Canada: A Defeat from the Jaws of Victory?

The next Canadian federal election is not scheduled until 2025. Yet, the opposition Conservative Party seems to be once again shooting itself in the foot electorally and is risking pulling defeat from the jaws of victory.

Last January, right-wing truck drivers and their supporters (including antivaxxers, and supporters of U.S. style MAGA politics), occupied downtown Ottawa and several border towns for three weeks. They protested a variety of government policies and actually emitted a manifesto that called upon Canada’s de-facto Head of State to fire the Prime Minister and his cabinet and dissolve Parliament.

A number of protestors walked around flying Nazi and Confederate flags while harassing onlookers whose demeanor did not suit their ideological mindsets.

In this, their activities were supported by many in Canada’s Conservative Party, the country’s official opposition. Traditionally a right of center party, it now increasingly caters to its extreme right-wing fringe. Leader Pierre Poilievre and members of his caucus were photographed embracing the protestors, bringing them coffee and donuts, and supporting their messages.

This did not sit well with a majority of Canadians, who remain at the political center and who reject extremes on both sides of the political spectrum.

The Conservative faux pas did not end there.

Ten days ago in Ottawa, three members of the Conservative caucus, including a two-time leadership candidate, had lunch with Christine Anderson, a German neo-fascist Eurodeputy and member of the Alternativ für Deutschland. They were caught in photos smiling cordially with her afterwards. During her visit to Canada, Ms. Anderson met with various neo-Nazi groups and spoke glowingly of the right-wing “resurgence” going on around the world. When the story hit the news, the Parliamentarians and Mr. Poilievre claimed that they didn’t know about Ms. Anderson’s affiliation nor of her party’s racist and neofascist stands on many issues. 

Rather than immediately expel these parliamentarians from Caucus and insist that they resign, Party Leader Poilievre issued a statement condemning their meeting but, in an attempt to continue catering to the extreme right wing of his party, he took no further action. Although Mr. Poilievre claimed not to know Ms. Anderson, a video posted online by a Western Standard journalist on Feb. 19 shows Ms. Anderson saying that she's spoken to the Conservative leader "a couple of times."

In this and other matters, Mr. Poilievre is copying a page from Donald Trump’s playbook – lie as often as you want until it becomes an alternative “truth”. 

Readers may wonder why a Conservative leader, who could theoretically have an excellent chance to win the next election, would countenance such behavior.

Prime Minister Trudeau faces an electorate tired of his leadership, and even a number of Liberals would like him to leave office before the next election. He has had his share of ethics and spending scandals, crises, and criticism about his policies and lack of political judgment, as well as perceptions of corruption within his party and cabinet.

However, Mr. Poilievre is a die-hard conservative afraid of losing his right-wing support to the upstart People’s Party, led by former Conservative Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier. They are deeply extremist, and Poilievre believes that catering to them will keep his right-wing in line.

What Mr. Poilievre seems to forget is that most Canadians are looking for a centrist leader, either Liberal or Conservative, who can ensure that the country be inclusive and progressive while avoiding the importation of American type politics of hate and division.

As I said at the outset, Mr. Poilievre seems destined to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. He is allowing his own tendency to espouse hatred and division to guide his political future and as such lose the next election.

Usually, governments defeat themselves while in power and thus lose elections. In this case, the opposition is ensuring its own defeat, and almost guaranteeing Mr. Trudeau a fourth term in office. 

[email protected]

Keep reading: Unhappy Anniversary

Edition: Emilio Gómez