Are Canadian Conservatives fascist? No, but we need to carefully observe their tactics.
This article was edited and published by Troy Media as well. See the link at the end of the article.
Prince George, BC, August 28, 2025 - My first experience with Conservatism in Canada was living in a constituency where my Member of Parliament, Michael Wilson, was an influential member of Brian Mulroney’s caucus. I corresponded regularly with Wilson, and while we disagreed on much, he assured me that his party was one of “compassion and compromise”. I found this to be largely true, especially regarding the economy and foreign affairs, and Wilson’s perspective impacts my expectations of Canadian politicians to this day.
Unfortunately, the Conservative Party of Canada is very different from the Progressive Conservative Party of Wilson and Mulroney, and it is difficult to find compassion or compromise anywhere in Pierre Poilievre’s sphere of influence. In fact, I find it difficult to find many elements of conservatism in his party. Several Canadian right-leaning parties combined in the early 2000s to form the Conservative Party of Canada, but even Preston Manning’s Reform Party was more tolerant and open to compromise than Poilievre’s iteration.
Political parties naturally evolve and change with the times. Nonetheless, Poilievre’s party is frighteningly different from Conservatives in countries very close to Canada. British Tories, for example, have demonstrated great compassion for the suffering children of Palestine. Poilievre and his caucus have been uncompromising, closed-minded, and outright cruel toward Palestinians. They are marching in lockstep with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the fact that most Canadians believe that Israel is committing genocide.
I would stop short of using the word “fascist” to describe Pierre Poilievre, however. Fascism, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, is an ultranationalist, authoritarian political philosophy. It opposes pluralism, individual rights, equality and democratic government. It focuses on which groups belong and which do not. It is characterized by a fixation with national decline - whether real or imagined.
There are elements of fascism that simply do not apply to Poilievre’s party, such as an embrace of violent paramilitarism. While Poilievre and his MPs engage in what many consider thuggish behaviour in the House of Commons, they do not carry sticks. Nonetheless, the use of tactics from the fascist playbook by Poilievre and his cronies should be concerning to all who care about the future of democracy in Canada.
Fascists are bullies who target those who have difficulty fighting back. Poilievre’s attack on the gender non-conforming community is a case in point. They form a very small part of Canada’s population and pose no threat to the well-being of others. My experience with gender inclusivity in schools has, in fact, been extremely positive. It brings with it an outlook of acceptance that permeates the school and makes it more pleasant for everyone. The concerns expressed by Poilievre supporters are simply not based in reality.
Another red-flag was raised recently by Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who promised to introduce legislation to remove a “double standard” in our judicial system with regard to the treatment of immigrants who commit crimes. Immigrants are members of a vulnerable minority who, in fact, commit very few crimes in Canada. Secondly, the Supreme Court of Canada has already ruled on this issue.
It is important to recognize that democracy in Canada is fragile. One of the few checks and balances in the Westminster structure is an independent judiciary. A political party can be elected to a majority in parliament and pass any legislation it wishes. Our courts, therefore, protect us from tyranny. The fact that Conservatives try to undermine the decisions of our judges should terrify Canadians.
Poilievre’s party remains dominant in “blue no matter who” constituencies, but even with his fixation that Canada was broken under Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canadians chose a Liberal banker over Poilievre in the last election. It’s hopefully becoming clear to Conservatives that their party not only cannot win, but it’s also heading in a very dangerous direction under Poilievre.
Today, as when I first became politically active as a Canadian, there is a lot to be said for compassion and compromise.
Here is the link to the edited version of the article published by Troy Media. You will notice that there is a word missing.