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Darren Corey's avatar

I would even go so far as to say that a majority of cons do not want this man as leader of the party. They will never win with him at the front. I believe the constituents of that riding should do the conservatives a favor and dump poilievre as leader. Close your eyes, hold your nose, whatever it takes. Just don't vote for poilievre. Make your party choose a new leader. Someone they can win with. Someone the party and the country could get behind. Someone without the divisiveness, the misogyny, without the politics of hatred that have defined your party lately. Please.

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Sherri Somerville's avatar

Agreed. Maybe the party should boot the leader who, according to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service CSIS, got assistance from Modi of India in order to win the leadership race. Poilievre is compromised and cannot get a security clearance.

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William Day's avatar

Can you provide some examples of when Pierre was being a misogynst? Ive never seen this?

Have you ever looked at the comments from liberals here on Substack. You wanna see some hate, thats where to look.

Its fine if you dont like Pierre, i get it he aint that great. But i dont know why your making shit up.

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Bill MacGougan's avatar

I don’t recall any examples of Pierre expressing mysoginist views himself, or racist views for that matter but he sure associated with people that pushed those views very hard and he appealed to them. Including that tag he put on all his YouTube posts for years that was an appeal to hostile mysoginistic groups. Still, none of this is evidence that he himself is one but it suggests he’s happy to have their support.

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Wayne Horton's avatar

I actually have a post coming out on the subject in the next day or two. I’m just polishing it.

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Sheryl Campbell 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦's avatar

He used to post a slogan that was used by Rebel News and all the other right-wing publications. Can’t remember what it was…

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Are you thinking of Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW)? He used to have that tag on all of his videos.

https://open.substack.com/pub/letterkenny/p/strategic-performative-misogyny?r=wf4gc&utm_medium=ios

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Sheryl Campbell 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦's avatar

Yes Wayne - that was the tag I recalled. Pretty damn icky if you ask me.

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The Fys's avatar

If you actually cared about this instead of being retorical, you would have looked. So maybe you're lazy or just manipulating by omission. Maybe you're blind to the party loyalty or blind to him clearly losing the female vote. Who knows? And honestly who cares that you're lazy? Below is your undeserved and factchecked answer, and no, no one here gives a shit if it convinces you, we genuinely don't.

.....................

One notable incident involving Pierre Poilievre and allegations of misogyny centers on the discovery of a hidden tag in his YouTube videos. In 2022, it was revealed that 50 of Poilievre’s YouTube videos contained the tag "#mgtow," an acronym for "Men Going Their Own Way." This online movement is associated with anti-feminist ideologies and is considered by experts to be part of the broader "male supremacy" sphere. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes such movements as advocating for the separation of men from women, based on the belief that society is corrupted by feminism .

The inclusion of this tag was not visible to viewers but was embedded in the videos' metadata, potentially aiding in promoting the content to audiences aligned with these ideologies. Upon discovery, Poilievre's office stated that he was unaware of the tag's presence and had it removed immediately. However, the incident drew significant criticism from political opponents. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Poilievre of "using his videos to appeal to far-right misogynistic online movements" and demanded an apology, emphasizing the real-life consequences of such associations .

In response, Poilievre condemned all forms of misogyny and stated that he corrected the issue as soon as it was brought to his attention. His office mentioned that due to multiple staff members having access to the YouTube channel over the years, it was impossible to determine who added the tag .

This incident has been a focal point in discussions about Poilievre's digital outreach strategies and the importance of vigilance against inadvertently promoting harmful ideologies.

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Wayne Horton's avatar

More to come, by Monday...

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Ken Fisher's avatar

Wonderfully expressed.

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Thank you!

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Lori's avatar

Wow.

You are SO good with words.

At articulating the situation without being inflammatory.

What an tremendous way to illuminate the path ahead - the pitfalls, and also the possibilities.

Well written!

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Thank you so much!!

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Anita Stephenson's avatar

Yes! What she said. 👆🏻

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Wayne Horton's avatar

I’m beginning to really like Substack!

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Anita Stephenson's avatar

It’s awesome! 🇨🇦

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Anita Stephenson's avatar

It really is amazing Wayne! 🙌🏻

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Thank you!

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Jillian's avatar

You know, you damn near have me sold on Damien Kurek.

If I were a person who voted for him last time, and couldn’t stomach voting liberal, and no other independent stepped up, I think I’d write in Damien Kurek and vote for him again!

Maybe that option could be added to your letter.

It would send a clear message.

Lisa Murkowski won her senate seat the first time on a write in….

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Wayne Horton's avatar

That’s actually a fantastic idea! I should do an edit! Four options!!

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Dawnygirl1's avatar

unfortunately, that would only serve to invalidate your vote. So, same option as not voting. But it would send a message!

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Wayne Horton's avatar

I looked into it and federal elections simply consider a write in to be a spoiled ballot. It would be an effective protest vote though. If they didn’t want to vote for any candidate, spoil the ballot by writing in Kurek. If enough people did, they’d get the message at least.

