This Election Is Showing The Real Populists Are Liberals

Like many politically minded Canadians, have been following the early days of our election closely. So much so that I seem to have something to say about it daily. What has struck me the most in the early days of the campaign are how quickly and abruptly the sands have shifted. Obviously, the impact of Trump and his attacks on Canada have stirred up national pride and made anything associated with him toxic. But it's not like any party is supporting Trump, so there has to be something more to what is happening.

Some will point to the replacing of the very unpopular Trudeau. But changing a leader usually isn’t enough - just ask the Democrats. You need to change direction. That is certainly what Carney and the Liberals have done. Most incumbent parties run on their records, the Liberals are running away from theirs. It is why I am so gobsmacked that the Liberals flip flopping on policy so quickly, has not caused more push back, from well, Liberals.

The left in both the U.S. and Canada has labelled any rejection of their policies as populist movements. But the desire for smaller government is a Conservative cornerstone of domestic fiscal policy. Conservatives prefer private sector, market intervention where possible over government involvement. Trump, in the States, is following this playbook by slashing the government (Voice of America) and government duplication (Federal Department of Education). Poilievre in Canada, is promising to shrink the size of government by ending media subsidies and cutting the CBC (now you know where that real or perceived media bias comes from). There is nothing populist about these moves, they follow an economic ideology that you may like or maybe you disagree with, but at least you can respect.

The problem with the Liberals in Canada, is they don’t follow any guiding principles when it comes to managing the economy. They’re fiscal policies are like a box of chocolates. Right now Carney has put his finger in the air and has determined the massive government spending that he approved as lead economic advisor to Trudeau was a mistake and now wants to rein it in. He also wants to reverse course on taxes and cut them. This doesn’t sound like a reasoned economic philosophy, but rather it is the very thing that Liberals call others out for following - populism.

Will see if it works, but Liberals please don't preach anymore about your principles. They change like the wind.

By Gregory Cawsey