Once a beacon of progress, Canadian Conservatism is now a platform for division
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Conservative leaders in Canada have a long history of improving the lives of Canadians and building our international reputation. John Diefenbaker fully supported the implementation of our government-funded health care system. Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney made Canada one of the first Western countries to boycott apartheid South Africa. Stephen Harper apologized to Indigenous Canadians for our disastrous residential school system.
What is wrong with conservatism in Canada today?
As the child of a German immigrant, I am haunted by the Holocaust. I’ve devoted much of my career to understanding how it happened because I feel I have a responsibility to make sure it never again becomes a reality. The most important thing I have learned is that genocide can happen only when we dehumanize our neighbour. The reason why we live in a world where genocide continues to exist is because we don’t see everyone as equal; we arbitrarily choose certain groups of people to marginalize and then attack.
Marginalizing has unfortunately become a common tactic of conservatives in recent years, and this is very dangerous for Canada and for the world we live in.
In the recent British Columbia election, the only clearly stated educational policy in the Conservative platform was to further marginalize the gender non-conforming community, that is, those whose gender expression, identity, or presentation does not align with traditional or societal expectations associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.
When an Ontario principal played a peace song in Arabic at a school Remembrance Day ceremony, Ontario Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Lisa MacLeod called for him to be fired, and Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called playing the song “an absolute disgrace.” It should be noted that “Hamas High” was also graffitied on the school.
Federal New Democrat Heather McPherson is known to wear lapel pins in Parliament to support various groups that face injustice, including Ukrainians and Indigenous Canadians. When she wore a watermelon pin, signifying solidarity with the people of Palestine who have been under a siege and a vicious military assault for well over a year, Conservative Members of Parliament raised such a ruckus that the Speaker of the House had to call for order. Even worse, in the Conservative-led Ontario parliament, Sarah Jama, a black MPP who uses a wheelchair, was officially sanctioned (silenced) for her open support of Palestinians.
Racism and intimidation are not conservative values, but they are regular practices of extremists. I have had many interactions with Conservatives in my lifetime, and until recent years I found them congenial and respectful. Why are they now adopting the tactics of the far-right?
Discriminatory responses do not lead to effective long-term policy, but they can make great soundbites. Ontario Conservative Premier Doug Ford’s reaction to a Donald Trump tweet announcing tariffs on Canada and Mexico is a case in point. “What I found unfair about the comments is to compare us to Mexico,” he said, adding that it was like “a family member stabbing you in the heart.” This is not only racist but also naïve. Why is a bully surprised when he becomes the victim of an even bigger bully?
In contrast, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum – an intelligent Jewish woman and ally of the Palestinian people – offered Trump a much more reasoned and factual reply.
Perhaps change is coming. Members of Poilievre’s caucus have recently leaked information that progressives living in Conservative ridings have suspected for some time. Poilievre is accused of exerting dictator-like control over his MPs, preventing them from serving their constituents. His reaction when confronted on the issue by a francophone reporter was as typical as it is absurd, “I don’t believe you … What are their names?”
Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, a Sikh Canadian, is no stranger to racist harassment. His response to Donald Trump’s tariff announcement offers us all a good strategy for moving forward: “The only thing a bully responds to is strength.”
The world is growing tired of manipulative and even violent right-wing extremism. The greatest hope for humanity is to respond with unity, truth, and courage.
Gerry Chidiac specializes in languages and genocide studies and works with at-risk students. He received an award from the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre for excellence in teaching about the Holocaust.
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Gerry:
Your argument highlights important concerns about the tone of political discourse in Canada, but it fails to acknowledge that the left has long engaged in bullying and repressive tactics that have shaped the political climate we see today.
While the examples you provide focus on alleged conservative marginalization, it’s crucial to explore how leftist tactics of silencing dissent and vilifying opponents have contributed to a culture of division.
For decades, the left has used tactics such as deplatforming, public shaming, and labeling dissenters as bigots to suppress alternative viewpoints. This has stifled meaningful debate and pushed many moderate voices to the fringes. The political landscape you critique did not emerge in isolation; it is, in part, a reaction to a leftist culture that prioritizes ideological conformity over dialogue.
For example:
1. Academic and Workplace Intolerance:
o Conservative academics and professionals often face discrimination and threats to their careers for expressing views that challenge progressive orthodoxy.
o This has created a chilling effect on free speech, particularly in universities, which should be bastions of open debate.
2. Cancel Culture:
o The left has normalized campaigns to destroy the reputations and livelihoods of individuals who express controversial or unpopular opinions. This tactic mirrors the same dehumanizing practices you decry in your response.
3. Identity Politics and Division:
o While the left champions inclusivity, it often marginalizes those who question or critique its approach to social issues. Conservatives, religious groups, and even some feminists who challenge progressive dogma on gender and race issues are frequently vilified.
The Dangers of Selective Outrage
Your critique of recent Conservative actions neglects similar behaviors on the left. For instance:
• Palestinian Solidarity Movements:
While raising awareness of Palestinian suffering is vital, left-leaning parties have often dismissed or suppressed criticism of Hamas’s actions or the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Simplistic narratives have fueled polarization rather than fostering understanding.
• Attacks on Religious and Cultural Beliefs:
Progressive policies often undermine faith-based values, branding them as outdated or oppressive. This alienates communities with deep-rooted cultural traditions and exacerbates division.
