By Maria Cheng

OTTAWA (Reuters) -A lifelong politician who just last year was projected to become prime minister of Canada, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is now struggling to define his party’s future and offer Canadians a viable alternative to Prime Minister Mark Carney.

In recent weeks, Poilievre, a populist Conservative who has doubled down on adopting U.S. President Donald Trump’s combative style on some issues, has triggered discontent within his own party.

Last week, one legislator defected to Carney’s Liberal Party and signalled other party members may yet join him. Two days later, another Conservative politician quit the party, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

The troubles facing Poilievre, who lost an election in April to Carney, highlight the challe

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