An anxious electorate, a new look and a bite out of Liberal polling numbers have all boosted the profile of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who was picked by editors across the country as The Canadian Press 2023 Newsmaker of the Year.

害羞草研究所淗e changed the political conversation, and boy did he reap the benefits,害羞草研究所� Rob Roberts, editor-in-chief at the National Post, wrote in his response to the survey.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 the clear favourite to be the next prime minister.害羞草研究所�

There were 97 votes cast in the annual survey by The Canadian Press, with about 26 per cent of participants from various media outlets across the country choosing Poilievre as this year害羞草研究所檚 newsmaker.

Newly elected Manitoba NDP Premier Wab Kinew, who is the first provincial premier in Canada to be from a First Nation, tied for second place with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at 14 per cent of the vote.

Poilievre, 44, was elected leader with a whopping first-ballot victory in September 2022, unifying the party and its caucus in a way not seen since Stephen Harper became the first leader of the modern Conservative Party of Canada, then prime minister for nearly 10 years.

The official Opposition leader now heads into 2024 after months of rising support in the polls, while Trudeau and his Liberals have been trailing. The governing party has been scrambling to catch up with the Conservatives害羞草研究所� effective messaging 害羞草研究所� and the social media savvy of their leader 害羞草研究所� on housing and the cost-of-living crisis felt by Canadians.

Poilievre also successfully revived the debate over carbon pricing with his relentless 害羞草研究所渁xe the tax害羞草研究所� campaign, tying it to affordability concerns plaguing Canadians. He claimed victory over Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 decision to pause the carbon levy on home heating oil following widespread complaints in Atlantic Canada, where the Liberals were slumping in the polls.

Even Trudeau admitted the messaging has been effective, telling The Canadian Press in a year-end interview last week that the Conservatives have 害羞草研究所渟uccessfully scapegoated害羞草研究所� his signature climate policy as the main culprit behind rising prices.

害羞草研究所淭he Conservative Party of Canada害羞草研究所檚 rise in the polls 害羞草研究所� at the expense of the governing Liberal party 害羞草研究所� has a lot to do with Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre害羞草研究所檚 successful bid to blame the Trudeau government and its carbon tax policy on rising inflation and affordability issues experienced by ordinary Canadians,害羞草研究所� Matt Goerzen, managing editor of the Brandon Sun, wrote in the Newsmaker of the Year survey.

害羞草研究所淭he failure of the Liberals to get ahead of these issues by finding solutions to the rising cost of fuel, food and mortgages has allowed Poilievre to gain the advantage, and he has expertly and consistently tapped into Canadians害羞草研究所� growing anger and frustration regarding our nation害羞草研究所檚 economic hardships.害羞草研究所�

While Poilievre has maintained a campaign-style pace since becoming leader, crossing the country several times over for rallies and fundraisers, next year will mark 20 years since he was first elected a member of Parliament for an Ottawa-area riding.

Long known for his abrasive style and hyper-partisan rhetoric in the House of Commons, Poilievre has somewhat softened his tone 害羞草研究所� and ditched his glasses 害羞草研究所� as part of efforts to redefine himself to Canadians in a way that pollsters believe is working.

Getting more voters, particularly those who live in the battleground ridings in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as women over 50, to warm to the idea of Poilievre being the agent of change after more than eight years of Liberal rule was part of the party害羞草研究所檚 motivation in launching a $3-million advertising campaign.

The advertising also features what many Conservatives see as another key to their success: his wife, Anaida Poilievre.

As she says in the ads, Anaida Poilievre is a Venezuelan immigrant who came to call Canada, and Quebec in particular, her home. She has taken on a greater role in staging fundraising events and appearing at cultural events with newcomer communities.

She also had a hand in designing the party害羞草研究所檚 latest merchandise. That included a T-shirt printed with an image of Poilievre chomping an apple 害羞草研究所� a reference to his decision to swat away a British Columbia reporter害羞草研究所檚 questions about him being a political populist by firing back with his own questions, all while eating an apple on the sidelines of an orchard.

Shared by the party with the tag line, 害羞草研究所淗ow do you like them apples,害羞草研究所� the video caught the attention of Fox News, as well as Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of 害羞草研究所榅,害羞草研究所� the online platform formerly known as Twitter.

Staffers, caucus members and party supporters basked in the viral frame, hauling the fruit to different meetings and events to include in photos.

And if it wasn害羞草研究所檛 already clear whose party it is, the Conservative party recently rolled out new membership cards featuring none other than Poilievre害羞草研究所檚 face, including one with his wife and another with him holding an apple.

害羞草研究所淭ikTok memes a plenty,害羞草研究所� Lenie Lucci, editor-in-chief of the Montreal Gazette, wrote in the Newsmaker of the Year survey.

Neither the Conservative party nor the official Opposition leader害羞草研究所檚 office responded to a request for comment regarding the rise of Poilievre, or a year-end interview with the leader. Poilievre has also not given a news conference since Nov. 23.

Longtime Conservative MP Ed Fast says Poilievre has impressed him with his ability to wield social media as a tool to spread the party害羞草研究所檚 message.

害羞草研究所淭hat is far exceeded what I had expected,害羞草研究所� Fast said in an interview. 害羞草研究所淗is use of social media is exemplary.害羞草研究所�

Many Conservatives credit that success to Poilievre directly, who makes a point of involving himself directly in communication efforts.

That included a recently released 15-minute video ad, with Poilievre as the narrator.

The video went into how the housing shortage in Canada began and how Poilievre plans to fix it. It has generated millions of clicks, but some economists say it plays a bit fast and loose with some facts.

