Here are my initial thoughts on the 2025 election - what it means for Canada in the short term and what it means for the movement of social democracy in the long. substack.com/home/post/p-... - ThreadSky

charlieangus104.bsky.social • 4 days ago

Here are my initial thoughts on the 2025 election - what it means for Canada in the short term and what it means for the movement of social democracy in the long.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-162485296?source=queue

Comments

avamcmc.bsky.social•3 days ago

How can I facilitate campaign changes, this cannot happen again, campaign contributions Canadian only, no foreign donations, limit campaign ads, PP 2yrs of ads, security clearance mandatory to campaign for PM, candidates attend debates, MUST SPEAK TO NEWS MEDIA, no pre approved questions

avamcmc.bsky.social•3 days ago

All campaign lies or misbehavior by party candidates, immediately addressed, publicly correct misinformation, no foreign interference, recommendations or collusion

isabeljulie.bsky.social•3 days ago

Someone should start a petition to request mandatory security clearance for all party leaders.

javajj.bsky.social•3 days ago

Candidates Must attend Candidate Forums 😡 Con MO-No Questions 😡

peterdedes.bsky.social•3 days ago

Carney will make a fine war time PM. I fear he’s too corporatist for the long term. Fundamentally, wealth inequality, among the many inequities we face won’t be fully addressed. I’m wishing for leadership that places people before money in my lifetime

joanincanada.bsky.social•3 days ago

Let's give him a chance. He seems to genuinely care abt ppl's lives. I know this sounds dumb, but it's hard for most who've never struggled w survival issues to fully grasp what some are dealing with. Some ppl are too selfish to care, but he doesn't strike me that way. TBH, wealth inequality will

joanincanada.bsky.social•3 days ago

never be fully addressed by flawed humankind. But there can be steps.

Just some thoughts.

Wishing you well.

dbmaggi.bsky.social•1 day ago

Good piece! Until Canada's left abandons neoliberal thinking we'll continue to lose ground to the right & the alt-right. Canadians need a left party that embraces unions, workers rights, family rights, climate policies, government spending, and doesn't buy into privatization and austerity policies.

cantankerouscanuck.bsky.social•3 days ago

👍 Great piece. Thanks.

grantmountieofanna.bsky.social•3 days ago

This was great, Charlie. Thank you for your guidance 💗

grantmountieofanna.bsky.social•3 days ago

My hope is that this loss inspires the CPC to begin ousting the worst maga of their membership off to the PPC or into the dustbin entirely. We need to get back to a place where when we go to vote, we can confidently do it without having to worry about losing our freedom and democracy every time.

enlighten11.bsky.social•3 days ago

I agree but some seem to want to hang onto PP. so much for cleaning up the membership.

melgreen.bsky.social•3 days ago

Well said and bang on. My grandmother who had to raise 4 kids age 4 to 12 with nothing after losing her husband always saw PET as provider and protector of that check. The only man I saw make her swear was Joe Clark. 9 yr old me was shocked at the fury he unleashed in her. Thanks for that memory.

johnprichmond.bsky.social•3 days ago

https://Thank.you Charlie. For everything

enemywithin097.bsky.social•3 days ago

Strong and wonderful post, when I saw the writing on the wall last November. The established Dems had lost the messaging and still is right now. The emergence of fiery take no prisioners Dems has emerged. Bernie Sanders is an Independent with a strong grassroots background.

enemywithin097.bsky.social•3 days ago

AOC leading the charge against the Trump trash regime now. Its time for the established Dems to step aside and let the young, progressives lead the charge.

amyklassen.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thank you for this 🙏🏻

normagraham.bsky.social•3 days ago

Great article.
I’m not a neurochemist, but I believe some people get addicted to grievance. Being angry on their own behalf gives them a little jolt of happiness. Too many have forgotten how to be grateful. I am at a loss on how to break them of this addiction. A better leader for the Cons maybe?

johnprichmond.bsky.social•3 days ago

Well said

drangelagrace.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes. People get addicted to the emotional jolt of anger and the satisfaction of upsetting other people.

javajj.bsky.social•3 days ago

I'm so tired of it. 😪

medicatethestate.bsky.social•3 days ago

I'm curious about the framing regarding the Conservative vote share here and in the media.

