(written by Terry MacNeil, on December 30, 2024, and January 1, 9-10, 2025)

Pierre Poilievre is current leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC). There are two labels that most suit him: “fiscal conservative” AND “neoliberal”. On December 30, 2024, I took note of the slogans that appeared in a typical CPC ad. I shall now comment on them.

“AXE THE TAX”. For a long time, this was Poilievre’s only slogan. So Poilievre will scrap the carbon tax, and the Canadian federal government will do nothing to fight climate change – EXCEPT making it easier for certain fossil fuels to be exported to other countries. Poilievre hilariously claims this will REDUCE global carbon emissions ASTRONOMICALLY.

“BUILD THE HOMES”. So Poilievre will threaten municipalities to build homes – or they’ll lose federal infrastructure funding. When the municipalities fail to accommodate everyone that wants housing (because of lack of federal funding) – the municipalities will be blamed. Meanwhile, the landlords/bastards WILL CONTINUE jacking up our rents and jacking up the price of buying a house.

“STOP THE CRIME”. This sounds like hiring more cops, increased militarization of police, and fewer regulations that try to limit police brutality. And I’m reminded of former Prime Minister (and former CPC leader) Stephen Harper’s big plan (which I expect to be revived) for building tons of expensive (and unnecessary) prisons. But prisons need to be filled with prisoners – so that the prisons APPEAR necessary. I’m betting this will see a big jump in Canadian prison sentences for “crimes” that were once punished with a slap on the wrist.

“FIX THE BUDGET.” Poilievre has been a neoliberal his entire political career – even though he loves to TALK like a “right-wing populist”. But right-wing populists HATE neoliberals and globalization! Well, Poilievre quickly embraced the right-wing populist “Freedom Convoy” before he was made CPC leader – so he was able to ensure “the base” of the CPC would support his candidacy. And to be clear – “neoliberal” means you want to move back to the “liberal economics” that was common in the Western World in the 19th century. So neoliberals are OBSESSED with “deregulating the economy” (aka letting capitalists do what they want), BIG cuts to income taxes (that barely benefit the poor but greatly enrich the 1% of Canadians), BIG cuts to corporate taxes, disempowering labour unions, privatizing government services, and BIG cuts to the social safety net. The governments of Brian Mulroney (CPC), Jean Chretien (LPC – Liberal Party of Canada), Paul Martin (LPC), and Stephen Harper (CPC) were all neoliberal. Justin Trudeau’s LPC government is overall neoliberal, but he RELUCTANTLY took SOME steps to strengthen the social safety net (because of NDP pressure).

For Canada, there was a combination of international AND domestic economic factors, that contributed to the high inflation that occurred after the COVID lockdown. Our politicians speak of reducing inflation, but NEVER talk about doing anything to reduce prices. For instance, the high grocery prices under PM Trudeau are here to stay, and grocery stores will see no reason to lower their prices – even if the carbon tax is “axed”. It seems that bringing in “price controls” (which would actually FORCE grocery stores to lower their prices) is unthinkable for both Trudeau AND Poilievre – but they’re both neoliberals, so we shouldn’t be surprised.

On Jordan Peterson’s podcast (EP 511), Poilievre said the only reason Canadians are suffering – is because of various LPC policies. When PM Poilievre’s cuts fail to fix these problems – he’ll claim he’s powerless when it comes to “the economy” (the old neoliberal lie). Ⓐ