Take Nothing for Granted
"Polls don't vote. People vote." – Ben Meiselas's message to Canada.
We are just three days from the Canadian federal election, and the threats — from outside and within — are mounting.
Leave it to Donald Trump to attempt a last-minute monkey-wrenching of the election by returning to his threats against our nation and insulting Canadians once again, calling us the “51st state.”
One has to wonder if he’s trying to jinx Mark Carney or looking to sink his Maple MAGA minion, Pierre Poilievre. Maybe out of spite? Or maybe because he just hates losers?
Either way, Trump's threat has the potential to drive voters to the polls to resist the MAGA machine.
Meanwhile in Canada, aging Conservative icon, traitor-in-chief, Preston Manning is beating the drum of national division, warning that the country could breakup if people don't vote for Poilievre.
It's not a good look for Pierre.
And it suggests an ugly civil war in the once Big Blue Tent between the MAGA hardliners in the west and the less ideological grifters backing Doug Ford.
I would like to get out the popcorn for the backbiting and bloodletting that is to come, but this election is far from a done deal.
Take Nothing For Granted
The Conservatives have a massive data machine. They know where every one of their voters is, and they have the money to go all out in the final 72 hours. In key battleground ridings, such advantages count — big time.
But here’s what really worries me — their refusal to soften the authoritarian message.
In previous elections, Conservative campaigns tended towards the political centre in the closing weeks. This was about reassuring the non-aligned middle-of-the-road voters that it was okay to vote Conservative.
But not Pierre — he’s digging in with his threat to turn Canada into MAGA North.
He’s boasted about his plan to imitate Trump's attacks on universities and deport foreign students involved in protest marches. He’s also openly floated that he will use the notwithstanding clause to override the courts.
Meanwhile, key Conservatives are musing about the ease by which they could gut the civil service through the implementation of “DOGE NORTH.”
Clearly, Poilievre sees no need to soften his message.
His supporters are showing up at rallies chanting that they don't believe the polls. They are motivated and polls don't vote.
What’s At Stake
I don't fear Donald Trump, but I do fear Pierre Poilievre becoming Prime Minister.
That’s why it’s so important to get out and vote in this election.
Mark Carney has been strong in this campaign. He has the momentum and he’s done an excellent job presenting the image of a "wartime" Prime Minister to reassure worried Canadians. This may bring him over the line in a big wave.
But here’s the danger: If that wave washes out NDP candidates in key ridings, the long-term health of Canadian democracy is thrown off balance.
One of the defining features that has kept our country from going as far to the right as the United States is that we have had a three and four-party system rather than just two parties.
No matter how big or small the NDP presence in the House of Commons has been, New Democrats have acted as a bulwark from the tendency of the Liberals to imitate Conservative privatization and neo-Con economics.
In the last Parliament, it was New Democrats who forced historic legislation to establish national dental care and pharmacare. Those wins will make life better for millions of Canadians.
A Strategic Vote Is Still A Vote
There are key ridings — Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Edmonton, Manitoba, London, Hamilton, and Kapuskasing–Timmins–Mushkegowuk — where New Democrats are the best choice to beat Conservatives.
These will be close races, and the reasonable desire to vote for Mark Carney could tip the balance for Pierre Poilievre.
We can’t let that happen.
What we can do is elect a Parliament where the MAGA crew are defeated. We also need to maintain a progressive check and balance on power.
Both are possible.
Trump is making it clear that the morning after the election, he’ll ramp up the aggression on Canada. We need a strong parliament with a progressive vision to stand up to the threats and tyranny.
Go to it, my fellow Canadians.
We've got this.
Don't make the mistakes we did in our elections here in the United States
vote vote vote....
Elbows Up!
I hope and pray for a good outcome in Canada. It’s bad enough that we have been thrown into MAGA hell here in the US. Can’t let this disease spread north to you.