The Liberal vote share, currently estimated at 43.7%, is the highest by any party in any Canadian federal election since the emergence of the Bloc Quebecois.

vancitymark.bsky.social•3 days ago

It’s because, at the same time, the Conservative vote share was larger than Trudeau or Harper had when they formed majority governments.

jamieoneil.bsky.social•3 days ago

📌

jamieoneil.bsky.social•3 days ago

Powerful. Everyone should read this. Very wise, thoughtful and insightful . Thank you

cliiford.bsky.social•3 days ago

PeePee needs to step down as leader of the Cuntservatives. It’s a good day for the people of Carlton.

johnemcd.bsky.social•3 days ago

Great write up and exactly what I was thinking on how the conservatives have co-opted the original NDP message of serving the working class.

asbrooks.com•3 days ago

This was a much needed read, thank you!

calebjedwards.bsky.social•3 days ago

You say in your article that in some ridings NDP vote went to the Cons. Do you have polling showing that, or is it also possible that the NPD vote went to the Liberals in that riding, while the LIBERAL vote (former Lib vote?) went to the Cons? That movement might be hidden by NDP voters going Lib

vivian38.bsky.social•3 days ago

Gads I hope not. How anyone can move from either Liberal or NDP to Cons just makes no logical sense. Especially with PP pledging to use NWS clause and no security clearance. Makes no sense.

farm-girl.bsky.social•3 days ago

As an NDP voter who moved to the liberals for this election, that shocked me to my core. I'll probably stay with the liberals now indefinitely. Like you, I couldn't even imagine the mental gymnastics that would be needed for an NDP voter to go for the cons.

tam15m.bsky.social•3 days ago

These charts show the numbers that Charlie is speaking of. Both LP and Cons increased votes lost by NDP, the greater number going to CPC. It seems unlikely NDP jumped LP and LP jumped CPC in such large numbers. The clearer path is working man NDP went Con out of anger.

calebjedwards.bsky.social•3 days ago

to the extent we think things are a spectrum, it's likely the parties shifted along there. Former Liberal voters went rightward to cons, and NDP votes went rightward to Libs. That's a more simple explanation than NDP -> Con

tam15m.bsky.social•3 days ago

Remember PP was getting huge endorsements from the labour unions. I found it strange. PP doesn’t support unions? Those union endorsements support the theory these votes went NDP to Con. Who works in those plants? Angry young men who fall for disinformation. Old people ran to the LP.🙋‍♀️

calebjedwards.bsky.social•3 days ago

I don’t recall many union endorsements. And I bet if you checked union membership in those plants it would be much older than you expect. It’s certainly possible that some NDP voters went Con. But I think there’s a simpler explanation that fits the results better.

tam15m.bsky.social•3 days ago

Well I’m sure there were votes going every which way. I shouldn’t say young I guess, I know some pretty angry middle aged men and women. Though the assumption that NDP would always move to LP can’t be assumed and the NDP certainly need to look at these issues.

calebjedwards.bsky.social•3 days ago

That's exactly my point. They DON'T show that. They show changes in %age of the vote. The NDP went down by 16% of the vote, Cons went up by 19, Libs up by 3, and PPC down by 8. Assuming PPC -> Cons, you need to explain 11% - well, 11% of the L -> C, and 16% of the NDP -> L gives you L+3 and C+19

sab63.bsky.social•3 days ago

Beautifully stated Charlie, and thank you for your service. You will be missed but I know you will stay in this fight for democracy. This is about Team Canada first and foremost. Elbows UP!!!

ipaige.bsky.social•3 days ago

Canada may have won this election but MAGA Maple will be back. Unless we figure out a way to really confront the power imbalance in this country we will never be safe.

joanincanada.bsky.social•3 days ago

"Of the 17 NDP losses, 13 went to the Conservatives. In numerous races 'strategic voting' led to Conservative wins."

This hit me hard. Wow.

Lots of other powerful food for thought in here too.

Thank you.

salishseadrifter.bsky.social•2 days ago

my riding went from NDP to Liberal, Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. Was shocked! I hardly got any campaign literature in the mail in fact the Liberal mail outs arrived on Tues after the election! The NDP website was useless, didn't even list events. I didn't strat. vote, have no idea what happened?

joanincanada.bsky.social•2 days ago

This was a pretty strange election in some ways. So many tight races and flipped ridings.

mambolica.bsky.social•3 days ago

You nailed it. I remember sitting in a bar with Jack and Olivia (and some other folks) back in 2003 and the discussion turned to precisely this. Someone said something about fractured ideologies and Jack said something about remembering people are the heart. And then we moved on to hangover cures.

