Mike Closs

🇨🇦Dear Canada, On Monday, we face the most consequential election in our nation’s history. This isn’t just about picking a prime minister—it’s about deciding who we are as a country and what we stand for. The choice is stark: we can embrace the Canada we know, built on love, trust, courage, wisdom, temperance, justice, and fairness, or we can let division, hatred, ragebaiting, and lies—hallmarks of Trumpism, MAGA, and its Canadian echo, Maple MAGA—tear us apart. This is our last chance to reject the dangerous path of giving our agency to people of terrible character, as we’ve watched the United States collapse under the weight of such choices. I’m pleading with you, from the heart, to vote for Canada’s values and secure our future. For three years, I’ve warned about the creeping danger of Maple MAGA—Pierre Poilievre’s brand of divisive, truth-challenged populism that mirrors Donald Trump’s playbook. I’ve seen how it thrives on anger, fear, and lies, eroding trust and pitting us against each other. The collapse of the U.S. under Trump’s influence—marked by chaos, polarization, and a rejection of facts—stands as a glaring warning. Canada is not immune. Poilievre’s rhetoric, his flirtations with conspiracy theories, and his “Canada First” slogans echo Trump’s “America First” nationalism, threatening to drag us into the same spiral of division and mistrust, making Canada America’s 51st State. But we have a chance to stop it. On Monday, we can choose Mark Carney’s vision of a strong, united, and principled Canada—a nation that leads with integrity, not rage. Canada is more than a place; it’s a promise. It’s the country that welcomes newcomers with open hearts, that cares for the vulnerable with universal healthcare and affordable childcare, that stands up for human rights and democracy worldwide. It’s the nation that wrote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and pioneered UN peacekeeping. Our values—love, trust, courage, wisdom, temperance, justice, and fairness—define us. They’re why we solve problems together, why we value truth over lies, and why we build bridges, not walls. Mark Carney embodies these values. His plan, “Canada Strong – Un Canada Fort,” is about uniting us to face global challenges while staying true to who we are. He wants to make Canada economically independent by breaking down trade barriers between provinces, boosting our GDP by up to $200 billion, and diversifying trade with regions like South America and Asia. He’s committed to standing up to bullies like Trump, who’s slapped tariffs on our steel and mocked us as a “51st state.” Carney’s response? Fight back, protect workers, and build a Canada that no one can push around. He’ll invest in our military and Arctic security to guard our sovereignty, strengthen alliances with democracies, and keep Canada a moral leader—supporting Ukraine, defending human rights, and protecting our diverse communities from hate. Carney’s Canada is one we can be proud of: a strong country because it’s united, compassionate because it’s just, and respected because it’s wise. It’s a Canada that chooses courage over fear, trust over suspicion, and love over hate. Pierre Poilievre offers a different path—one that risks everything we hold dear. His campaign, steeped in Trump-style populism, thrives on division and misinformation. He’s praised Trump as a “successful businessman” and adopted his “America First” rhetoric with “Canada First” slogans, only to scramble when Trump’s tariffs hurt Canada. His flip-flopping shows a lack of principle, a willingness to cozy up to bullies until it’s politically inconvenient, and it's a reflection of his character. He IS Trump. Poilievre’s tactics are straight from the MAGA playbook. He spreads false claims—like saying the government planned to tax pickup trucks or ban farmers’ fertilizers—to stoke anger. He’s flirted with conspiracy theories, railing against “Davos elites” and the World Economic Forum in ways that echo QAnon-style paranoia. Shockingly, Alex Jones, the infamous conspiracy theorist, endorsed Poilievre, calling him “the real deal” for parroting his narratives. This is not leadership; it’s pandering to the fringes, inviting chaos into our politics. His support for the 2022 “Freedom Convoy” protests, which divided communities and disrupted lives, showed his willingness to embrace lawlessness for political gain. His rhetoric—mocking “woke” policies and “gatekeepers”—fuels hate against minorities, risking the progress we’ve made on inclusion and reconciliation. Poilievre’s silence on Russian disinformation, which experts warn is infiltrating our discourse, is alarming. While Carney pledges to defend truth and democracy, Poilievre amplifies divisive narratives, leaving us vulnerable to foreign meddling. If Poilievre wins, we risk becoming a Canada we don’t recognize: divided, angry, and isolated. His plans to slash foreign aid and retreat from global forums like the UN could weaken our influence, leaving us at the mercy of powers like Russia and China. His rejection of climate action—opposing carbon pricing and prioritizing oil over renewable energy—could tarnish our reputation and harm the planet. This is not the Canada of justice, wisdom, or fairness. It’s a Canada that follows Trump’s lead, not ours. Look south to the U.S. The past decade under Trump’s influence has shown what happens when you hand power to those who thrive on lies and division. Families are torn apart, trust in institutions crumbles, and hatred festers. Canada stands at the same crossroads. Poilievre’s Maple MAGA offers a shortcut to that chaos, promising quick fixes but delivering long-term pain. Carney’s Canada offers hope—a nation that stays true to its soul, that chooses unity over division, truth over lies, and courage over rage. I’ve spent three years warning about this moment. I’ve seen how Poilievre’s politics exploit frustration, turning legitimate concerns into tools of division. I’ve watched the U.S. falter, a cautionary tale of what happens when character is ignored. Now, I’m begging you: don’t let Canada fall to the same fate. Your vote on Monday is your power—your agency—to protect the Canada we love. This election is about more than policies; it’s about our identity. Will we be the Canada that lifts each other up, that faces challenges with wisdom and temperance, that leads with love and justice? Or will we let Maple MAGA turn us into a shadow of Trump’s America, divided and diminished? Please talk to your friends, family, and neighbors. Share this letter. Remind them what’s at stake. Vote for the values that make us Canadian. Vote for trust in each other, courage to stand tall, and fairness for all. Vote for a Canada that’s strong, free, and true. On Monday, let’s choose Canada—our Canada. Let’s show the world that love, trust, and wisdom still guide us. Let’s make this election an opus for our shared future, a testament to the nation we cherish. With all my Canadian heart, Dean 🇨🇦