Canada Needs 'All Hands'

We are at a critical juncture in Canadian history—a moment when every vote matters and every voice counts. The prospect of Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives taking power poses a real threat to the future of our nation, echoing the Trump-era nightmare that is wreaking havoc on our neighbors to the south. Poilievre has been running a relentless, quasi-legal campaign for years, mobilizing a base fueled by anger, division, and resentment—an eerily similar demographic to the one that propelled Trump into office. But while they shout about freedom and prosperity, their policies are nothing short of a Trojan horse for economic suffering and social decay. 

Let’s be clear: this is not a clear mandate for the Conservatives. Polls may show a "horse race," but the majority of Canadians do not want to see the Conservatives in power. Yet, like the U.S., many of Poilievre’s supporters are set to vote against their own interests, lured by slogans and scapegoating, unaware that the policies they’re endorsing will gut the very systems that keep them afloat. Healthcare will be slashed. Retirement security will be eroded. And many Canadians—working-class and middle-class alike—will find themselves worse off, some irreparably so. Poilievre's Conservatives aren’t just out of touch—they're dangerous, a gang of elitists masquerading as populists while promising handouts to their wealthy cronies.

I’ve been a lifelong supporter of the NDP, but these are not normal times. While I continue to disagree with the Liberals on certain issues—the Carbon Tax, their ill-conceived Christmas GST/HST measures, and more—I cannot deny that, at their core, they have often had the right priorities. The Liberals, at least, have demonstrated a commitment to social cohesion, healthcare, and a more inclusive economy. What we’re seeing from the Conservatives is something far more cynical and destructive. This is not the Red Tory conservatism of Bill Davis or Joe Clark. This is a hard-right, mean-spirited slash-and-burn agenda that will set Canada back by decades, all while enriching a privileged few.

This moment in history is too important to squander. Canada has the chance to lead the world—economically, environmentally, and socially. We could be the model of prosperity, fairness, and innovation. But if we fail to seize this opportunity and instead hand power to a party hellbent on emulating the worst of U.S.-style capitalism—grinding poverty, skyrocketing inequality, gutted healthcare, and an endless cycle of work and worry—we may miss this chance entirely. Worse still, we risk condemning ourselves to a half-decade (or more) of irreversible damage.

This is a call to action. We need everyone—progressives, centrists, pragmatists—to unite and prevent the rise of a Poilievre regime. The stakes could not be higher, and the cost of inaction could not be graver. Let’s not wake up the morning after the election wondering how we let this happen. Let’s act now, together, to safeguard Canada’s future and ensure it remains a place of opportunity, equity, and hope for generations to come.