Giancarlo Zorrilla attended a campaign rally for the first time in his life in March. It was a rainy night near Vancouver — typical weather for Canada’s west coast — but that wasn’t stopping the 29-year-old Canadian from seeing Pierre Poilievre speak.

For months, Pierre Poilievre had been riding high. He had successfully tapped into public anxiety over an affordability crisis in Canada, his attacks against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had found a receptive audience,

Canadian PM and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre took part in the debate in the shadow of US President Donald Trump and his threats, including those of tariffs,