Very interesting summary about Canada. But also sad to read about the current situation. Many people in politics I know in Sweden often see Canada as an inspiration where everything is good and well-functioning. This is one more example of how much damage and divisions populism is creating.
I don't know what's in Bernier's heart. But his party is certainly right-populist, anti-immigration, and Covid-skeptical.
Bernier himself is obviously not as illiberal as someone like Donald Trump, but I'd argue that it's fair to judge him for the issues he's chosen to emphasize. He didn't hammer eliminating the corporate tax, he called for putting soldiers on the borders to stop irregular refugee crossings. He is catering to and promoting the ideas of illiberal populists, then trying to play it off politically as contrarianism ("Mad Max"—a moniker I don't care for for this reason). He might be a liberal promoting illiberalism for political gain. I'm not sure that's better.
I also think the best argument for defending Bernier as a liberal is judging him based on the political divides (and relative importance of different policy areas that defined those political divides) of about a decade ago. We're not in that world anymore. And I think that he's probably dug himself into a hole where his best chance at getting back into Parliament is continuing to cater to the ideas that he's built the PPC on, so I'd be pleasantly surprised to see him moderate in the way that Ford has and Smith might.
Thank you for a thoughtful piece and response. I think I knew him better perhaps a decade ago. I think of a Steve Bannon or a Nick Fuentes as pure illiberal and dangerous. To pander to that ilk is so dangerous.
Very interesting summary about Canada. But also sad to read about the current situation. Many people in politics I know in Sweden often see Canada as an inspiration where everything is good and well-functioning. This is one more example of how much damage and divisions populism is creating.
Maybe I have not kept up but is it fair to characterize Mad Max as illiberal? Maybe in some ways, but fundamentally?
I don't know what's in Bernier's heart. But his party is certainly right-populist, anti-immigration, and Covid-skeptical.
Bernier himself is obviously not as illiberal as someone like Donald Trump, but I'd argue that it's fair to judge him for the issues he's chosen to emphasize. He didn't hammer eliminating the corporate tax, he called for putting soldiers on the borders to stop irregular refugee crossings. He is catering to and promoting the ideas of illiberal populists, then trying to play it off politically as contrarianism ("Mad Max"—a moniker I don't care for for this reason). He might be a liberal promoting illiberalism for political gain. I'm not sure that's better.
I also think the best argument for defending Bernier as a liberal is judging him based on the political divides (and relative importance of different policy areas that defined those political divides) of about a decade ago. We're not in that world anymore. And I think that he's probably dug himself into a hole where his best chance at getting back into Parliament is continuing to cater to the ideas that he's built the PPC on, so I'd be pleasantly surprised to see him moderate in the way that Ford has and Smith might.
Thank you for a thoughtful piece and response. I think I knew him better perhaps a decade ago. I think of a Steve Bannon or a Nick Fuentes as pure illiberal and dangerous. To pander to that ilk is so dangerous.