Canadian conservatism is not Trumpism. It never has been, and never will be.
Canadian conservatism has always been its own political tradition. It was born and thrived in Canada long before U.S. President Donald Trump entered politics, and it will remain a force within Canada long after he is gone. It is rooted in parliamentary democracy, responsible government, the rule of law, fiscal responsibility, individual freedom balanced by personal responsibility, strong national defence and an unwavering belief that Canada is worth protecting.
In the last few years, some Canadians have assumed that to be a conservative in Canada is to admire Trump or to see his movement as the model for our own. That assumption is wrong. It misunderstands our history, our institutions and the very principles that define Canadian conservatism.
As a Conservative member of Parliament, I firmly reject Trump and Trumpism — not despite being a Conservative, but because I am one.
Trumpism is something different. It is an American political movement created by the current president whose object is loyalty to one personality, contempt for institutions, deliberate division, attacks on allies and disregard for Canada’s sovereignty and economic interests. It would be a mistake for Canadians to embrace it as a political identity.
Canadian conservatives have an obligation to reject any political movement that asks us to put another country’s interests ahead of our own. We must also reject the suggestion that Canada is somehow responsible for Trump’s actions.
That obligation has become especially important now. When an American president threatens Canadian jobs with tariffs, questions our sovereignty, or treats Canada as an economic rival instead of a trusted ally, our response should be clear. We must condemn these actions and the man responsible for them.
Canadian conservatives should be proud of our movement and its history. We are heirs to a tradition shaped by Confederation, parliamentary democracy, constitutional government and the belief that freedom flourishes best when accompanied by responsibility. We believe in strong communities, respect for institutions, fiscal discipline, public safety, economic opportunity and national unity. Those are enduring Canadian conservative values.
We also believe it is our responsibility to criticize this Liberal government for its failings over the last 11 years. And yes, sometimes we are angry. Many Canadians are angry that they are barely getting by month after month after month. Groceries are unaffordable. So is housing. Taxes are high and government services are low.
Expressing anger is not Trumpism. Demanding accountability is not Trumpism. Speaking directly about the failures of government is not Trumpism. It is the legitimate work of democratic opposition, and it is what our leader, Pierre Poilievre, is doing.
Conservatives should not allow our opponents to label every forceful criticism, every challenge to the political establishment or every expression of public frustration as Trumpism.
Unfortunately, some Canadians, and too many people in the media, now associate the word “conservative” with the loudest voices in American politics. That has shifted too much of our political conversation away from the substance of public policy and toward labels. Canadians deserve a serious debate about the Liberal government’s decisions and their consequences, not an attempt to discredit legitimate criticism by equating it with Trumpism.
This is why Canadian conservatives must have the confidence to say, without hesitation, that our movement is different. We should never be afraid to criticize any foreign leader, Republican or Democrat, when Canadian interests are threatened. Nor should we ever feel compelled to import another country’s political battles into our own.
To Canadians who have stopped voting Conservative because they believe our movement has become synonymous with Trumpism, I offer this assurance: it has not, and it will not. You can believe in balanced budgets, lower taxes, personal responsibility, strong national defence, safe communities and economic freedom without embracing an American political movement that is incompatible with Canada’s conservative traditions.
Canadian conservatism is a proud tradition in its own right. It belongs to Canada. It reflects our history, our institutions and our national character. It asks us to put our country first, not another country’s politics, not another country’s leaders and not another country’s divisions. And as long as I have the privilege of serving in Parliament, I will proudly defend that distinction and put Canada first, always.
National Post
Kyle Seeback is a four-term Member of Parliament from Ontario and the Conservative Party of Canada’s labour critic.