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Jillian's avatar

It’s unfortunate that they could not re-elect him on that, just to stick it to Pierre, but it would be an effective protest vote for sure.

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Doug's avatar

There are no “write-ins” in Canada. Marks other than X or ✅ make a ballot spoiled.

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Jillian's avatar

Ya, Wayne figured this out for us.

We figure it would still be a good protest vote and send a clear message if enough people did it though.

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Nels Jevne's avatar

As a constituent of Crowfoot riding, would you not be angry? Would you take this as a slap in the face the face? You picked a very popular man, well grounded, from the area, understands the area’s dynamics and now here you are. A group of people from the federal Conservative Party have the audacity to tell you, the voters in that constituency, that your choice of MP is irrelevant…they know more of what you need than you do. How arrogant and not only arrogant, simply, how wrong. I hope you rise up and scream. And on top of it all, they parachute this creature that wouldn’t know a Hereford from a heifer. What the hell are they thinking. Other Canadians punted him for good reasons but you’re to simply accept him? Like hell I would if I lived in the Camrose, KIllam, Provost areas.

This is an irritating, unlikable brazen person who's a concern to many. Remember. this…if he lived south of the 49th, he’d be a very concerning Republican. That in itself should be a warning.

Good luck………rebel is the call!

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Mayfield's avatar

Unfortunately, they are elated to have the “Leader” in their riding. They think that he’ll be the “magic man” that they need. The voters here just cannot break family traditions or participate in strategic voting.

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DBS's avatar
May 9Edited

Very, very powerful piece! I concur I would vote for Kurek , based on this piece. There is a local man, Robert Davis, a small business owner from Camrose running in this riding. I’ve shared it with his partner and other residents of the area.

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DBS's avatar

Just to note Robert will not be campaigning as an independent

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Dawnygirl1's avatar

apparently Robert Davis pulled out because of threats to him and his family. Not sure if that is true, but that's what's going around.

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Shari Foreht's avatar

Apparently it isn’t true about threats to his family. His wife made a post on Facebook that it was his concern that he would split the vote if he ran as an independent. People don’t really understand “strategic voting” and so it is likely correct that there would be vote splitting between him and the Liberal candidate so he made the decision not to run. I’m not in Alberta but if I did, I would vote for a man like that if he ran in the future!

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Dawnygirl1's avatar

I'm so glad to hear that he wasn't threatened!

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Fantastic, thank you very much for your kind words!

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kat cendy's avatar

Very well explained and just! Hope the people from this riding sees your post. Should be in the newspaper.

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Thank you! I don’t know if any western papers would print it. They tend to hold the party line.

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Lisa Burns's avatar

Hi Wayne, reach out to this journalist at The National Observer

https://bsky.app/profile/maxfawcett.bsky.social

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kat cendy's avatar

Opinion letter why not, I would try.

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Dawnygirl1's avatar

I reached out to the Camrose Booster.

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Jer Deroo's avatar

“Conservatives” under PP have regularly done short circuits around riding management. This election, south Okanagan, they scooped up a municipal council member over the riding association’s choice. In previous elections, the same type of thing happened all over Ontario.

I hope the voters make a strong statement

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Kim's avatar

A wonderful man, Charlie Mayer, has just died in Manitoba. In the Mulroney government he was Minister of Agriculture. In my (short lived) government he held that portfolio and I also named him Minister for Small Communities. It matters that the many realities that Canadians live are reflected in the deliberations of government. I met so many fine people in parliament who represented communities very different from my Vancouver Centre world, and one of the great joys of my parliamentary experience was learning from them and growing. You have expressed so eloquently the knowledge and perspective that is lost when the voice for your community is not the voice OF your community. Thank you for writing this. Every school student should read this to understand why representative government is so important. None of us can speak for every Canadian, but we can be part of a process that gives voice to all who will be affected by our decisions. Thinking about Charlie Mayer this week- I think of how his friendship and example enriched my life and how much I learned from the farmers and small town folk he brought together for me to meet. Your loss of a great representative makes me sad.

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Tim W Callaway's avatar

I grew up in a small town in Battle River-Crowfoot that was once so world famous (mid-20th century) that a university professor challenged me to write a doctoral dissertation on what made it famous which I did. I wish to commend Mr Horton for the significant and practical wisdom contained here. I can only hope that his visionary articulation of common sense will reap huge ballot-box rewards!

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Thank you. That’s high praise—and I’d love to read that dissertation one day. It’s always the quiet, grounded places that end up shaping the bigger conversations. I’m grateful this piece struck a chord. Here’s hoping others in the riding feel the same pull toward conscience over convenience.

