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The runner-up in the recent B.C. Conservative leadership race urged Pierre Poilievre to avoid divisive comments after the federal Conservative leader took a dig at her campaign over the weekend.
In a video posted to social media on Thursday, Caroline Elliott said she was a lifelong Conservative and supporter of Poilievre personally.
“I voted for you in your own CPC leadership race. My family and friends donate to you at my encouragement. I’ve attended events and knocked on doors for you. Spoken up for you on social media,” Elliott said in the video.
“So your MPs, and now you personally, celebrating my defeat in the B.C. Conservative leadership race is disappointing. The race is over and it’s time to unite, not divide.”
Elliott’s video was in response to comments Poilievre made at a Calgary Stampede event over the weekend. The federal Conservative leader nodded to the attendance of Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who edged out Elliott in a fourth-ballot victory in May.
Poilievre praised his former caucus colleague’s victory as a “big wing against liberal lobbyists from out east.”
B.C. Conservative leadership candidate Kerry Lynne Findlay, right, speaks as Caroline Elliott looks on during a debate in April. Findlay edged out Elliott on the final ballot to win the party’s top job. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press)
The comment was widely interpreted as a shot against Elliott’s campaign manager, Kory Teneycke.
Teneycke had run successful campaigns for Ontario Premier Doug Ford prior to joining Elliott’s team.
Rifts between Poilievre and Ford’s teams came to a head during last year’s federal election campaign when Teneycke publicly criticized the Conservative campaign, arguing they would lose if the leader didn’t pivot his messaging to focus more on U.S. President Donald Trump.
CBC News reached out to Poilievre’s office for a comment on Elliott’s remarks.
Anthony Koch, who worked on both Elliott’s campaign and Poilievre’s 2022 federal leadership bid, reposted Elliott’s video saying she is “the ultimate class act.”
In her post, Elliott indicated she had been “in the backcountry for a few days” and only had a chance to respond on Thursday.
“I know politics is about addition not subtraction, putting the public interest ahead of personal disputes,” Elliott said.
“I’ll keep fighting every day to bring people together for the future of my province and our country. I just hope you decide to do that, too.”
