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<\/p>\nPierre Poilievre has tapped a veteran Conservative campaigner to help steer the party through the next federal election.<\/p>\n
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Steve Outhouse, an affable Nova Scotian with deep roots in the federal Conservatives as well as provincial Tory parties, will serve as Poilievre\u2019s campaign manager in the next federal campaign. It will be Outhouse\u2019s first time running the national campaign.<\/p>\n
Outhouse replaces Jenni Byrne, who publicly announced in August she would not continue in the role after last April\u2019s election loss. Byrne told Global News Monday that she will remain as an adviser to both Poilievre and the party, and that she has spoken to Outhouse.<\/p>\n
He joins Poilievre\u2019s team at an interesting time for the party \u2014 still polling near 40 per cent support, but lagging behind the Liberals. Poilievre has also faced repeated questions about his leadership amid slumping popularity numbers, one MP crossing the floor and another heading for early retirement from federal politics.<\/p>\n
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Another federal election is unlikely in the immediate future \u2014 with the Liberals having passed their budget over the opposition of Poilievre and the Conservatives \u2014 but in a minority Parliament, Outhouse can\u2019t bank on time to get the party campaign-ready.<\/p>\n
Outhouse declined an interview request when reached in Saint John\u2019s, Newfoundland, on Monday, where he is still working on newly-elected Premier Tony Wakeham\u2019s transition team.<\/p>\n
Conservative spokesperson Sarah Fisher confirmed Outhouse\u2019s hiring, which was first reported by the Toronto Sun on Sunday.<\/p>\n
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A longtime Conservative staffer turned campaign consultant, Outhouse has recently run successful provincial conservative campaigns in Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as former New Brunswick premier Blaine Higgs\u2019 unsuccessful bid for re-election last year.<\/p>\n
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He\u2019s also had experience running federal campaigns, notably Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis\u2019 failed bid for leadership in 2022.<\/p>\n
Outhouse has connections to the social conservative wing within the larger Tory movement, but he\u2019s well respected across the various factions that make up the Conservative Party \u2014 something that could prove useful when he has to sell tough decisions to caucus.<\/p>\n
\u201cSteve is very consultative, but I don\u2019t think that should be confused with weakness or not knowing his own mind \u2026 He\u2019s very good at deciding what direction to go, but also making sure that other people\u2019s voices are heard,\u201d said Hamish Marshall, the party\u2019s former campaign manager under Andrew Scheer.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis job requires tough decisions, which not everyone is going to love. So starting from a baseline of respect is a great place to start.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSteve has always been a happy warrior type that can be very motivating for people on the campaign, and I think that\u2019s important for the team, it\u2019s important for candidates,\u201d said Rob Batherson, a former party president and Halifax West candidate, in an interview Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Outhouse) is very connected with all parts of the Conservative movement, and can work well with different parts of the coalition.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Outhouse has the resum\u00e9 to run a national campaign, perhaps more important is his personal connection with Poilievre himself.<\/p>\n
Outhouse served as Poilievre\u2019s chief of staff when the Conservative leader served as the minister of Employment and Social Development in the waning months of Stephen Harper\u2019s government, meaning their professional relationship goes back more than a decade.<\/p>\n
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