OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addressed his recent remarks regarding former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Wednesday. He denied suggesting that Trudeau should be jailed but stood by his criticism of the RCMP's leadership, which he described as "despicable" for allegedly covering up for the Liberal government.

Poilievre's comments have sparked discontent within his party, with some Conservative MPs expressing concerns about his leadership. Despite this, several MPs voiced their support for him during a press briefing on Parliament Hill. Poilievre expressed confidence that none of his MPs would leave the caucus, following reports that five members had reservations about his leadership style.

In a recent interview on the Northern Perspective YouTube channel, Poilievre stated, "Many of the scandals of the Trudeau era should have involved jail time." He specifically referenced Trudeau's vacation on the Aga Khan's private island and the SNC-Lavalin affair, claiming that if the RCMP had done its job, Trudeau would have faced criminal charges.

The RCMP investigated both incidents but did not lay any charges. In the case of the SNC-Lavalin affair, the ethics commissioner found that Trudeau violated the Conflict of Interest Act by attempting to influence the former justice minister. Current RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme has supported the decision not to pursue charges, citing insufficient evidence.

On Wednesday, Poilievre reiterated that he did not say Trudeau should be jailed. He clarified, "I was asked about the scandals of the last 10 years of the Liberal government and what I would do if such scandals and corruption were to happen when I become prime minister, and I said I would have zero tolerance for corruption. Nobody is above the law."

His comments have drawn criticism from opposition parties, with the Liberals, Greens, and NDP calling for an apology. Government whip Mark Gerretsen labeled Poilievre's remarks as "shameful" and questioned his qualifications to lead the country.

Despite the backlash, Conservative MPs have largely defended Poilievre. Ontario MP Michael Barrett stated that Poilievre's comments "speak for themselves" and emphasized support for the RCMP. Other MPs, including Andrew Scheer and Greg McLean, highlighted the need to focus on pressing issues like inflation and job security rather than internal party disputes.

As the Conservative caucus met to discuss these issues, some members downplayed the significance of Poilievre's comments, framing them as out-of-context remarks from a podcast. Andrew Lawton, a Conservative MP, noted that the caucus remains united in support of their leader.

The situation continues to evolve as party members navigate the implications of Poilievre's statements and the ongoing political landscape in Canada.