Pierre Poilievre’s ‘Bring it Home’ Rally Sparks Energy in London
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LONDON, ON – Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre energized a crowd of over 2,500 supporters at RBC Place London on Sunday afternoon with his “Bring it Home” rally. The event took place just hours before Mark Carney was officially announced as the new Liberal Party leader and Canada’s 24th prime minister.
The rally, which began at 2 p.m., covered key issues such as the carbon tax, crime, drug use, housing costs, and gun laws. However, much of Poilievre’s 40-minute speech focused on Carney, his ties to Justin Trudeau, and his financial decisions.
Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to a crowd of 2500 attendees at the ‘Bring it Home’ rally at RBC Place London, Ontario, March 9, 2025.Veronica Miranda
Pierre Poilievre Criticizes Carney and Liberal Economic Policies
Pierre Poilievre wasted no time attacking Carney, calling him Trudeau’s “economic architect” and warning that Canadians should not expect real change under his leadership.
“They’re pulling a sneaky trick by replacing Justin Trudeau with his economic advisor, Mark Carney,” Poilievre said. He accused the Liberals of misleading Canadians about their carbon tax policies and financial disclosures.
Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, won the Liberal leadership race with 85.9% of the vote. Although he previously suggested eliminating consumer-based carbon tax policies, Poilievre expressed doubt, arguing that little would change.
Pierre Poilievre-Economic Concerns, Housing Crisis, and Tax Cuts
Pierre Poilievre criticized financial loopholes and blamed Carney for rising taxes, housing costs, and food prices.
He also accused Carney of profiting from moving billions of dollars and thousands of jobs out of Canada, citing Brookfield Asset Management’s decision to relocate its head office from Toronto to New York. Carney’s team denied his involvement, stating the move happened after he left the company.
Poilievre pledged to amend the Conflict of Interest Act to require party leadership candidates to fully disclose their financial interests. He also reaffirmed his commitment to reversing the Liberal capital gains tax, promising to remove taxes on energy and investments to encourage businesses to invest in Canada.
Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre greets rally attendees after a 40-minute-long speech, March. 9, 2025.Kai Wilson
Poilievre pledged to amend the Conflict-of-Interest Act to require party leadership candidates to fully disclose their financial interests. He also reaffirmed his commitment to reversing the Liberal capital gains tax, promising to remove taxes on energy and investments to encourage businesses to invest in Canada.
“What we need in this country is boots, not suits,” Poilievre declared, prompting loud cheers from the crowd.
Student Support and Rally Energy
Western University students made up a notable portion of the audience. Many members of the Western Conservatives club attended.
Matt Lasker, a second-year Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies student, shared his excitement about the event.
“It’s important to know who’s going to run the country, and you should invest in your future,” Lasker said. “I want the cost of living to go lower. I want things to be more accessible for people my age, and I believe Pierre matches my interests.”
Lasker estimated about 30 club members were in attendance and described the event as “electric.”
“It was a great time. Pierre hyped up the crowd. Everyone was cheering, and we even had a big flag on stage,” he said.
Amanda Yakobovits, a fourth-year biology and psychology student, attended her first political rally and was struck by its impact.
Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre makes a speech infront of a crowd of 2500 attendees at RBC Place London, March. 9, 2025.Kai Wilson
“I’ve recently become more involved with politics,” she said. “It’s important to not just talk about democracy but actively participate in it.”
Counter-Protests and Heated Exchanges
As rally attendees exited RBC Place London, they encountered a vocal group of counter-protesters holding signs with messages like “Proud to be woke” and “PoiLIEvre.” (Pierre Poilievre)
Western alum Noah Reid, one of the counter-protesters, said he wanted to show that Poilievre “doesn’t have the base he thinks he does.”
Tensions escalated as protesters and rally attendees exchanged heated words. Some counter-protesters accused Poilievre’s supporters of being “white supremacists” and “Trump lovers.”
Police maintained a strong presence, with about 20 officers from the London Police Service ensuring order at the venue.
Among the counter-protesters was Will Ippoltio, a King’s University College social work graduate student. He initially planned to attend the rally but decided to stay with the opposing crowd.
“I can’t turn against my people. I agree with these folks a lot more than what he’s saying in there,” Ippoltio said.
He also criticized the Conservative Party’s use of “common sense” rhetoric.
“I think common sense means if people are homeless on the street, you build houses and give them a place to live,” he said.
Federal Election Approaches: Canada Braces for a Showdown
With the federal election set for this September, Poilievre and Carney are preparing for what is expected to be a highly polarized campaign. Poilievre has emphasized lowering taxes, addressing the housing crisis, and increasing financial transparency in government.
Conservative rally attendee mockingly poses infront of counter protestors outside of the “Bring it Home” rally at RBC Place London, Ontario, March 9, 2025 Kai Wilson
As political tensions rise, Canadians will soon choose the leader they believe can best shape the country’s future. Will Poilievre’s economic reform promises and “common sense policies” resonate with voters, or will Carney’s experience in global finance and governance prove more appealing?
One thing is clear—this election is set to be one of the most consequential in recent Canadian history.
Poll Tracker –Polls point to newly competitive race with Conservatives ahead.
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