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This is not the week Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wanted to have.

For the Opposition, budget week is a communications gift. It’s an easy way for the party to call out government spending, shout about what’s been included and decry what’s left out.

For a leader who has built his brand on calling out Liberal spending, tabling a budget with a $78-billion deficit is the political equivalent of pitching a strike straight down the middle to Dodger slugger Shohei Ohtani.

Instead of taking a victory lap around the bases, the Conservative ended the week facing questions about his leadership — after losing one MP to his rivals and another resigning from federal politics altogether.

Here’s how it played out, according to CBC News sources and public accounts.

Leading up to budget day

Prime Minister Mark Carney holds two meetings that set in motion a memorable week in Canadian politics.

One is with Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont, who would ultimately be swayed to cross the floor and serve as a Liberal. Carney didn’t say when they met, just that it was “ in advance of [d’Entremont’s] decision.

Another was with Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux in an attempt to have him defect to the government side of the House, according to a senior Liberal source.

Tuesday

It’s budget day— a newsy day to begin with, especially in Ottawa.