Summary of “New Biography Ripper Delivers a Searing and Convincing Critique of Pierre Poilievre”
This article reviews Mark Bourrie’s biography “Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre,” which portrays the Conservative Leader as an unchanged political figure since his teenage years in Calgary’s Reform Party backrooms.
Key Points:
- Bourrie characterizes Poilievre as “the political equivalent of a hockey goon” and a “ripper” who sees politics as war
- The biography argues Poilievre hasn’t evolved his tactics or outlook since adolescence
- Poilievre is described as the “angriest person on Canada’s political stage” and “the nastiest leader of a major party” in Canadian history
- The book covers Poilievre’s rise from teenage volunteer to Conservative Leader, highlighting his aggressive communication style and effective media tactics
- Bourrie acknowledges Poilievre’s strengths as a constituency member and family man, but questions his ability to unite the country
The reviewer, Charlotte Gray, calls the biography “a searing but convincing critique” that shows how Poilievre’s confrontational politics found success amid declining traditional journalism and changing socioeconomic conditions. She notes that recent events (the Liberal leadership race and Trump’s tariff threat) have potentially undermined Poilievre’s electoral strategy, suggesting voters may decide “an angry ripper may not be what Canada needs right now.”
The article is from The Globe and Mail, published April 1, 2025, during the Canadian federal election campaign.
