I was sad to hear that Justin Trudeau announced his resignation today—and I hate Pierre Poilievre more than ever. While I’ve voted for Trudeau in the past, this isn’t about supporting the Liberals. In fact, I don’t plan to vote for them anytime soon. Not because they’re particularly bad but because both the Liberals and Conservatives ultimately serve wealthy capitalist interests. I believe the interests of unchecked capitalism are the root of most of our current problems. The difference is that the Liberals support some social services, whereas the Conservatives seem eager to privatize or dismantle them altogether.
What enrages me isn’t that Trudeau is stepping down—it’s why he’s stepping down. His resignation is the result of a calculated, ruthless smear campaign orchestrated by Poilievre that has dragged Canadian political discourse into the mud. Let’s call it what it is: a paid-for, strategic hatchet job against a Prime Minister who, while flawed, was way better than the alternative.
The Conservative campaign isn’t about holding Trudeau accountable for his policies or leadership. It’s about tearing someone down for pure, unadulterated power. Poilievre has weaponized people’s pain and anger, pointing it all at Trudeau with relentless disinformation and divisive rhetoric. I have never hated a Canadian politician before now. Poilievre isn’t a leader; he’s a bully bent on destruction. He doesn’t care what or who gets trampled in his quest for the top job.
What’s worse, his tactics are working. He’s taken pages straight from the MAGA playbook using conspiracy theories, dog-whistle politics, and blatant lies. Canadians, who once prided themselves on being better than this, are buying it. Poilievre isn’t offering solutions—he’s peddling anger, oversimplified soundbites, and empty promises. And now, Trudeau—the one leader who stood firm against this rising tide of poison—is stepping away.
Trudeau didn’t create the systemic issues Canada faces today. He inherited them, many planted by years of Conservative policies. While his record isn’t perfect, he faced monumental challenges—a global pandemic, a housing crisis, and climate change—with a willingness to try and care. That’s more than I can say for Poilievre, whose primary goal seems to be dismantling everything Trudeau built, no matter the cost to Canadians.
The hypocrisy is especially galling. Poilievre brands himself as the champion of the “average” Canadian, but he utterly serves the wealthy elites who thrive on unchecked capitalism. His vision for Canada isn’t about affordability or fairness—it’s about slashing social services, privatizing what’s left, and leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves. And the people falling for his shtick? They’ll be the ones who suffer the most under his leadership.
Trudeau’s resignation is more than just the end of his leadership—it’s a warning sign. The kind of toxic politics we’ve fought to keep at bay in Canada has arrived, and it’s here to stay unless we push back. If Poilievre is the future of Canadian politics, then God help us all.
I’m angry—not because I’m defending Trudeau or the Liberals, but because I’m watching my country fall prey to a man whose vision for Canada is a nightmare. We deserve better than this. Canada deserves better than this. Trudeau may be stepping down, but I’m not going anywhere. And neither should you.
-Louise Mignault
Published in The Seeker January 06. 2025