July 2024
One of the things that has become very, very apparent is how far from classical liberalism the Liberal Party of Canada has drifted, to the almost cult-like following of Dear Leader, Justin Trudeau. Supporters seem incapable of acknowledging how far Trudeau has strayed from true liberal values and into a socialist worship cult, where no criticisms or dissent of Dear Leader are allowed or tolerated.
As a big and small “C” conservative, I refuse to live by those rules and frequently speak out against my fellow conservatives and members of both the Conservative Party of Canada and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. I didn’t support former leader Andrew Sheer, but did support, initially, his successor, Erin O’Toole. After O’Toole strayed down the same flip-floppy, Liberal-lite road as Sheer, I supported the efforts to oust him as leader. I supported and continue to support current leader Pierre Poilievre, but staying true to my principles, I will withdraw my support if I feel he strays to far from my conservative values.
Although many will accuse Poilievre of being “far-right,” liberals have beat that one to the point that “far-right” means anything that they do not support themselves, which for today’s Liberal Party of Canada, means anyone politically to the right of Chairman Mao. This would of course encompass classical liberals, whom, despite being a conservative, I’m in closer philosophy to than the Cult of Trudeau devotees. To be specific, I consider myself fiscally conservative, socially liberal on most, but not all, subjects, with a good dose of libertarianism thrown in.
Now, to get to the point of why I’m renouncing my membership in the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. I’ve been disenchanted with current leader and Premier Doug Ford for several years now. Although I have long been a supporter of Ford, backing him for the leadership of the party in 2018, I feel he has strayed too far from traditional conservative values, even progressive conservative values, and is now running Ontario as more of a centre-left Liberal. The debt is higher than at any time in the history of Ontario, which was bad under the 15-years of McGuinty/Wynne governments, but Ford is doing nothing to return to the fiscally responsible government that he promised. Although a lot of money needed to be spent during the recent pandemic, and provincial spending is increasing due to numerous factors, such as Trudeau’s disastrous immigration policy, Ford had done little to reign-in spending where he can and “cut the gravy train” like his much more fiscally responsible brother, the late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
I also didn’t support everything that Ford did and supported during the recent pandemic either, but that would take up a whole different column.
For me, the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back was Ford’s recent ouster of Carelton MPP Goldie Ghamari from the PC caucus “effective immediately,” on Friday, 30 June, for having a zoom meeting with British journalist, documentary film maker and activist Tommy Robinson. Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known professionally as Tommy Robinson, has been denounced by many as a “far-right” activist and other slurs designed to smear him as a violent, crazy radical. I recently met Tommy in Toronto on his cross-Canada tour, sponsored by Rebel Media, and found him to be a smart, motivated, compassionate, and sensible advocate for free speech, respect for the law and respect for fellow human beings. I don’t support everything he has done or said, and I absolutely reserve the right to denounce him if I feel he strays to far from what I feel is sensible, moral, and legally right.
What I do strongly denounce are the attempts to silence him, jail him repeatedly for specious reasons, and paint him as an evil man, when that simply is not true. As Robinson stresses, his opposition to Islam is reserved for the radical Islamists, not the every day Muslim wanting to go about his day. He points out that he has Muslim friends and supporters.
Robinson first came to prominence by exposing the Muslim rape gangs terrorizing the U.K. These rape gangs have been exposed in part because of Robinson’s work, with several being sentenced to time in British penitentiaries. Apparently, some didn’t like the fact that he was exposing what a problem the rape gangs were becoming in the U.K.
You can disagree with Tommy; that’s fair. I don’t agree with everything that Robinson does, or has done, either, just as I don’t agree with everything that my closest friends and my parents say and support. You aren’t required to listen to anything he has to say, and you can write your own columns, or produce your own videos showing why you believe he is wrong, but he has a right to express his opinions within the law. That’s called having the freedom of choice and freedom of speech that we Canadians cherish.
Goldie Ghamari had the right to speak with Robinson without being kicked out the PC caucus, after being forced to apologize and distance herself from him. I do wish Ghamari had stood her ground and refused to bend the knee, as it obviously did her no good anyway, but that’s another issue.
So, goodbye Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. If you return to your conservative roots, I may one day return to the party, but for now, I’m returning my membership card.
Don’t worry about me voting Liberal in the next election. As of now, I’ll still be voting for my local PC candidate, but that could change too. Although, as mentioned above, I’m more in line with Classical Liberalism than the “far-right” politically, I’d rather attend my local polling station on election day and formally decline my ballot to the Returning Officer, than vote for someone I can’t support. That includes you Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
Sources: https://globalnews.ca/news/10594060/goldie-ghamari-tommy-robinson-kicked-from-caucus/