Opinion - In Trump’s Eyes, Canadian Conservatives Are Radical Leftists

(Photo courtesy of X, Pierre Poilievre.)

There is a reality for Canadian conservatives which is awaiting a come-to-Jesus moment when it relates to what it means to, in fact, be a conservative.

The policies of the federal Conservatives in the eyes of US Republicans would square up nicely with those of the socialist wing of the Democratic Party. The policy positions espoused by Canadian mainstream conservative parties would likely be too radical for even the mainstream of the Democratic Party.

It might seem like an extreme statement.

But what would a Republican call Conservative Party positions on hot button topics such as abortion, gun control, socialized medical care, euthanasia and even paid paternity leave?

“A Conservative Government will not support any legislation to regulate abortion,” states the party’s policy statement from September 2023.

Such a statement leaves no room for ambiguity, nor should there be any doubt most leading US Congressional Republicans would label it a radical leftist policy.

Canadian conservatives throw around terms like socialist like it’s some sort of smear against their political foes. But the Conservative Party are pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-socialized medicare in the eyes of American politicians who bother to look.

Staunch pro-life Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders rubs shoulders with equally staunch pro-life Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. (Courtesy X, Danielle Smith)

As tensions rise between the two countries, they’re starting to look.

The perspective of US President Donald Trump, that puts Canadian conservatives in the realm of radical leftists, socialists and likely communists.

While the Canadian conservative movement has been able to skirt any type of in-depth analysis from their US cousins, those days are over for now.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s appearances on FOX News is a glaring example. He was questioned about being a “Progressive” Conservative.

The obvious implication being such a name is an oxymoron for the channel’s American audience.

The situation is leading to a possible interesting situation for Pierre Poilievre, Conservative Leader of the His Majesty’s Loyal Official Opposition, as a federal election draws near.

Poilievre, as his title suggests, has sworn fidelity to a monarch, supports government-funded healthcare and won’t support any abortion legislation. He does have differing views on gun control than the Liberals. But there is nothing in the party’s platform indicating any significant changes to the country’s current policies – certainly not anything resembling Second Amendment rights.

How Poilievre balances what Americans would clearly see as his party’s domestic socialist policies with a White House looking at making Canada the 51st state could prove critical.

The Canadian brand of conservatism has escaped scrutiny from American Republicans regarding their bona fides with the simple fact they call themselves “conservatives.”

As things heat up and an expansionist US looks to take over Canada, the present perspective of the White House will lead to only one conclusion when it comes to the makeup of this country’s federal government.

It’s radically socialist.

And it’s made up of elected officials representing mainstream socialists (NDP), socialist-light (Libs), conservative socialists (CPC), Quebec separatist socialists (BQ) and environmental socialists (Green).

Poilievre will require a pretty significant sized rock to knock him off the perch built on significant polling numbers. But the only poll that matters is the pole you’re balanced on. And, in the current environment, it appears that’s being gnawed on by the beaver of Canadian patriotism and defence of the country’s values.