The wife of conservative Canadian politician Pierre Poilievre has reached out to a small community in Montreal looking for a temporary place to stay.
But the political staffer and writer was hit with a wave of backlash after commenters realized the town is 2,400 miles away from the region in Alberta her husband is now representing in parliament.
Anaida Poilievre made the public callout last month, ahead of her husband’s return to power as the leader of the opposition this week.
‘I am looking for a short term (one month) furnished rental in Griffintown for a little getaway while I write a book,’ she wrote.
‘I will be coming in and out and at times bring my two kids for a weekend with me, etc. But it’s mainly just me parked at a desk writing all day.’
Anaida confided that she’d had no luck in her search up until that point, primarily due to the city’s bylaws, in which many buildings do not allow short term rentals.
‘I am hoping the place has a gym and swimming pool. Does anyone know if this is possible?’ she asked.
Anaida’s request came just four months after her husband suffered a crippling defeat in the general election going up against newcomer Mark Carney.
Political staffer and writer Anaida Poilievre made the public callout last month, ahead of her husband’s return to power as the leader of the opposition this week
Anaida confided that she’d had no luck in her search up until that point, primarily due to the city’s bylaws, in which many buildings do not allow short term rentals
Carney, taking over the Liberal party from Justin Trudeau, went on to comfortably win the general election to become the next leader of Canada.
But on Monday, Poilievre staged a sensational comeback to win 80.4 percent of the vote in a special election in Battle River-Crowfoot in the province of Alberta, a Conservative stronghold.
The sitting legislator had stepped down to allow Poilievre to run in his seat, thereby allowing him to return to the House of Commons.
Anaida’s post seeking advice was inundated with criticism of her husband’s work, and her own role in his ascension to power.
‘I have so much empathy for you… She wants to get away from Pierre Poilievre. Can someone please help her,’ one respondent wrote.
‘Choosing to stay in a community with large number of immigrants and LGBTQ folks is certainly a choice while preaching hate against gay marriage and immigration.
‘Your presence will be…polarizing…in any condo building if you choose to engage in your politics and Instagram theater while you’re here.’
Anaida’s post seeking advice was inundated with criticism of her husband’s work, and her own role in his ascension to power
On Monday, Poilievre staged a sensational comeback to win 80.4 percent of the vote in a special election in Battle River-Crowfoot in the province of Alberta, a Conservative stronghold
A third added: ‘Sorry but I have absolutely ZERO inclination towards helping someone like you who encourages a genocide of Palestinians and I don’t think anyone else should.’
Similarly, another wrote: ‘This is a community made up of some of the people your husband actively tries to legislate out of existence.
‘There is no room here for the hate that your husband and his followers are trying to codify into law, which it seems you also wholeheartedly support.’
Anaida served as a parliamentary advisor in the Senate and has been an active participant in her husband’s campaigns, delivering speeches and appearing in promotional videos.
She also runs online lifestyle magazine Pretty and Smart Co.
Despite the wave of criticism, Anaida also received some recommendations and warm wishes from locals too.
‘I’m currently writing a book. It’s full of hope and positivity, and I think you’ll love it. After all, kindness doesn’t cost much,’ she wrote.