jennkb.bsky.social•3 days ago

It's so frustrating to see people not put the blame for financial struggles where it belongs, our capitalist system. NDP are the only party pointing that out & offering solutions. Instead people focus on culture wars. I really hope a new NDP leader turns things around for the federal party.

canadiangenxog.bsky.social•3 days ago

My children have little hope to have the life the world tells them to reach for. There is no way they can afford a house, let alone a nice rental. My oldest is a highly skilled medical professional but lives in a tiny apartment. Many of her 30ish colleagues still live at home. We failed them

nonamanadus.bsky.social•3 days ago

I think we need ranked ballots but would that give separatists voters more of a voice?

hepaticanobilis.bsky.social•3 days ago

Ranked Ballots are just systemized strategic voting. It forces voters to compromise instead of making parties compromise and collaborate with each other, as PR would.

psyphigrad.bsky.social•3 days ago

Ranked Ballots could force strategic voters like me who wanted a Lib NDP minority government to rank the party I despise (the Regressive Conservatives) ahead of the Libs in order to get what I want.

Nobody should be encouraged to play risky sick & twisted games with their vote. We need #PRNow

valeriefreeland.bsky.social•3 days ago

I mourned in advance what had to happen to the NDP, but believe this is the start of something greater. One challenge I don't see addressed is the young, working-class men diverted to conservatism by incel culture and the manosphere. There's a necessary deprogramming to be done, but it can be done.

hellocousin25.bsky.social•3 days ago

A lot of those young Canadian men voting Conservative were influenced by US podcasts. They listened daily on their morning ride to work. Even a few of them are currently questioning Trump’s moves.

ladyfenn.bsky.social•3 days ago

This!

livinsimple.bsky.social•3 days ago

The new NDP slogan should be "Who's looking out for you?"

I know, not very community spirited, but people now are very selfishly motivated, and socially isolated. They feel that no one is on their side. That's the appeal of maga. They want help against the big bad world out there.

livinsimple.bsky.social•3 days ago

I know it's irrational but in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world people are looking for simple solutions. All the better if someone else can be blamed so that individual responsibility does not come into play.

Corporate welfare bums needs a bit of rework.

wetadbit.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thanks, Charlie. You’re post is precise, and your assertion of how the rise in maga-type conservation is spreading is spot-on.

I pray a blueprint can be set forth, used by like-minded people, regardless of political affiliation, to stop this dissent into madness.

Hate is a losing proposition.

bverbs.bsky.social•3 days ago

What would Jack do is a great way to do politics. You always knew where Jack stood when you saw him around Ryerson. He believed in what he taught when I went to school there.

cerberus25.bsky.social•3 days ago

Man I miss Jack. Reading the words again brought tears to my eyes. What an amazing guy and role model, for you and all of us.

teasemporiumandco.bsky.social•3 days ago

I think about this so often Layton was one of the rare good ones we had in our country and we lost him way too soon. I was too young to ever have the honor of being able to physically vote for him. But man. We was incredible.

cerberus25.bsky.social•3 days ago

I lived in his riding for a little while. He was a big force.

anomalouspatterns.bsky.social•3 days ago

Social democracy is getting boxed in by the fascism of capitalism. Having a nation built upon oil and ever increasing GDP ultimately destroys said nation. North America and Turtle Island is quickly running out of road. Tax billionaires out of existence. End their tax havens. De-growth now.

rhumblines.bsky.social•3 days ago

I'm not familiar enough with the Canadian political system, but learned a lot from your thoughts. The U.S. Democratic party and Canadian NDP share many of the same modern flaws in perception, communication, and leadership. But Canada has staved off disaster. Congratulations, elbows up, and thanks.

karenblair.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thank you for the reminders of what fighting for the little folks really means.

ericdoherty.bsky.social•3 days ago

re "What is our offer to bring people who feel alienated into a political realm where it is possible to believe in a better future?"

There is no better future without effective climate action, and young people generally get this. Trump is now the fossil king, giving the NDP an opportunity . . .

phill.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you.
One key step the NDP needs to take is free memberships.
Liberals used it as huge data gathering opportunity in 2013 + 2025.

manitobbes.bsky.social•2 days ago

Can the party afford free memberships? The cost is $10 yearly, which is cheaper than 100 gems you can buy in an app game. $10 might not seem much, but it does help to reduce the party’s deficit.

bag-lady12.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes. I was sick when I saw your riding turn blue 😢

scribblerhackit.bsky.social•3 days ago

Same.

lisainyyj.bsky.social•3 days ago

This election showed the value of the ground game played by party volunteers. Two examples show that. Carleton, where Poilievre was defeated and my riding Saanich Gulf Islands, where May was again victorious. Strong community engagement in both lead to these outcomes.

akoopa.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thank you for the beautiful post! Side note-do you have a plan to move off Substack? Would subscribe but can’t implicitly support them.

