Confession from a Dissident Canadian

One of the questions I’m most frequently asked — by both Canadians and Americans — is some variation of “Why do you care so much about America?” By now, it doesn’t bother me. In fact, I deliver speeches on the very subject in both countries. However, at first, I didn’t get why it was so hard to believe that someone born and raised in Canada such as myself could approach conservatism and patriotism in a way that is more common south of the 49th parallel, in the United States. Unfortunately, many Canadians — though, generally those on the Left — accuse me of hating Canada, or being anti-patriotic. If anything, I’m exactly the opposite. I don’t hate Canada, I hate how my country has devolved since the 60s to being a state without values, and a nation whose only cultural identity is based on being an amalgamation of other cultures.

Many Canadians hate anything American, simply because it’s American. Last year, when I was involved in the start of the movement to bring the Tea Party to Canada, some of the opposition from certain people was ridiculous. It wasn’t even that they didn’t like the concept of liberty, but that they didn’t like that I dared to bring an American idea to Canada. I’m rather pragmatic in my approach — I want the best for my country, regardless of who pioneered the idea. When I look at the United States, I see what Canada should — and used to — be: A nation centered around freedom and democracy, with a people who tell the government how it’s going to be, as opposed to bowing down at the feet of their legislators and surrendering liberty. Despite a sorry attempt at codifying freedom in 1982 under the philandering Leftist Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (a supporter of Hitler in his youth; a friend of Fidel Castro during adulthood,) Canada is a country without a true constitution. And, in many ways, a country without freedom.

In my travels between the two countries — which, culturally can seem, at times, to be like two foreign lands — I see that the people are the same. Government, politics, and even religion differs between our two nations, but the majority of people I encounter all seem to want the same things: Liberty, freedom of speech, respect from government, etc. However, a large number of Canadians, it seems have given up hope on revisiting those values. So again, I reiterate that — despite what the Left accuses me of — I don’t hate Canada at all. I’m the optimistic one!

Now, to be fair, the anti-American sentiment that exists in Canada doesn’t only exist in the one direction. While in the United States, I’ve heard people jokingly say “You’re a conservative? From Canada?”, but I’ve also heard people disparage me for my origins. At the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, one woman from Connecticut actually suggested that I should be banned from the convention for being “a foreigner.” At the Conservative Political Action Conference once, a gentleman told me that I wasn’t a “real” conservative because I wasn’t an American. Fortunately, these views are in the minority. Most Americans I come across are more fascinated about my political background rather than skeptical of it, and I’m happy to share my story with anyone.

There’s a reason that the United States of America is the most powerful country in the world, and has become the bastion of conservatism for those on the right globally…because they’re good at what they do. Even under the reign of Barack Obama, the American people remain resilient, faithful, and devoted to freedom. The Tea Party didn’t arrive out of hatred or racism, but out of a love for liberty and the Constitution. That’s what I want for Canada, and why I will always keep one foot on each side of the border, politically speaking.