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Tim W Callaway's avatar

It was subsequently published in book form (WestBow, 2013) titled TRAINING DISCIPLINED SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST: The influence of American Fundamentalism on Prairie Bible Institute During the L.E. Maxwell Era (1922-1980). Regardless of one’s view on religion, the comment of a Maclean’s magazine writer in a 1945 issue is what prompted me to do the research on PBI where I grew up 1960-1977. The comment communicated: “Travelling in Africa, Europe, Asia or Down Under? Tell people you’re from Canada and the question will not be ‘how are things in Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa?’ but rather ‘how are things in Three Hills?’ That’s because the PBI located in this small, rural town of 1,000 in east-central Alberta has sent hundreds of missionaries to numerous countries across the world.”… In fact, for 3 years following WW2, PBI had more full-time students than Moody Bible in Chicago or BIOLA in Los Angeles. The school still exists as a small community college in Three Hills. And my wife still rolls her eyes when no matter where we’re travelling and people find out I lived in Three Hills “oh, do you know so and so?”…

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Wayne Horton's avatar

That’s an extraordinary legacy—and a reminder that Battle River–Crowfoot has never been just some rural stronghold. It’s been a sending ground. A place where conviction was forged, not just inherited.

What strikes me most is the contrast: a college that built its name on discipline, humility, and global service now shares a postal code with a political parachute drop built on ego, grievance, and ambition. There’s something almost biblical about the tension.

I’m grateful you shared this. It adds spiritual and historical weight to a conversation that might otherwise get dismissed as partisan. If this riding has sent people to the farthest corners of the world in service of something higher, it deserves better than being treated like a consolation prize for a man who couldn’t hold his own seat.

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Gail McDonald's avatar

If you know someone from that area send his article to them. The more people that read it the better it is.

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Tim W Callaway's avatar

I’ve sent Wayne’s common sense to several friends in the BR-Crowfoot riding and asked them to share widely

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Thank you Tim! I appreciate the promotion! I hope it resonates with people and they see the bigger picture behind the partisan parachute drop.

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Mayfield's avatar

Unfortunately, they are elated to have the “Leader” in their riding. They think that he’ll be the “magic man” that they need. The voters here just cannot break family traditions or participate in strategic voting.

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Tim W Callaway's avatar

I wholeheartedly concur!

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Debbie J 🇨🇦's avatar

This was a very fantastic read. Thank you. From a progressive in Ontario.

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Thank you!

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Deb Jeffrey's avatar

Maybe take a chance and submit this to https://www.drumhellermail.com/news/submit-at-news-story? It seems to be the only local news source in this riding. I can't imagine how the people of Battle River-Crowfoot will ever see it. Calgary Herald maybe?

Taking a wild guess from central eastern Ontario.

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Joanne Paulson's avatar

Dang, Wayne. You've drilled this situation and I thank you so much (even though I'm not from Alberta. But I am from right next door.) Well said.

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Thank you!

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Joanne Paulson's avatar

My great pleasure.

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Gail McDonald's avatar

Kim Campbell, I remember Charlie Mayer. I live in Mb but was raised a farm girl in Sask.

Small towns and farming communities remember what are elected officials do for us and what they don't do.

My riding here in Mb was one that was suggested as a possible easy win for PP. If they had come here and made James resign I for one would be standing at the door yelling and banging on it to tell Pierre he wasn't welcome.

This article is so correct and stating what rural prairie values are all about. He ignored his own riding for 20 years, the man has done nothing in Parliament, except argue and pick fights and has no significant policies or bills that he's brought forth in 20 years of the Canadian taxpayer paying this man's salary.

I hope that the voters in this riding decide to stand up and have a backbone against him, no matter their politics. It is the principal of fair and free elections in Canada. Their choice has been taken away from them and PP is being shoved down their throats!

It's a sad day when that happens in Canada

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Carol Doyle's avatar

Hello, I am from Ontario the many people here who voted Liberal wasn't because they were Liberals but because we voted against Pierre Poliviere stood together against hatred, slogans, misinformation and more.

My Father was a Conservative and proud of what the party stood for, I'm in my 80th year and have watched what the party has become since the Harper Government through to Pierre Poliviere as a Leader with disdain. Mr Horton you have written well, your artical needs to be printed.

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Wayne Horton's avatar

Thank you! I truly believe that Carney presented a platform that would have been lauded by the Progressive Conservatives of old. I think many centrists recognized that, and also recognized the threat that Poilievre is.

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Carol Doyle's avatar

Yes indeed, I do agree with you wholeheartedly.

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Mayfield's avatar

Unfortunately, they are elated to have the “Leader” in their riding. They think that he’ll be the “magic man” that they need. The voters here just cannot break family traditions or participate in strategic voting.

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Carol Doyle's avatar

At this time Pierre Poliviere is Not the leader of the Conserative Party. The Interm Leader is Andrew Sheer because Poliviere Lost his seat in Parliament because he did nothing for his riding in 20+ years in Ontario. The people of Battle River -Crowfoot need to be aware of his background in politics through media as well as fact checking this man.

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james mack's avatar

Nice. Small towns know what to say about a carpetbagger.

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OriginalKaDs's avatar

That’s was a fantastic read, Wayne. I think you should share this in the local paper for Battle-River/Crowfoot, Poilievre’s page, the Conservative page, etc.

Okay, maybe not PP and the conservatives, don’t want them to see it coming and make a new plan😏.

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