Canada Heads to the Polls — and the Authoritarian Tide Creeps Closer
- danikafornear
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
By Danika Joy Fornear | Big Mouth Media | April 28, 2025
Today, Canadians are casting their votes in an election that has drawn unprecedented international attention.
But the forces shaping this moment aren’t just coming from within Canada’s borders.
They are the same forces fueling the rise of authoritarianism worldwide — and many of them are being exported straight from the United States.
In the days leading up to the election, Donald Trump — still the figurehead of America’s far-right movement — publicly joked that Canada should consider becoming the 51st U.S. state.
For those paying attention, it wasn’t a harmless comment.
It was a reminder that Christian nationalism, political extremism, and authoritarianism recognize no borders — and they’re on the march.
At stake today is not just who will form Canada’s next government.
It’s whether a modern democracy can withstand the relentless pressure of right-wing extremism, disinformation campaigns, and the creeping normalization of fascist ideologies.
The choice facing Canadian voters is stark:
The Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, campaigning to protect democratic institutions, strengthen civil rights, and maintain economic sovereignty in the face of external pressures.
The Conservative Party, under Pierre Poilievre, whose platform increasingly mirrors the populist rage and conspiratorial rhetoric that fueled Trump’s rise in the U.S. — including attacks on journalists, immigrants, public education, and social services.
The Cross-Border Spread of Extremism
The signs of American influence are everywhere.
Telegram channels and far-right media outlets have flooded Canadian platforms with conspiracy theories and false narratives.
MAGA-aligned figures have openly cheered for a Poilievre victory, viewing it as a win for global Christian nationalist movements.
Economic destabilization through tariffs — weaponized by Trump — has further fueled nationalist resentment, playing directly into far-right messaging.
“Authoritarianism doesn’t stop at the border,” says Dr. M. Thompson, a scholar of international extremism. “It’s a contagion — and when it’s left unchecked, it spreads into every system it can reach.”
Today’s election is a live test of just how resilient democracy is under siege.
Why This Matters Far Beyond Canada
Americans have a vested interest in what happens today — not just because of trade or foreign policy, but because Canada is a frontline battleground in the global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism.
The authoritarian right has made clear that their ambitions are not contained by geography.
Christian nationalism, white supremacy, and corporatist strongman politics are being packaged, exported, and replicated across borders with frightening speed.
If Canadians manage to reject this wave at the ballot box today, it will be a critical victory for the international fight against fascism.
If they don’t, it will serve as yet another chilling sign that democracies everywhere — including our own — are more vulnerable than we want to believe.
As the votes are counted tonight, the stakes could not be higher.
The authoritarian tide is rising.
The question is whether enough people are willing — and able — to stand against it.
Because what happens in Canada today doesn’t stay in Canada.
It will ripple outward.
And if we’re not prepared, the next domino could fall a lot closer to home.
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