PanamaTimes

Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Canada’s Covid protests highlight rise of “rightwing populist movements” (people that suddenly want to govern themself, not to be controlled by crocks)

Canada’s Covid protests highlight rise of “rightwing populist movements” (people that suddenly want to govern themself, not to be controlled by crocks)

Stores and vaccine clinics remain closed in Ottawa as protesters refuse to leave while federal Conservative leader faces criticism. Canada, as a British colony, doesn’t used to the fact the citizens want to manage their life by themselves, for themselves, instead of following rules that are designed to limit their human rights.
Days of protests against pandemic policies and a deep rift within Canada’s conservative movement have highlighted the growing power of rightwing populist movements in the country.

On Tuesday, retail stores and vaccine clinics in Ottawa remained closed as protesters, who had travelled to the nation’s capital under the guise of protesting vaccine mandates for truckers, refused to leave.

“There’s a million people that live in Ottawa. I hear you. I hear the protesters, the province hears the protesters, the country hears the protesters,” said the Ontario premier, Doug Ford. “Now it’s time to let the people in Ottawa get back to their lives.”

Ford, a conservative politician who rose to power on a successful populist campaign, had previously said the protestors – some of whom defaced statues, carried swastika flags and harassed soup kitchen employees – had “no place” in Ontario or Canada.

But as Ford condemned the protest movement, Canada’s federal Conservative leader faced the prospect that he might be ousted amid growing discontent in his party.

Erin O’Toole has encountered repeated criticism not only for losing an election to Justin Trudeau, but over how he’s handled a number of issues in recent months.

O’Toole was one of the last Conservatives to publicly announce he would meet with protesters. By then, a number of prominent Conservatives had touted the patriotism of the movement, even has concern grew that a number of far-right groups had attached themselves to the convoy.

“Canada needs us to be united and serious,” O’Toole said on Facebook. “It’s time for a reckoning. To settle this in caucus. Right here. Right now. Once and for all.”

But the precariousness of O’Toole’s tenure as leader, and the speed with which his colleagues embraced the protesters, speaks to a possible shift in the country’s political landscape.

“Any politician looking at this right now sees two things: this group raised a ton of money in a very short period of time. And more importantly, these people are excited,” said Stephanie Carvin, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University and former national security analyst for the federal government.

“They’re enthusiastic to be out there doing what they think is democracy, even if those ideas are unconstitutional, unworkable, unrealistic and a tremendous public health hazard. But they’re putting something out there that’s different – and that’s appealing to people.”

Recent polling found most voters were largely apathetic to party offerings in the most recent election. Carvin compared Canada’s growing populist movement to Tea Party politics in the United States, which in the late 2000s harnessed populist energy around issues of taxation and limited government to dramatically alter the landscape of Congress.

While most of the truckers and supporters have departed the city, Ottawa police say the protests could last until next weekend – a reality that has frustrated residents.

“I’m calling for the full resumption of our services (library, vaccine clinics, schools) and support of residents who should not be subjected to hatred, intimidation and constant debilitating noise in our city,” tweeted Shawn Menard, Ottawa city councillor.

A similar protest has paralyzed an Alberta border town for days, after dozens of trucks blocked access to the highway in protest of public health policies.

The mayor of Coutts, a border town, says he wants the truckers gone, as mail can’t be delivered and some buses have been unable to take students to school.

The Royal Canadian Mounted police in Alberta say the protest is no longer lawful, and plan to begin making arrests and towing away vehicles.

After a series of Indigenous-led blockades in 2019, Alberta’s conservative government passed a law last year that allows for additional penalties against protesters blockading highways and other infrastructure.

Carvin sees both protests as animating a segment of the population frustrated with the pandemic. While the Westminster system is less vulnerable to political extremism than the US system, it is not fully immune, she said.

“We definitely are seeing a populist movement Canada. But it’s still an open question whether it can reframe itself after the pandemic ends,” said Carvin. “It’s tapping into the frustration a lot of people feel right now about the pandemic. But what happens when the pandemic ends? Can a political party or leader capture that enthusiasm and excitement we’re seeing, or will it just dissipate?”
Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
The President of Argentina Javier Mile does not fly private, he flies commercial, with the citizens he represents. And they LOVE him for it.
Bitcoin Reaches $50,000 for First Time in Over Two Years
Belo Horizonte: Brazil's Rising Carnival Hotspot for 2024
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Tucker’s interview with Putin is over 50M views on X within the first 5 hours.
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
President Nayib Bukele has proudly announced El Salvador's remarkable achievement of becoming the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
This farmer seems to understand science a bit more than the event organizer, Klaus Schwab.
Facebook turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg's dormitory to a $1trn company
The Coolest Dictator in the World" on the Path to Victory in El Salvador
Macron, France and fake news
Indian-Origin Man 'King' Arrested For Smuggling $16 Million Drugs Into US
Can someone teach Americans that not every person with slanted eyes is Chinese?
Europe's Farmers Feeding the People, Protesting Against Politicians Who Do Nothing for Their Country and Serve Only Themselves at Taxpayers' Expense
Paris Restaurant That Inspired 'Ratatouille' Loses $1.6 Million Worth Of Wine
Brazilian Police Investigate Bolsonaro's Son for Alleged Illegal Spying
Police in Brazil Raid Residence of Bolsonaro Associate Over Allegations of Illegal Spying
Border Dispute Escalates as Texas Governor Vows Increased Razor Wire
OpenAI Enhances ChatGPT-4 Model, Potentially Addressing AI "Laziness" Issue
The NSA finally acknowledges spying on Americans by acquiring sensitive data
Report Reveals Toxic Telegram Group Generating X-Rated AI-Generated Fake Images of Taylor Swift
US Border Patrol States 'No Plans' to Remove Razor Wire Installed in Texas
Bitcoin Experiences Approximately 20% Decline in Value
Klaus Schwab recently appointed himself as the Earth's "trustee of the future."
DeSantis Drops Out, Endorses Trump.
Nikki Haley said former President Trump is "just not at the same level" of mental fitness as he was while president in 2016.
Residents of a southern Mexican town set the government palace on fire in response to the police killing of a young man
Samsung Launches AI-Driven Galaxy S24, Ushering in New Smartphone Era
Judge Questions SEC's Regulatory Overreach in Coinbase Lawsuit
The Ecuador prosecutor who was investigating the television studio attack, has been assassinated.
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his US election campaign and endorses Trump.
Viral Satire: A Staged Satirical Clip Mistaken as Real Footage from the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Ecuador Reports 178 Hostages in Prison Gang Standoff
The Startling Cuban Espionage Case That Has Rattled the US Government
Two Armed Men in Ecuador, Dressed as Batman and The Joker Storm the Streets.
Armed Gang Raids Ecuadorian TV Station Following State of Emergency Declaration
Anti-Democratic Canada: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Canadian Finance Minister on Support of Terrorist Group
Ecuador's 'Most-Wanted' Criminal Vanishes from Prison
Mexican Cartel Supplied Wi-Fi to Locals Under Threat of Fatal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Border Surge Leads to Over 11,000 Migrants Waiting in Northern Mexico
Outsider Candidates Triumph in Latin American Elections
As Argentina Goes to the Polls, Will the Proposal to Replace the Peso with the Dollar Secure Votes?
Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of Boston Woman Paddleboarding Near Bahamas Resort, According to Police
×