Susan Delacourt: Pierre Poilievre’s MPs are disappearing even faster than he is - Toronto Star

An eighth departure suggests the Conservative leader is struggling to be heard within his unwieldy caucus, Susan Delacourt writes.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, delivers a speech on national unity in Edmonton on Sept. 29, 2026.

Susan Delacourt is an Ottawa-based columnist covering national politics for the Star. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on X: @susandelacourt

It could have been worse for Pierre Poilievre — at least Scott Aitchison is not leaving the Conservative caucus to join Mark Carney’s Liberals.

But Aitchison, a one-time leadership opponent of Poilievre’s who has represented Parry Sound—Muskoka for nearly seven years, is the kind of Conservative that Carney has been attracting. He’s a man over 50 in Ontario and polls have been showing migration from Poilievre to Carney in that demographic.

The eighth departure from Poilievre’s caucus is in itself remarkable — I can’t recall a similar exodus within 17 months or so of an election. The Conservatives have now lost more MPs than the New Democrats won in 2025. 

But it’s the kind of MP that Aitchison is that will prompt more speculation about whether Poilievre really can keep all Conservatives under the same tent.