Ricochet Media
March 18, 2025
2SLGBTQ+ people have also been targets of Conservative campaigning through messaging and policy stances that align with far-right ideologies. Evan Balgord, the executive director of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, said that there is currently “no evidence that the Conservative Party of Canada is aware of the other white nationalist ‘Canada First’ movements,” suggesting that the slogan may have been inspired by the United States Republican “America First” slogan. Balgord notes that many of Poilievre’s statements closely mirror Donald Trump’s discriminatory language.
“He calls diversity, equity, and inclusion programs ‘garbage,’ he blames things on ‘woke,’ and says he’s ‘only aware of two genders,’ doing his part to erase the existence of transgender and gender nonconforming persons,” Balgord said.
Balgord also warns that, regardless of Poilievre’s intentions, such rhetoric could strengthen far-right movements.
“There will be plenty of movements under the far-right umbrella that will be emboldened if Poilievre wins. They will be pressuring the government to undo or fight against anti-discrimination and anti-bullying efforts that benefit 2SLGBTQ+ persons,” Balgord says.
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