Absolutism is defined as the belief in absolute principles in politics, philosophy, ethics, or religion. Political absolutism has been called many things: tribalism, polarization, and partisanship, to name a few. 'Principled' as Conservatives call it, 'choose forward' as Liberals have called it. It's a human instinct as old as civilization itself. My beliefs are right, yours are wrong. I'm righteous, you're immoral.Within Canadian politics, political absolutism has become all too common, especially among those politicians who want society and reality to better reflect their own ideology. Politicians have seemingly lost the ability to understand and acknowledge that lots of things can be true at once.So, how did political absolutism begin in Canada? I know some critics will say that the politics of absolutism started under Stephen Harper. But in my view, nothing could be further from the truth. Harper governed for five years as the leader of a minority government, forcing him to compromise and govern pragmatically. After his majority win in 2011, Harper governed as 'a strong, stable, national Conservative majority government' which focused on slow and steady change, not quick and unpredictable change.Of course, there are going to be policy examples that contradict my point, but in general, Harper didn't use government to only advance narrow Conservative interests and ideals. My perspective about Harper is validated by the fact that when he was defeated, Harper left behind a sizable Conservative Official Opposition that had the experience, talent, and financial strength to be a credible governing alternative to Justin Trudeau.So, in fact, the politics of absolutism began under the Trudeau government, and it's only gotten worse with time. Trudeau's political absolutism manifests itself in how he and his government vilify anyone who disagrees with their political values and beliefs.Don't support open borders? You're a racist. Don't think the government should base funding decisions on religious beliefs? You're sexist. Don't believe in a consumer tax to stop climate change? You're a climate change denier. Unfortunately, Conservatives, and even I as political strategist, have at times been all too willing to respond in kind.Politicians who practice the art of political absolutism do not focus their criticism on public policy but instead on the motives, character, values, and beliefs of their political opponents. As a result, a growing number of Canadians are feeling isolated, antagonized, and left behind by politicians who increasingly have no issues punching down. The public sentiment that currently exists in Canada is like the context which led to Donald Trump's defeat of Hillary Clinton, an election that was largely a referendum on Barack Obama's eight years as President.Now, that's not to say I think Canada is on the verge of producing its own Donald Trump-like figure, or that Pierre Poilievre is similar to Trump. In fact, Mr. Poilievre is in some ways the complete opposite of Trump in the sense that Poilievre is actually a Conservative, hyper-focused on getting his facts right, and promotes policies that he believes reflect the core beliefs of the Conservative Party of Canada, rather than populist ideas.But the one thing that Canadian Conservatives and Donald Trump have in common is a very important choice, one that for Conservatives will be made when inevitably the Liberals and Justin Trudeau are defeated. That choice is whether to continue the politics of absolutism or return political discourse to a sense of normalcy, where all political leaders agree on a core set of ideals, and stop demonizing the motives, character,  values and beliefs of their political opponents.As my old boss MP Rick Norlock once said in the House of Commons, “It begins with us. We cannot expect others to respect us unless we respect each other.”Well, my fellow Conservatives, since we are the only governing alternative, it begins with us.Do Conservatives resist the temptation to be vindictive toward our opponents, especially those politically aligned with Trudeau? Do Conservatives seek to reestablish core governing values that have been eroded by this era of political absolutism, namely peace, order, and good government? And do Conservatives return to a governing mandate that champions slow, steady change, resisting quick and unpredictable change?If the answer to these questions is yes, then the era of political absolutism in Canada may very well end.  If the answer to these questions is no, then political absolutism will entrench itself into our political discourse, further dividing Canadians ethnically, religiously, and regionally.As such, the choice to end or prolong Canada's era of political absolutism rests with the only governing alternative to Justin Trudeau, the Conservative Party of Canada.Jake Enwright is the Vice-President of Public Affairs and Communications for Syntax Strategic. He served as a senior adviser for previous leaders of the Conservative Party of Canada.