It was a hundred years ago when demagoguery was being preached in Munich. It was six years ago when a demagogue won the republican party nomination in the United States. Canadians said it could never happen here. And what do you think is happening in Canada today?
The greatest challenge to Canada is what is happening in the conservative party of Canada. In a leadership contest that uses the same rules as failed the party in the selection of its last two leaders, we see front runners who defy all that the party stands for. With its membership swamped by temporary sign-ups, it is no longer a party of conservatives but a party belonging to those seeking power.
And who are theses seekers. They are MP Pierre Poilievre of Calgary who represents the Ontario riding of Carleton and former MP and mayor Patrick Brown of Brampton.
Both men are creatures of politics. They have never held a real job.
Patrick Brown is a retail politician from Barrie, Ontario who manipulated his way to into parliament where he became an acolyte of Jason Kenney. Kenney showed him the value of ethnic groupings in politics. Brown curried favor with those from the Indian sub-continent. He used them to swamp the membership of the Ontario progressive conservatives and win the party’s Ontario leadership in 2014.
Poilievre has also had his heart set on the leadership of the Canadian conservatives. He made his name in parliament challenging the finance portfolio. He has no background or training in the field but falsely charges the Trudeau liberals of causing the current inflation in Canada. He supports Bitcoin while maligning the Bank of Canada. He uses the term ‘Freedom’ in welcoming the support of the purported Freedom Convoy and border blockades of those fighting the restrictions of masking, lockdowns and vaccinations during the pandemic.
Either of these two men will take the conservative party into unchartered waters. Neither bring the party a better direction. Neither has plans for the future beyond their own reach for power. Canada can do better.
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Copyright 2022 © Peter Lowry
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