The rapid growth of the far-right in Canada, and seeing the future consequences of that in America today, is the not-so-secret issue behind the issues this election.
Opinion
Evan Balgord & Bernie Farber
Far-right movements are rooted in racism and hate. They stand in direct opposition to a multicultural, pluralistic democracy.
Trump demonstrated to right-wing parties worldwide that embracing the far-right could lead to power. Now, as we witness the consequences of this in the U.S., especially for those targeted by hate, we must choose a different path.
You might be concerned with issues like the cost of living, housing, the environment, reconciliation, 2SLGBTQ+ safety, wealth inequality, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and many others. We are too.
We can assure you that every issue Canadians care about worsens as the far-right gains power. That’s why standing against the far-right is the most pressing issue in this election—whether it’s the far-right government in the U.S. or movements here in Canada.
In the U.S., decades of social justice and environmental progress are being undone. Abortion rights are being stripped away. Experts warn the U.S. could cease to be a democracy in just a few months.
The rise of the far-right in the U.S. has opened up critical conversations among liberals, centrists, and conservatives that we never thought possible. People are realizing that the fight isn’t about the U.S. vs. Canada; it’s about the far-right vs. everyone else.
For generations, the far-right has steadily gained control of local governments and Republican Party positions in the U.S. – Canadian far-right movements are now trying to emulate that success.
Over the past eight years, we’ve seen the far-right in Canada rapidly grow their base and influence. They are winning local elections and shaping policies.
In the 2022 municipal elections, school board races across several provinces were dominated by candidates focused on banning “critical race theory,” “gender ideology,” and progressive policies from education.
At the 2023 Conservative Party Convention, delegates voted to deny the existence of transgender people and to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion in the public sector. Policies that have also been a priority for the Trump administration.
Conservatives today speak of a “civil war” within their movement. One senior strategist even noted that “[Poilievre] looks too much like Trump. He sounds too much like Trump.” There may still be an opportunity for reasonable voices to steer the CPC away from far-right and American influences and restore it as a true Canadian conservative party.
The Trudeau government had ten years to disrupt the growing far-right but failed. They could have tackled the root causes of polarization—the anxieties that the far-right exploits—by addressing inequities in Canada and meeting people’s basic needs. They promised to rein in social media’s harms and reform hate crime laws, but couldn’t finish the job.
A year ago, seeing three Canadian flags on a car might have made us think of supporters of the so-called Freedom Convoy. Today, the situation feels different.
The Trump-worshipping far-right cannot be both pro-Canada and pro-Trump. Now is the time for progressives like us to define what values Canada should stand for.
We are a multicultural nation, and we should take pride in that. We must confront our history and fulfill our promises of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. We need to honor our commitment to social, environmental, and economic justice. This is the path to defining Canadian identity.
We are proud to be Canadian because of the incredible people who are working toward a country that is safe, diverse, equitable, prosperous, and inclusive.
By framing Canadian values as progressive values, we can and must push the far-right out and expose their loyalty to hateful ideologies over their commitment to their neighbors and communities.
The Canadian Anti-Hate Network has identified alternative wellness clinic owner and Vancouver Club member Joshua Lenti-Jones as a paying member of the white supremacist dating site WhiteDate.
Major Tristan Armstrong posted on another far-right website that a girl is at “peak marriagability [sic]” the moment she has her first period.
We have identified four more people who attended the white nationalist conference, thanks to tips received from the public.
