Why Jean Charest Must Be Stopped
By Spencer Fernando, Exclusive to the National Citizens Coalition
If Charest were to be installed atop the Conservative Party, Canadians would be deprived of a real choice in the next election.
Update: Just hours after the publication of this column, Charest took his name out of the running.
The core of democracy is giving the people the power to control their government. And that control is exercised most directly through elections.
And for a democracy to really be worthy of the name, those elections must offer the people a real choice.
Without a real choice, an election is nothing more than a ritual, with no real meaning or significance.
Without a real choice, voters don’t have the opportunity to exercise any real control or influence.
With Jean Charest still mulling a bid for Conservative Party leader, it’s more important than ever that Canadians who want a real choice stand up and make sure Charest is stopped.
A Charest-led Conservative Party would be nearly indistinguishable from the Liberals.
Charest has the same kind of elitist sensibilities as Justin Trudeau, and is now completely out of touch with the base of the Conservative Party.
Charest wants to take more rights away from law-abiding Canadian firearm owners, supports big government intervention, passed draconian legislation cracking down on legitimate protests, supports carbon taxes, and repeatedly demanded more federal money for the Quebec government, something that many Canadians deeply oppose.
A Charest-Conservative Party would be no real choice at all. It would be barely distinguishable from a Trudeau-Liberal Party.
It would also be devastating for the Conservative Party itself. The Conservative base is smart and politically knowledgeable. They won’t be fooled by Charest. For every vote Charest may gain from ‘centrist’ voters, he’ll lose two from core Conservatives. And he’ll make the rise of a Western separatist party, or a surge in support for the PPC a near-certainty.
Most disturbingly, Charest’s advocacy for China-controlled Huawei raises serious questions about his judgement, and about whether he would have Canada’s interests in mind when dealing with the Communist State.
Clearly, Charest must be stopped.
The other main Conservative contenders, on the other hand, offer a real choice.
Pierre Poilievre is a strong communicator who has a great connection with the Conservative base, and has shown the toughness necessary to fight back against the biased media. His communication abilities give him the opportunity to change narratives and persuade Canadians, rather than just having to react to attacks against the party.