When Canadian Politics Became Americanized

It wasn't that long ago that Canadian conservatism—whatever you thought of it—was distinctly Canadian.

The arguments were about fiscal responsibility, resource development, trade relationships, the perennial tension between Ottawa and the provinces.

People disagreed, sometimes loudly, but they were disagreeing about Canadian things— The size of the federal government.

Whether a pipeline made economic sense.

The management of public finances.

You could set your watch by it.

Budget debates.

Transfer payments.

The National Energy Program still generating heat decades later.

Senate reform.

These were the fights.

They were our fights.

And here's the thing.

You didn't have to agree with the conservative position to recognize that it was engaging with real Canadian questions.

There was something to push back on.

Something to debate.

something that was actually about the country you lived in.

It wasn't that long ago that Canadian conservatism—whatever you thought of it—was distinctly Canadian.

The arguments were about fiscal responsibility, resource development, trade relationships, the perennial tension between Ottawa and the provinces.

People disagreed, sometimes loudly, but they were disagreeing about Canadian things— The size of the federal government.

Whether a pipeline made economic sense.

The management of public finances.

You could set your watch by it.

Budget debates.

Transfer payments.

The National Energy Program still generating heat decades later.

Senate reform.

These were the fights.

They were our fights.

And here's the thing.

You didn't have to agree with the conservative position to recognize that it was engaging with real Canadian questions.

There was something to push back on.

Something to debate.

something that was actually about the country you lived in.