Political Discourse in Canada

While Canadians look in horror at the political violence in the U.S., it is worth noting that Manitoba was created through political violence. The founder of Manitoba Riel ordered the death of Thomas Scott. This act set off a number of actions that both created Manitoba and further violent clashes that eventually led to the death of Riel himself. It is a much more complicated history than that but our Legislature is now led by a First Nations premier. It might have seemed unthinkable a few decades ago. However, we have had a variety of political leaders from different religious and ethnic backgrounds. This has been at both municipal and federal levels in the province.

We should be proud in Manitoba for having fairly open view on who we elect. By and by, we try to elect the who we think are up for the job and the policies that best reflect where we want to go. We don't seem to have the same old hands in office that the U.S. does. This is not likely a reflection of ageism but that Canadians are more likely to put an end to a political career after that person has been there for ten years or so. The desire for change means third terms are rare. Four terms impossible.

I don't know Canadians are cynical but pragmatic and looking for change. But this isn't everywhere. There are a large amount of areas in Canada that don't change from one party all that much ever. In Manitoba, some provincial and federal ridings have rarely changed parties. Not true in the city. Elections are decided in cities because voters are open to changing their vote. 

We have never quite had the political media that the U.S. has. Every bookstore is crammed with political books. Radio stations are filled with political talk. The news programs usually lead with political news. There are dedicated news networks that talk politics all day. Every newspaper or digital news is heavy on politics. For the U.S., it often means leaning toward one or the other political parties.

There just isn't as much of that in Canada. A few Conservatives have crossed the border to engage campuses and political parties. It has largely not had the same impact as south of the border. There are homegrown conservatives in Canada such as Jordan Peterson. Some of his views such as universal healthcare are pretty progressive and they don't want to hear about in the U.S.

Many on the right are provocateurs. In Canada there are a lot of older and grumpy men who grouse on radio, newspapers and sometimes TV.  There is nothing wrong with that. Change is hard, nostalgia is easy. But the grumpy critics are using their words and their voices. The best of them sometimes use facts. The American-owned National Post with its Trump pardoned former owner are so repetitive in their support for Conservatives federally and for Netanyahu in Israel.  It is probably not surprising that you can't find the paper in places like Manitoba. It is only available in digital form. There isn't any news in it except for business news. 

The right wing in Canada is at war with itself half the time. It hates media in general and bleeds it dry of funding or grasps onto Russian funding. Young conservatives in Canada often listen to podcasts in the U.S. if they read, watch or listen to anything. Many just aren't attracted to Conservatives in Canada. As such, there was not much runway for Americans or even prominent Canadians like Peterson to achieve much discussion heading into the last election.

I have not mentioned the NDP and Greens much. There is plenty of progressive voices but they are often caught up in activism which is often incompatible with governing. The Greens have a respected leader who keeps trying to retire. The party just doesn't get elected at various levels and show they can govern. Once Elizabeth May is gone, it may be the end for the Greens as well. As for the NDP, they fight even about the direction of the party. No strong NDP provincial leader wants anything to do with it. While the federal NDL campaigns for electoral reform, the provincial NDP doesn't support it. It is hard to say what the future direction of the NDP federally is.

So while there are conservatives here saddened by the death of Charlie Kirk, there really isn't any movement here to rally young conservatives. An anti-immigration rally in Toronto in the last day barely generated anyone. More pro-immigration people were on site. The protest didn't even seem to draw much conservative media in Canada although I can't say I have checked all social media.

It is probably important in retrospect to remember that Canada is not the same as the U.S. when we watch people political figures get targeted. As Poilievre and Catherine McKenna reported this weekend, they have required police protection because of threats. We have probably been lucky it hasn't resulted in a terrible outcome. It is important to note that someone went after Trudeau and crashed the gates of Rideau College to get him. Mental illness might have been a factor but the target was political.

In the mean time, it is better to keep conversations going and to keep in mind, the average Canadian is probably less concerned with politics than they are with family, school and work. It is hard to rally a movement when you are making lunch for kids for school the next day.