COLEMAN: Ford and Houston lacking in real conservatism

Peter Coleman is President of the National Citizens Coalition

With urgent battles to fight on seemingly every front, this past week’s antics from Premiers Doug Ford and Tim Houston only underscore the growing disconnect between certain so-called conservative leaders and the values and priorities their voters expect. At the National Citizens Coalition, we’re sounding the alarm on this betrayal of common sense, and we’re not alone in noticing the void of principled leadership.

Take Ontario’s Doug Ford. Once hailed as a populist champion, Ford’s tenure has devolved into a masterclass in political timidity. His cozying up to Prime Minister Mark Carney — a man whose progressive posturing seems to know no bounds — has left Ontarians scratching their heads. Ford’s latest misstep? Inflaming trade-war negotiations in the press with tough talk that has gone nowhere, while proving to be bafflingly silent on critical issues like crime, safety, record youth unemployment, and out of control immigration in his province.

Remember his COVID-era decree that golfing was dangerous because players might “have some pops with their buddies”? That same paternalistic streak persists, undermining the freedoms and common-sense values conservatives hold dear.

Then there’s Nova Scotia’s Premier Tim Houston, whose recent decision to ban access to provincial parks under threat of $25,000 fines defies all logic. While the public should be concerned and careful under fire bans, this isn’t about public safety — it’s nanny-state control. Parks and nature are vital for Canadians’ mental and physical well-being, offering a reprieve from the daily grind and some of the failures of leaders like Houston, who has worked to double Nova Scotia’s population amid rising unemployment. Closing the great outdoors off without justification isn’t conservative, it’s authoritarian. It’s a move that smacks of the same heavy-handedness we saw during the pandemic, when governments decided what was “essential” for citizens.

Canadian conservatives expect leaders who champion fiscal responsibility, tackle the healthcare, housing, and unemployment crises exacerbated by unchecked immigration, push for real interprovincial free trade, work to end pro-criminal hug-a-thug policies, and ensure we get our energy to markets. Instead, we get premiers who seem more interested in backyard Liberal photo-ops and appeasing the progressive elite than addressing these meat-and-potatoes issues. Ford’s inaction on Ontario’s managed decline and Houston’s park ban are symptoms of a broader malaise: a lack of vision and courage.

At the National Citizens Coalition, we’re committed to calling out this nonsense — even when conducted by ‘Conservatives’ — and giving voice to Canadians who feel ignored by their leaders. We take heart in exceptions like Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith, who continues to fight for practical, conservative solutions despite relentless attacks from the legacy media and the radical, de-growth left. The more they vilify her, the more we know she’s striking a chord. Smith’s focus on affordability, energy independence, and individual freedoms stands in stark contrast to the performative governance of her peers.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Carney’s recent exploits — emboldening the hate protests that have rocked Canadian cities, and hugging naked revelers in public just like the last guy in office — only highlights the moral and ideological bankruptcy at the federal level. Conservatives want serious people for serious times. Yet, such leaders are in desperately short supply.

Groups like the National Citizens Coalition will keep fighting for the values that built this country: freedom, accountability, and common sense. We’re not here to coddle overly-paternal politicians who wear the conservative label but govern like Liberals. With your support, we’ll continue to hold their feet to the fire, demanding better for Canadians who deserve real conservative leadership.

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Peter Coleman is President of the National Citizens Coalition.