Man it sucks how many good things are ruined by techbro fascism.

scribblerhackit.bsky.social•3 days ago

People who moved their stuff from SS to Ghost are singing its praises, as are subscribers.

tollerlover05.bsky.social•3 days ago

Hands down, this is by far the best piece you've written. You've written so many really great pieces.
This is number one.

milley.bsky.social•3 days ago

📌

duncs65.bsky.social•3 days ago

Great piece. Always such good insight Charlie. Wish there were more like you.

dstowe1.bsky.social•3 days ago

Not sure HOW LONG (If Ever) it will take American Dems to grapple with exactly this.

The appearance of democratic values is #NotTheRealThing

Democracy can only survive through meaningful Action…Not Words/lobbying/donations.

No amount of #Money can Buy — #SecureDemocracy

dstowe1.bsky.social•3 days ago

And Don’t Come Back at me with “Yeah, but…”

$1 billion spent on the Harris/Waltz campaign did NOT secure the democratic Republic…not to mention the atrocious sums spent on congressional seats.🙄

mrsbrownms.bsky.social•3 days ago

Same happened in the US, the maga split the vote. Instead of democrats and other parties joining together, we split votes while maga stayed together. In the US, more people voted for democrats and other political parties. Young people turned right, because they are angry at everybody.

louise-sanfacon.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thank you Charlie, and thank you NDP. I'm very sorry that a massive bleed-off of NDP voters went to the CPC in this election. We realy need NDP in Canada.

louise-sanfacon.bsky.social•3 days ago

I would say ''...why did so many young *MALE* vote for T🍊 and Poilievre's message?'' Men's "rage" has only intensified since the 1980s, and the hateful, intolerant, and misogynistic far right legitimizes their aggression. We must face this terrible reality. Men's "rage" is a threat to democracy.

bookartsglaneur.bsky.social•3 days ago

We need more space in Canadian media for vital young male voices, and that means welcoming a little humour and rock n roll attitude. Anti racist, etc., but also fun and wild. Get Narduar into an advisory role. Imagine if the CBC was not 100% lame at all times.

em-ergency.bsky.social•3 days ago

My grandpa worked with my uncle Schreyer and told us stories for years of the town halls, he went everywhere and talked to everyone in Manitoba. Some of them were raucous and even dangerous but they never gave up. Online in most cases can’t take the place of being out talking to people daily.

caryssatori.bsky.social•3 days ago

Unfortunately the NDP led by Singh was more interested in stopping conservatives than he was in his party’s interest or in Canadian’s interest. Demonizing conservatives means you are demonizing many Canadians. Workers fled to the Conservative Party because of this. The NDP now is NOT the NDP of

caryssatori.bsky.social•3 days ago

days of healthy debate, openness to others and agreeing to disagree. You label ppl fascists while acting like fascists. You blamed a woman who died because she was refused a transplant for rejecting the Covid vax. You call conservatives names. The NDP need to reflect on their own shortcomings.

caryssatori.bsky.social•3 days ago

reflection and stop the hate.

caryssatori.bsky.social•3 days ago

I say all of this as a former NDP supporter that comes from a family full of union workers & former NDP supporters who have all migrated to the Conservative Party because of the hate and division the NDP sows while claiming the moral high ground. The NDP need to take time for some serious

caryssatori.bsky.social•3 days ago

reflection and stop the hate.

caryssatori.bsky.social•3 days ago

Layton. The hope and love he referenced has been replaced by virtue signalling a cruelty that you yourself have shown to anyone right of centre. There is a reason Trump won with such a huge mandate; because ppl are sick of the hate the left doles out to anyone who doesn’t agree with them. Gone are

wokenojokewarrior.bsky.social•3 days ago

Wow.

"...the hate the left doles out..."

Perhaps your accusation is a confession of what those far right of centre have become so good at?

pcstewart.bsky.social•3 days ago

They'd definitely know, given that's a new account whose only activity seems to be reply-guying the usual constellation of far right talking points.

caryssatori.bsky.social•3 days ago

Not an accusation, it’s a statement of fact.

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