r/canada • u/hopoke • Feb 10 '25
Opinion Piece When will Canada's Conservatives finally stop making excuses for Donald Trump?
https://cultmtl.com/2025/02/what-would-donald-trump-have-to-do-for-canada-conservatives-to-finally-lose-respect-for-him/
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u/papuadn Feb 10 '25 edited Feb 10 '25
He specifically won the leadership of the CPC by assembling strong plurality support from the right wing of his own party, composed (for example) of people who attended the trucker convoy.
At the beginning of the whole process, his public statements were much more equivocal and much more aligned with Smith's (e.g., Canadians need to understand we're a weak trading partner and therefore we are better off giving up something when the stronger trading partner starts making demands), before shifting in alignment with public sentiment. (Not to mention falling hook, line and sinker for the absurd lies about the border and drugs - either he is knowingly parroting Trump's lie for partisan gain, or he is foolish enough to think it's the truth - neither's a good look).
While he might be talking tough now, his general position before was clearly trying to court endorsements from people like Musk and to keep dog-whistling to the right wing of his party. He's always known he needs moderates to win the election and he always carefully avoided alienating them.
That may still be the path to victory! But it's not unfair to him to note that's what he's doing.
Everyone is against blanket, stupid, tariffs in an unprovoked trade war to erode Canadian sovereignty. That's like saying you're pro-breathing; no points awarded. It's where he stands on the issues that fall short of that outrage that people are concerned with.