Fast, who was among those Conservative MPs who backed former Quebec premier Jean Charest in the leadership race, said Poilievre had grown into the job.

害羞草研究所淗e certainly learned the ropes of leading a caucus,害羞草研究所� said Fast. 害羞草研究所淚f there害羞草研究所檚 any doubt about that, I want to put that to rest.害羞草研究所�

Fast said he believes Poilievre害羞草研究所檚 next task will be to keep the support he has developed among young people and voters, including those in the labour movement, that have traditionally voted for the New Democrats but are now interested in the Conservatives.

害羞草研究所淏ecause they害羞草研究所檙e new, you want to make sure that they feel comfortable within a broad, big tent Conservative party,害羞草研究所� said Fast. 害羞草研究所淗e has to take steps now to consolidate that support over the next year.害羞草研究所�

After a bruising summer and fall, the Liberals have been given some hope in recent weeks. They saw an opening to attack Poilievre after the Conservatives voted against a bill to implement an updated free trade agreement with Ukraine, as well as government spending estimates that included a Canadian military training mission for Ukrainian troops.

The Liberals accused Conservatives of wading into the 害羞草研究所淢ake America Great Again害羞草研究所�-style politics popularized by former U.S. president Donald Trump and siding with some American Republicans who oppose sending Ukraine more military support.

Canadian Conservatives have squarely rejected both claims, but MPs have nonetheless been scrambling online to explain that they would continue to support Ukraine if they form government. The Conservatives said their issue with the free trade bill is the text害羞草研究所檚 mention of 害羞草研究所渃arbon pricing,害羞草研究所� a policy they vehemently detest.

Ukraine has already had a carbon price in place for more than a decade and the language around carbon pricing in the bill is not legally binding.

There have been other bumpy moments in an otherwise big year.

Poilievre apologized in June after a woman said she was offended by his decision to call her post-Second World War home in Niagara Falls, Ont., a 害羞草研究所渢iny little shack害羞草研究所� while talking about housing prices.

In July, his office issued a statement to say Poilievre had not read, and did not agree with, the 害羞草研究所渟traight pride害羞草研究所� message on a T-shirt worn by a man he took a photo with during a crowded pancake breakfast at the Calgary Stampede.

Poilievre has consistently found ways 害羞草研究所渋nto national headlines and thus into the public consciousness,害羞草研究所� Goerzen of the Brandon Sun wrote in his survey response.

害羞草研究所淔or both good reasons and a few poor ones.害羞草研究所�

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Here is a list of who has had the title in the past, as chosen in an annual survey of senior editors in newsrooms across Canada:

2023: Pierre Poilievre, politician

2022: 害羞草研究所淔reedom Convoy害羞草研究所� protesters

2021: The children who did not come home from residential schools

2020: Front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

2019: Jody Wilson-Raybould, politician

2018: Humboldt Broncos hockey team

2017: Gord Downie, musician

2016: Gord Downie, musician

2015: Justin Trudeau, politician

2014: Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, slain soldiers

2013: Rob Ford, politician

2012: Luka Rocco Magnotta, convicted murderer

2011: Jack Layton, politician

2010: Russell Williams, convicted murderer

2009: Stephen Harper, politician

2008: Stephen Harper, politician

2007: The Mounties

2006: The Canadian soldier

2005: John Gomery, Quebec judge

2004: Paul Martin, politician

2003: Paul Martin, politician

2002: Jean Chr茅tien, politician

2001: Stockwell Day, politician

2000: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1999: Pierre Trudeau, politician (named Canadian Newsmaker of the 20th Century)

1998: Jean Chr茅tien, politician

1997: Sheldon Kennedy, hockey player and advocate for sexual-assault victims

1996: Donovan Bailey, sprinter

1995: Lucien Bouchard, politician

1994: Jacques Parizeau, politician

1993: Kim Campbell, politician

1992: The Canadian Constitution

1991: Brian Mulroney, politician

1990: Elijah Harper, politician

1989: Michael Wilson, politician

1988: Ben Johnson, sprinter

1987: Rick Hansen, cross-country wheelchair athlete

1986: Rick Hansen, cross-country wheelchair athlete

1985: Steve Fonyo, cross-country runner

1984: Brian Mulroney, politician

1983: Brian Mulroney, politician

1982: Wayne Gretzky, hockey player

1981: Terry Fox, cross-country runner

1980: Terry Fox, cross-country runner

1979: Joe Clark, politician

1978: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1977: Ren茅 L茅vesque, politician

1976: Ren茅 L茅vesque, politician

1975: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1974: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1973: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1972: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1971: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1970: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1969: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1968: Pierre Trudeau, politician

1967: Lester Pearson, politician

1966: John Diefenbaker, politician

1965: Lucien Rivard, drug smuggler

1964: Lester Pearson, politician

1963: Lester Pearson, politician

1962: R茅al Caouette, politician

1961: James Coyne, Bank of Canada governor

1960: John Diefenbaker, politician

1959: John Diefenbaker, Joey Smallwood; politicians

1958: John Diefenbaker, politician

1957: John Diefenbaker, politician

1956: Lester Pearson, diplomat

1955: Lester Pearson, diplomat

1954: Marilyn Bell, marathon swimmer

1953: Lester Pearson, diplomat

1952: Lester Pearson, diplomat

1951: Lester Pearson, diplomat

1950: Lester Pearson, diplomat

1949: Louis St-Laurent, politician

1948: Mackenzie King, politician

1947: Barbara Ann Scott, figure skater

1946: Igor Gouzenko, Soviet embassy cipher clerk