The Canadian Right

The rise of the extreme right around the world has many concerned about the future of liberal democracy and our fundamental institutions that guarantee human rights and the rule of law.

Many focus on leaders such as Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Viktor Orban, and others.

Many Canadians seem to believe it could never happen in Canada.

Recent events have made them think.

The extreme right has come to Canada, and its goal is to take over the Conservative Party, Canada’s current official opposition party.

In January, a group of truckers and their supporters occupied Ottawa for three weeks, calling for “freedom” and for the overthrow of the government. They were joined on an almost daily basis by Conservative members of parliament who supported their right to protest while appearing to share their political messages They used this pretext to justify disruption to the lives of Ottawa citizens while the protestors claiming that they were fighting for freedom threatened many for their ethnic backgrounds or for wearing masks to protect against Covid. 

Chief among these members of parliament was Pierre Poilievre, currently the front-runner for the leadership of the Conservative Party. His base is the radical right, similar to the base that supports the Republican Party in the United States, and his political strategies and messages are imported from the Trump wing of that party.

He rails against the “elites” despite being a member of parliament – the elite of elites – for his entire adult life. He subscribes and promotes ridiculous conspiracy theories and aims to tap into the discontent that the radical right has with government in general and “progressives” in particular. They respond to racist slogans and seek a white Canada, often flying American Confederate flags during their protests and wearing Trump style MAGA caps.

Poilievre attacks the institutions of democracy as being anti-democratic, and promises to bring back freedom to Canadians, ignoring global polls that show that Canada is among the freest countries in the world. He spouts hatred and lies as well as Trump and uses the “us and them” divide to motivate his followers. In particular, his attacks on the independence of the Bank of Canada, his rantings about cryptocurrencies as well as his promotion of conspiracy theories to legitimize the racism and fears of many Canadians seem to appeal to his followers who currently form the base of the Conservative Party.

Many believe that he will win the Conservative leadership and shift the party further to the right.

He may well do so.

He is tapping into voter fatigue with all the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, claiming that the Covid-19 policies of the federal and provincial governments (to close down the country to prevent infections) was an attempt to curtail individual liberties and deprive Canadians of their rights.

He is also tapping into voter fatigue with Justin Trudeau – well into his third term in office and accused by many of capitalizing on photo ops and fancy words to disguise his inability to lead and respond to the frustration of many voters with the drastically increased cost of living and the limits imposed by Covid-19.

Indeed, many of Canada’s problems are caused by the global situation that no one leader can control. But like all good populists, Poilievre is blaming Trudeau and making headway among radical and right-wing voters who seek someone to blame for their ills. This is made easier by the seeming lack of economic policy leadership coming from the government. 

Many believe that Poilievre could never win a federal election because Canada is a center-left polity.

That’s quite likely the case but if he succeeds in rallying the right and faces an electorate tired of Trudeau believing that there is no other alternative in sight, he might turn the tide in his favor if liberal apathy sets in and their voters stay at home.

What can liberal democrats in Canada do to prevent such a calamity.

In my view, Prime Minister Trudeau must conclude that his time has come and that his continuing presence at the helm of government could well affect his party’s fortunes and Canada’s future.

Liberals will have to quickly then elect a new leader who can demonstrate proven governing, leadership and communication skills to connect with voters. Liberals must understand that Covid-19 has changed the world and that new social and economic policies and programs are needed to address the fears of many and unify them towards shared goals. The same old remedies cannot work in this new world, where many feel frustrated, alienated, and marginalized by changing social and economic conditions.

Finally, Liberals must strengthen their messaging about the dangers to Canadian democracy posed by Poilievre and his base, while tempering this with strong policy options that can convince Canadians that they not only sound good but are in fact deliverable.

One Liberal who may be capable of leading the party to a fourth electoral victory and safeguarding liberal democracy is Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. A former journalist, she has the charisma, intelligence and experience to lead the party. As the negotiator of the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, Canada and the United States, and, later as Foreign Minister and now Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, she has the national and international credentials to provide Canadians with effective liberal democratic leadership.

Canada is in for interesting times.

So is the world.

Never has there been a need for a global coalition against extremism and authoritarianism, and never has there been a need for Canada to play a proactive world in its development.

And, never has there been a greater need for Canadians to protect their democratic institutions and traditions.

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Edition: Estefanía Cardeña