By Harinder Mahil

I have lived in Canada for 55 years, and this is the first time I am afraid of an election outcome. More specifically, I am scared that Pierre Poilievre might become Canada’s Prime Minister. Here are some of my reasons:

The last thing we need in Canada is another Trump. Pierre Poilievre has given every indication that he would be like Trump.

He has stated that, if elected, he would override constitutionally protected rights and freedoms to implement a “tough on crime” agenda. He would be the first-ever prime minister to take such an extreme step.Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms outlines fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of religion, freedom of expression, the presumption of innocence, the right to be told the reasons for being detained or arrested, the right not to be denied reasonable bail without just cause, equality rights and prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment.The premise of constitutionally protected rights and freedoms is that they exist to protect each one of us, beyond the political motivations of government of the day. 

Some provincial governments have invoked the notwithstanding clause in recent years to override labour and equality rights. For a prime minister to use it at the federal level would set a dangerous precedent. 

Pierre Poilievre has stated that he would eliminate “woke ideology” from the public service, federal funding for university research and military culture. When asked what he meant by “woke” he was unable to do so. The word “woke” is so vague that it could mean anything with which he doesn’t agree.

Poilievre has stated that if he were to win the election, he would move to shrink the size of the public service. According to Ian Brodie, former Chief of Staff of prime minister Stephen Harper, the surest way to usher deregulation in Canada (a main priority for Poilievre) is to reduce the size of the public service. Brodie stated that time is of the essence to reduce the federal budget. If elected, he said the Conservatives should move quickly to give ministers mandates to cut down departments’ workforces. A smaller public service would mean less services to Canadians.Cuts to public serviced would worsen inequality and create hardship on poor Canadians.

He has promised to introduce a law that would mandate two regulations to be cut for any new one introduced. This plan is like the one announced by Trump. The federal regulations support a range of objectives including health and safety, security and the environment. Elimination of regulations could jeopardize food safety, clean air and airline safety.

Pierre Poilievre has pledged to “end the imposition of woke ideology in the allocation of federal funds for university research” should he win the federal election and become prime minister.U.S. President Donald Trump has used this rhetoric to justify canceling research grants and interfering with universities’ independence. 

The Canadian Association of University Teachers has expressed alarm over Poilievre’s pledge to interfere in the allocation of federal research funding.It is concerning that a prime minister would attempt to influence the allocation of research funding based on ideology. We have seen the Trump administration launch a full-scale assault on universities in the US. We do not want to see it happen in Canada.

These are just some of my reasons although I can list many more.

I want to see someone elected as a prime minister who is committed to building a caring and compassionate society. That is not Pierre Poilievre. If he becomes prime minister, Canada would be poorer, more divided, less caring and isolated. 

Harinder Mahil is a human rights activist and is secretary of Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation.