Poilievre visit to convoy camp causes outrage
The Opposition Leader once again publicly shows support for the radical fringe
I once heard Stephen King say in an interview that the reason folks like apocalypse stories so much is because we all imagine we would be one of the people to survive.
That’s the fantasy - that you will live and all the people and institutions you don’t like will not, and you will finally be free.
This has been on my mind lately as I watch Pierre Poilievre tour his political theatre road show across Canada (at an average cost to taxpayers of $562,428.92 a month). His supporters include the rabid anti-Trudeau segment of society. The Fuck Trudeau flag bearers. The anti-vax, anti-carbon tax conspiracy theorists. They all want Trudeau forced out of office so they can run Canada “their way.” If this were The Stand, Poilievre would be Randall Flagg and the “Freedumbers” his loyal recruits following him to Vegas. The problem with this analogy is Poilievre isn’t Flagg - he’s Lloyd Henreid.
Poilievre first won election in 2004 and in 20 years he has done nothing of significance to help Canadians or improve the country. His role has been to serve as the higher-up’s “attack dog” and he follows their orders, voting against unions, minimum wage, rent control; whatever the anti-liberal cause of the day is. He has attacked the Liberals, the Bank of Canada, the WEF, journalists, and his fellow members of parliament. Standing beside the leader, ready to support whatever orders he’s given. He doesn’t lead. He follows.
Now, suddenly, he’s leading. But not strongly, or bravely, or well. It is public knowledge that Poilievre is considered by many on the Hill to be the most unlikable and repellent MP in the House. After Andrew Scheer stepped down, Poilievre announced he was making a bid for the CPC leadership only to suddenly renege, saying only that he wanted to spend more time with his family. It is more likely the powers that be told him to stand down, that it wasn’t his time.
His time is now. With the Liberal position weakened by the carbon tax, the pandemic and the convoy, they are vulnerable. He handily won the vote for CPC leadership in 2022 by focusing his message on making Canada the “freest country in the world”, and being endorsed by Stephen Harper. The attack dog was unleashed to tear into the underbelly of the Liberal agenda.
Since then Canadians have endured a daily onslaught of social media attacks which started out criticizing policy but quickly morphed into a frenzy of personal attacks, at times an almost unhinged spewing of lies and hyperbole. He has called Trudeau and Trudeau Sr. Marxists, and repeatedly uses phrases like “crime, chaos, drugs and disorder”, or “death, destruction, chaos and carnage.” He has taken his lead from Trump in calling the media “fake news”, accusing them of attacking him while he attacks them when they dare question him. He blames Trudeau personally for everything: homelessness, the housing crisis, rising food prices, drug use, oil prices. The picture he paints of Canada is a country drowning in lawlessness, poverty and corruption.
He is, however, noticeably short on explanations as to why he is a better choice. Poilievre has watered down his message to Canadians to four simplistic catchphrases: axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, and stop the crime. After 18 months he has yet to offer a single detail of any plan he has to turn his slogans into action.
Last week a video was posted on social media showing Poilievre visiting an encampment of anti-carbon tax protestors with a Diagolon flag drawn on one of the trailer doors. Public reaction was one of outraged disbelief that a party leader and potential prime minister appeared on camera with such a radical group, so much so there was some speculation on Twitter that he wasn’t sober. There is no actual evidence of that. Poilievre is not a sparkling conversationalist at his best, so the fact he was wandering aimlessly around a parking lot mumbling “axe the tax” isn’t exactly suspicious behaviour for him. He also had the presence of mind to suggest a different location when one of them asked him to take a photo in front of a Fuck Trudeau flag, so clearly he had some wits about him. Regardless, he was in their trailer, said about Trudeau “everything he says is bullshit, from top to bottom” and told the protestors that “everyone hates the tax” and to “keep it up.”
Calls are increasing for Poilievre to denounce the support of the more radical protestors, but so far he is silent. Perhaps his intent is to have them think he’s on their side to get their votes. The more unsettling thought is that he may agree with them.
Poilievre appears to be doing a credible job of rallying the tinfoil hat troops, but his new persona is being vigorously managed by his team and his weak spots are glaringly obvious whenever he goes off script. It’s hard to picture him being as radical a leader as Trump; Canadians are historically defenders, not attackers. Some say they don’t believe Poilievre will last; that public distaste for him will cause the CPC to replace him with someone more palatable before the 2025 election. It has likely crossed more minds than mine in these conspiracy-laden times that this may have been the plan all along. Send in the attack dog to create “chaos and disorder”, then replace him with a seemingly saner option at the 11th hour. And then?
Exit Lloyd. And the intended Randall Flagg will step in.