VIDEO: Pierre Poilievre shrugs off 'pit bull' descriptions in his role as opposition leader

Go ahead and make your dog comparisons, but Pierre Poilievre suggests that 'pit bull' misses the mark.

"I think I'm more of a golden retriever," he said, with a big smile.

The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada made himself available to NowMedia for a free-wheeling interview during his visit to Penticton.

It turns out Poilievre has a childhood connection to the Peach City.

"When I was a kid we came camping here from Calgary," he said. "And I always dreamed that one day I would grow up and be able to own a place out this way."

But beyond his pleasant childhood memories, Poilievre knows that Penticton's riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay could be a battleground come election time.

"The local residents feel like the NDP has turned its back on them," said Poilievre. "The NDP has signed this costly coalition with Justin Trudeau."

He went on to target NDP MP Richard Cannings in a way that was more pit bull than golden retriever.

"The local MP is now working for Trudeau rather than working for the community," he said.

He went on to tag Justin Trudeau's eight years in office as blameworthy for a high cost of living and housing, low wages, crime, drugs and disorder.

The theme he likes to share is turning hurt into hope.

"The hope that people in Penticton and Trail and Oliver require."

He continued with his criticism of the NDP Liberal Coalition in a way that might just appeal to someone who could vote NDP.

"That's been good for the super-rich and the big corporations out east, who have done really well in the Trudeau years," said Poilievre.

"But it's been total misery for everyone else."

Back to the camping theme, and with families enjoying the beach behind him, he pointed out that, for some, it's unaffordable.

"This summer 30 percent of Canadians have cancelled their summer vacations," said Poilievre.

And he's making it clear that we're going to be hearing a lot from him about the cost of housing.

"Nine in ten young people have said they can't afford a home," said the Conservative leader. "That's never happened before."

His answer: "A common sense Conservative government."

He also said a Poilievre government would find solutions to the rampant homelessness we've seen in cities from coast to coast.

"Kelowna and Peterborough and Vancouver and Toronto weren't like that before Justin Trudeau, and they won't be like that after he's gone."

Big promises. And a big challenge ahead.

In order to take it on, Poilievre needs to win in places like Penticton.

To win in the next election, he has to defeat more than just Justin Trudeau and the Liberals, and it will not be easy.

If he is to become our next prime minister he may have to outperform the NDP and the Liberals combined.