Poilievre’s code words dangerous to Canada

Pierre Poilievre’s role as a disruptor is cultivated. The idea of someone going to Ottawa to bring elites to their knees has appeal. But unlike Doug Ford’s blue-collar persona, Poilievre is a member of the Ottawa elite and a Conservative insider for the last 20 years. This obvious contradiction doesn’t seem to bother supporters.

Of course, Poilievre has no detailed plan. He doesn’t need one. He connects with disenchanted Canadians using code words and phrases like “gatekeepers,” stick-it-to-theman tough-talk, and claiming the Bank of Canada governor will walk the plank.

This fits well with the I’m-not-going-totake-it-anymore

crowd today. He promises more freedom in one of the freest country in the world, a new unregulated cryptocurrency financial world and boasts connections to the anti-government Freedom convoy.

Polls tell him code words like gatekeepers resonate among the conspiracy-loving demographic that’s now angry at the soaring cost of living and growing income inequality. Their frustration is amplified by social media, has become fuel for conspiratorial sub-plots, easily spun by manipulators, like the new breed of populist politicians, of which Donald Trump is the vanguard.

Poilievre’s campaign is running against government. Harm will result from his promises, which threaten our institutions with misinformation and conspiratorial consternation. Just as Donald Trump threatened America’s institutions.

Compared to the other conservative leadership candidates, Poilievre’s campaign is a well-oiled machine, steered by competent Conservative operatives from the Stephen Harper days. If Poilievre wins, what does that say about Canada’s Conservative party?

That angry and anti-government Canadians who borrow ideology and tactics of the far-right American conservative movement have taken control of the party.

CSIS has warned us that the Freedom convoy had direct ties with American far-right extremists and Republican politicians. CSIS says far-right extremism is a bigger threat to Canada then a foreign invasion landing on our shores. We can only hope that Conservatives will come to their senses. Jon Peter Christoff, West Kelowna