I believe democracy is more of a society-wide ecosystem than a process of governance confined to places like the House of Commons and Queens Park. Democracy isn’t just important during an election - it needs and deserves protection and preservation every single day.

Sadly, there are examples of nations where a truly democratic approach to governance has never been able to develop and thrive. There are other examples of countries that have seen their democracies crack and fray at the seams in recent times.

To be clear, I think one of the most important aspects of my work as a parliamentarian is to fight for and promote the things that make our democratic institutions prosper, and to actively reject and fight against threats to our world-class Canadian democracy.

It’s a well-established fact that strong public broadcasting, and support for truly independent journalism are critical for our democracies to thrive. This should include respect for different viewpoints and opinions, thoughtful debate and a commitment to disagreeing without being disagreeable. You shouldn’t need to agree with your neighbour to be neighbourly.

A second pillar is support for research, science, and respect for expertise. I’m a strong believer that you can’t manage what you don’t measure, and the tools necessary to accurately evaluate trends, changes and outcomes are critical to making good decisions and designing effective policies.

Corporations have a lot of power and influence, and Canada’s biggest companies are certainly no exception to that. As we’ve seen with our grocery, telecom, energy and airline companies - their priorities are often not aligned with the needs of the public, or their workers. That’s one of the reasons why unions are so important, to balance out that power. Perhaps you don’t work in a unionized occupation, not everyone does or should - but if you like weekends, healthcare, decent pay, strong pensions and benefits - you can thank the labour movement.

Tables with four legs seem to work well so I’m going to stick to four pillars. Last and certainly not least, one of the most important things that protect our democracies from harm is national security. In Canada that includes the RCMP, our military, CSIS and our intelligence apparatus. It also should include collaboration with local law enforcement and our international allies. The world is a competitive, and often dangerous place. We are fortunate to be Canadian, with positive relationships in most other counties, but as has been highlighted recently, we have adversaries, too. Our collective safety depends on the work of brave men and women in important roles whose primary ambition is our security. I for one, am very grateful for their work and sacrifice.

That’s why Canada should be furious with the decisions that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been making lately. He’s the only leader of a Canadian political party who refuses to get a security clearance and a top-secret briefing on the foreign interference concerns our security officials have. Canada’s top security advisors have insisted that it’s critical for all leaders to get briefed - but Pierre won’t do it. He’s decided to put his personal career ambitions ahead of our national security. That is selfish, reckless, irresponsible and it should disqualify him from ever being Prime Minister. One top security official went on the record to say that Poilievre is “playing with Canadians” - not a good look, Pierre.

If you knock one leg out from a table, it usually falls down. But that’s not enough for Pierre Poilievre. He doesn’t respect any of the four pillars I’ve outlined. Poilievre has committed to defunding and dismantling our public broadcaster and demonstrates Trump-like contempt for any media that doesn’t share his far-right ideologies. His MPs have stood in the CBC headquarters and proudly proclaimed that they’re excited to sell it all off for housing. Ironic, considering that when Poilievre was the Minister of Housing under Harper - he only managed to build 6 units.

Poilievre also has zero regard for science, research or expertise. Over three hundred eminent Canadian economists, the National Farmer’s Union and an economist with a Nobel Prize have suggested he axe the misinformation campaign on carbon pricing, but he’s only ramped it up. He said he would fire the governor of the Bank of Canada and he even threatened to try and revoke the medical license of a doctor. Someone who saves lives working with people suffering from addictions, only because she dared to disagree with his cruel, unscientific and stigmatizing public health rhetoric. I guess 22 years in the House of Commons hasn’t taught him that the federal government doesn’t issue medical licenses - but that didn’t stop him from being a mean bully, attacking a public health doctor and expert.

I won’t speak for the Labour movement, they do a good job speaking up for themselves. The Canadian Labour Congress says that “Poilievre and the Conservatives can’t be trusted to stand up for workers” calling him a fraud, and citing his lengthy anti-worker track record and history of cutting health care. The Alberta Federation of Labour recently stated that “PIERRE POILIEVRE’S UNION POLICY WILL PULVERIZE PAYCHEQUES”, citing that his policies would reduce workers’ wages and reduce workers job stability. Poilievre has been called an adversary of unionized worker, and the “most anti-union, anti-worker MP in the last 20 years” by Labour leaders. 

So this week, when I said that Pierre Poilievre is a serious and existential threat to our democracy - I meant it. He’s determined to sell Canada off for parts, and none of his empty slogans have any substance or potential to help Canadians. Canada is strong and resilient because our institutions are - Pierre Poilievre wants to dismantle them, and that would weaken our democracy. I won’t stand idly by and let him. I hope Canadians won’t, either.

Adam van Koeverden is the Member of Parliament for Milton