On August 7, 2020 I had my letter to the editor published in the Western Standard titled:.‘Erin O’Toole isn’t “woke” enough to beat Trudeau in the East’, in which I argued that former Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leader Erin O’Toole was not sufficiently in tune with how most people in Eastern Canada think, including the lion’s share of CPC voters residing there..I believe that my prediction was proven correct when the CPC under the leadership of Erin O’Toole lost the last federal election to the Trudeau Liberals, primarily as a result of the seeming deep aversion in the East to rightwing populism, especially where gun control and identity politics are concerned..With Pierre Poilievre being the front runner in the current CPC leadership election, I once again write to convey my deep concern that this right wing populist, a prodigy of former Reform Party of Canada leader Preston Manning, with his strong opposition to a federal carbon tax, unashamed support for gun rights, and “Voodoo Economics” (to quote the late U.S President George H W Bush) where his recent comments on both cryptocurrency as well as the Bank of Canada are concerned, will quite simply be unpalatable to most Easterners. I believe that this will be especially true come the next federal election in vote rich areas of the East such as the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal and Ottawa which tend to be socially liberal, economically progressive, and environmentally aware..I believe that only a progressive, centrist and moderate red Tory such as Jean Charest will be able to connect with voters in these key urban megapolises in the East, with their the large foreign born populations and very “woke” university educated youth. Ethnocultural groupthink and diaspora politics factor very heavily into voting choices, especially at the federal level, in these areas. This is one of the many reasons why Charest is doing so well there..I do not believe that Pierre Poilievre with his right wing populism, early political career spent with the Reform/Alliance in Alberta, and recent embrace of the Trucker Convoy, will be able to make the needed breakthrough in the East to finally topple the corrupt Trudeau Liberals..CPC voters need to vote wisely and strategically in the forthcoming leadership election..The lion’s share of Easterners are not prepared to vote for anyone more to the right than a Brian Mulroney or Joe Clark..Gila Kibner.Edmonton, Alberta
On August 7, 2020 I had my letter to the editor published in the Western Standard titled:.‘Erin O’Toole isn’t “woke” enough to beat Trudeau in the East’, in which I argued that former Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leader Erin O’Toole was not sufficiently in tune with how most people in Eastern Canada think, including the lion’s share of CPC voters residing there..I believe that my prediction was proven correct when the CPC under the leadership of Erin O’Toole lost the last federal election to the Trudeau Liberals, primarily as a result of the seeming deep aversion in the East to rightwing populism, especially where gun control and identity politics are concerned..With Pierre Poilievre being the front runner in the current CPC leadership election, I once again write to convey my deep concern that this right wing populist, a prodigy of former Reform Party of Canada leader Preston Manning, with his strong opposition to a federal carbon tax, unashamed support for gun rights, and “Voodoo Economics” (to quote the late U.S President George H W Bush) where his recent comments on both cryptocurrency as well as the Bank of Canada are concerned, will quite simply be unpalatable to most Easterners. I believe that this will be especially true come the next federal election in vote rich areas of the East such as the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal and Ottawa which tend to be socially liberal, economically progressive, and environmentally aware..I believe that only a progressive, centrist and moderate red Tory such as Jean Charest will be able to connect with voters in these key urban megapolises in the East, with their the large foreign born populations and very “woke” university educated youth. Ethnocultural groupthink and diaspora politics factor very heavily into voting choices, especially at the federal level, in these areas. This is one of the many reasons why Charest is doing so well there..I do not believe that Pierre Poilievre with his right wing populism, early political career spent with the Reform/Alliance in Alberta, and recent embrace of the Trucker Convoy, will be able to make the needed breakthrough in the East to finally topple the corrupt Trudeau Liberals..CPC voters need to vote wisely and strategically in the forthcoming leadership election..The lion’s share of Easterners are not prepared to vote for anyone more to the right than a Brian Mulroney or Joe Clark..Gila Kibner.Edmonton, Alberta
