About 1,500 supporters showed up at the federal Conservatives’ Calgary Stampede event on Saturday at Heritage Park where the party’s leader, Pierre Poilievre, threw a number of jabs at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

“He might be gone before I arrive,” Poilievre quipped, suggesting Trudeau might resign. “Did you hear about that by-election in Toronto?”

The Liberals lost what many considered a Toronto stronghold in a by-election last month, which led to anonymous Liberal MPs calling for Trudeau to step down.

Poilievre told the crowd: “Ever since, Justin Trudeau has been in panic mode,” adding, “Don’t feel offended, Calgary, that Justin Trudeau is hiding from you, he’s actually hiding from his own caucus, terrified to meet with the people who are supposed to be his greatest supporters.”

Since becoming head of the Liberal Party in 2013, Trudeau has gone to the Calgary Stampede every year except for when COVID was going around. The PM generally posts a few pictures of himself, such as in an empty stadium or a parking lot, flipping pancakes far from the main events and the crowds of Western Canadians.

However, local porch pirate and Liberal MP George Chahal is one of nine of Trudeau’s MPs reportedly demanding the Liberal caucus chair, Brenda Shanahan, set up an in-person meeting following the shocking by-election loss.

During his speech, Poilievre also mocked Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, suggesting she thinks balancing the budget just requires canceling her Disney subscription, as she once said.

The Opposition leader also addressed the cost of living crisis, highlighting the fact that Canadians are increasingly relying on food banks.