In a recent Ipsos poll conducted for Global News, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre emerges as the favored candidate for Canada’s top office, outpacing current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The survey reflects a significant increase in Poilievre’s popularity, with 41 percent of respondents preferring him as the best choice for prime minister, marking a five-point rise from the previous year. In contrast, Trudeau’s support remains stagnant at 31 percent.
The poll also reveals a decline in the popularity of Jagmeet Singh, a supporter of Khalistan, and leader of the New Democratic Party, which provides support to the minority Trudeau government. Singh’s popularity has dipped by four points since September 2022.
These survey results were published by Global News amidst an ongoing diplomatic standoff between Ottawa and New Delhi. This standoff follows unverified allegations made by Trudeau against the Indian government concerning the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India’s most-wanted terrorists, was fatally shot by unidentified gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on June 18. Nijjar, aged 45, held Canadian citizenship.
On Monday, Trudeau claimed that Ottawa possessed credible allegations linking Indian government agents to Nijjar’s murder. India promptly dismissed Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd and baseless.”
Poilievre’s Stance on the Allegations
Pierre Poilievre has called on Trudeau to provide more information regarding the basis of his statement in Parliament. Poilievre emphasized that Trudeau had not shared any additional details with him beyond what was publicly disclosed in the House of Commons.
During a media briefing on Tuesday, Poilievre remarked, “I believe the prime minister should be transparent and share all available evidence. Canadians need access to the complete set of facts to make informed judgments.”
Poilievre’s comments came in response to a question regarding the expulsion of an Indian diplomat by Canada. He asserted, “We need to see more facts. The prime minister hasn’t provided any facts. He provided a statement. And I will just emphasize that he didn’t tell me any more in private than he told Canadians in public. So we want to see more information,” Poilievre concluded.
