If Pierre Poilievre Wins | The Walrus

Welcome to the Poilievre Conspiracy Theory Vortex

THIS PAST APRIL, far-right radio host and supplement salesman Alex Jones endorsed Pierre Poilievre, noting that he is the “real deal” and “is saying the same things as me.” And by “the same things,” he mostly means the legitimization of conspiracy theories about “globalist elites” and the World Economic Forum.

Poilievre Won’t Talk about Private Health Care—but He Should

When asked by The Walrus about his plans vis-à-vis private health care, his team provided a statement that ignored the questions. It mentioned Trudeau and wait times and the difficulties for foreign-trained nurses and doctors in having their credentials recognized. The statement vowed to maintain the 2023 deal on health transfers to provinces and territories, in which the federal government committed to investing $198.6 billion in health care over the next decade. But on private care, nada.

Poilievre Has No Economic Platform

WITH LESS than a year to go before the writ is expected to drop, Pierre Poilievre’s economic proposals are vague and shallow—and appear likely to stay that way. Though populists from both sides of the aisle tend to galvanize support by arguing the economy isn’t working for everyday people, the left tends to propose precise policy solutions. They promise, for instance, to tax the rich and invest in universal public services. They promise to regulate markets to stop profiteering in basic-need sectors such as nutrition, health care, and housing. They also promise to nationalize natural resources so everyone benefits from them. Say what you will of left-wing populists, but their intentions are clear.