By Canadian Press

Decision to bow out of leadership race weeks in the making: Poilievre

Jan 24, 2020 | 10:30 AM

OTTAWA — Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre says weeks of uncertainty about whether he actually wanted to enter the party’s leadership race came to a head as deadlines to sign contracts loomed.

He says he went to bed a few nights ago pledging that if he did not feel “all in” for the job when he woke up, he’d drop out — and that’s what he did Thursday, throwing a bombshell into the ongoing campaign.

Poilievre, known as a hard-edged, scrappy fighter on the floor of the House of Commons, grew emotional as he described his decision to back out.

He says he took some advice from a friend: write two letters to his toddler, one describing why he chose to run and a second laying out why he didn’t.

He says he liked the second letter better, and decided he was tired of constantly sacrificing his personal life for his professional one.

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Poilievre made the comments on his way into a meeting of Conservative MPs and senators gathered to discuss strategy for Parliament’s return last week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.

The Canadian Press