Instead of focusing solely on the shortcomings of conservatives, let’s acknowledge the broader cultural issues that both sides must address. Conservatives should indeed reject extremism, but progressives must also abandon their repressive tactics and engage in good-faith dialogue. Building a truly inclusive society requires mutual respect, a willingness to listen, and recognition that both left and right bear responsibility for the current climate.
By addressing the intolerance and divisiveness across the spectrum, Canada can foster a political culture that prioritizes unity and problem-solving over ideological warfare.
Gerry:
Your argument highlights important concerns about the tone of political discourse in Canada, but it fails to acknowledge that the left has long engaged in bullying and repressive tactics that have shaped the political climate we see today.
While the examples you provide focus on alleged conservative marginalization, it’s crucial to explore how leftist tactics of silencing dissent and vilifying opponents have contributed to a culture of division.
For decades, the left has used tactics such as deplatforming, public shaming, and labelling dissenters as bigots to suppress alternative viewpoints. This has stifled meaningful debate and pushed many moderate voices to the fringes. The political landscape you critique did not emerge in isolation; it is, in part, a reaction to a leftist culture that prioritizes ideological conformity over dialogue.
For example:
1. Academic and workplace intolerance: Conservative academics and professionals often face discrimination and threats to their careers for expressing views that challenge progressive ideology.This has created a chilling effect on free speech, particularly in universities, which should be bastions of open debate.
2. Cancel culture: The left has normalized campaigns to destroy the reputations and livelihoods of individuals who express opinions contrary to their own. This tactic mirrors the same dehumanizing practices you decry in your response.
3. Identity politics and division: While the left champions inclusivity, it often marginalizes those who question or critique its approach to social issues. Conservatives, religious groups, and even some feminists who challenge progressive dogma on gender and race issues are frequently vilified. Your critique of recent Conservative actions neglects similar behaviours on the left.
For instance:
• Palestinian solidarity movements: While raising awareness of Palestinian suffering is vital, left-wing parties have often dismissed or suppressed criticism of Hamas’s actions or the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Simplistic narratives have fueled polarization rather than fostering understanding.
• Attacks on religious and cultural beliefs: Progressive policies often undermine faith-based values, branding them as outdated or oppressive. This alienates communities with deep-rooted cultural traditions and exacerbates division.
Instead of focusing solely on the shortcomings of conservatives, let’s acknowledge the broader cultural issues that both sides must address. Conservatives should indeed reject extremism, but progressives must also abandon their repressive tactics and engage in good-faith dialogue. Building a truly inclusive society requires mutual respect, a willingness to listen, and recognition that both left and right bear responsibility for the current climate.
I appreciate your comment, Dana, however as one who works in academia, I must point out the inaccuracies. The ethical standards of educators in Canada require that we honour the academic freedom of our students. I therefore encourage people with more right-leaning views to carefully research and respectfully present their views, as I do with all of my students. Pro-life, pro-Israel and pro-Christian views (among others) are all welcome and respectfully discussed.
Your argument is based largely on extreme right-wing mythology.
Yes, there are people on the left who are discriminatory. As Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl states, “There are two races of men in the world, but only these two – the ‘race’ of the decent man and the ‘race’ of the indecent man. Both are found everywhere; they penetrate into all groups of society.”
To use the existence of a few discriminatory people on the left as justification for racism from the far-right is simply counterproductive in our efforts to engage in life-giving dialogue.
Gerry:
Your argument highlights important concerns about the tone of political discourse in Canada, but it fails to acknowledge that the left has long engaged in bullying and repressive tactics that have shaped the political climate we see today.
While the examples you provide focus on alleged conservative marginalization, it’s crucial to explore how leftist tactics of silencing dissent and vilifying opponents have contributed to a culture of division.
For decades, the left has used tactics such as deplatforming, public shaming, and labelling dissenters as bigots to suppress alternative viewpoints. This has stifled meaningful debate and pushed many moderate voices to the fringes. The political landscape you critique did not emerge in isolation; it is, in part, a reaction to a leftist culture that prioritizes ideological conformity over dialogue.
For example:
1. Academic and workplace intolerance: Conservative academics and professionals often face discrimination and threats to their careers for expressing views that challenge progressive ideology.This has created a chilling effect on free speech, particularly in universities, which should be bastions of open debate.
2. Cancel culture: The left has normalized campaigns to destroy the reputations and livelihoods of individuals who express opinions contrary to their own. This tactic mirrors the same dehumanizing practices you decry in your response.
3. Identity politics and division: While the left champions inclusivity, it often marginalizes those who question or critique its approach to social issues. Conservatives, religious groups, and even some feminists who challenge progressive dogma on gender and race issues are frequently vilified. Your critique of recent Conservative actions neglects similar behaviours on the left.
For instance:
• Palestinian solidarity movements: While raising awareness of Palestinian suffering is vital, left-wing parties have often dismissed or suppressed criticism of Hamas’s actions or the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Simplistic narratives have fueled polarization rather than fostering understanding.
• Attacks on religious and cultural beliefs: Progressive policies often undermine faith-based values, branding them as outdated or oppressive. This alienates communities with deep-rooted cultural traditions and exacerbates division.
Instead of focusing solely on the shortcomings of conservatives, let’s acknowledge the broader cultural issues that both sides must address. Conservatives should indeed reject extremism, but progressives must also abandon their repressive tactics and engage in good-faith dialogue. Building a truly inclusive society requires mutual respect, a willingness to listen, and recognition that both left and right bear responsibility for the current climate.