up like oysters and dare not speak without their leader’s approval. MPs are watched by Conservative staffers both inside and outside Parliament. Elected representatives are publicly called to order for deviating from the party line.

“Everybody is being watched. What we say, what we do, who we talk to. We’re told not to fraternize with MPs from the other parties. And that’s not normal,” a Conservative source said.

  • @kat_angstrom
    4•21 hours ago

    I hate the whole “towing the party line” thing that all political parties do. If my riding votes for an MP, who stands in parliament in favor of something that their constituents don’t want, but the party does, that MP is not reflecting the will of their constituents, regardless of party lines.

    Not surprised that PP is enforcing this kind of anti-democratic stance, even though it’s basically standard practice for all parties.