The Turner Files: Canada must not import American style authoritarian politics
Published 7:00 pm Friday, January 16, 2026
Canada has always prided itself on democratic stability, respect for rule of law, and political discourse rooted in respect and pluralism. These values distinguish us from the more confrontational and authoritarian tendencies that have come to dominate segments of American politics. Right now we are seeing a worrying trend where some conservative leaders in Canada are not just watching U.S. politics but actively embracing American style tactics that threaten democratic norms.
Premier Danielle Smith of Alberta has openly looked to Republican leaders in the United States as models for political governance. In 2023 Smith praised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as examples of leaders who have created what she called “little bastions of freedom” and said Alberta could do the same. Smith said “I look at the Americans. I look at Ron DeSantis in Florida and Kristi Noem in South Dakota. They’ve been able to create little bastions of freedom and we can create a little bastion of freedom in Alberta as well.”
This is more than admiration for political style. Kristi Noem now serves as the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and is at the forefront of aggressive immigration enforcement and federal law enforcement actions that many critics describe as heavy handed and brutal.
Smith’s embrace of these figures and rhetoric matters because it signals that American style political conflict and authoritarian impulses are not alien to Canadian political discourse. When Canada’s political leaders point to U.S. tactics as models to emulate, they risk normalizing a style of politics that undermines the democratic norms that have long defined our country.
Conservative leaders like Pierre Poilievre have also been willing to applaud or minimize undemocratic acts abroad. After the United States carried out a controversial operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Poilievre publicly praised the action, applauding the Trump administration’s enforcement. Such endorsements signal a willingness to accept or celebrate actions that flout international law and democratic norms, which should alarm anyone concerned about sovereign integrity and norm adherence.
Closer to home British Columbia saw former BC Conservative MLAs Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong use Republican style playbooks to propose legislation targeting trans people and the medical community in ways that mirror harmful U.S. models. Their bill would have imposed restrictions on gender affirming care and allowed broad legal action against medical professionals. That bill was narrowly defeated before first reading, but its very proposal reflects an adoption of American culture war tactics that harm vulnerable communities.
We also see attacks on immigrants from voices like Dallas Brodie that borrow the language and punitive tone of U.S. right wing politics. When political debate shifts from public policy to hostility toward whole groups of people and basic human rights, it erodes the social cohesion that is essential to Canadian democracy.
A truly alarming trend is the way elements of U.S. federal enforcement practice are being normalized in Canadian discourse without critical reflection. In Minnesota federal agents have been dispatched to enforce immigration actions in ways that local leaders have described as chaotic and unaccountable. In some instances children have been caught up in enforcement actions and community outrage has been intense. Indigenous communities have protested what they call coercive tactics employed by federal authorities in negotiations over “immigration agreements.” ICE agents have been reported to go door to door demanding identification, creating fear and suspicion in communities that trusted local law enforcement. These are real world examples of what happens when enforcement agencies operate without strong democratic oversight and community trust.
The dangers of normalizing these American style politics in Canada are profound. Our national anthem reminds us “we stand on guard for thee.” That phrase is not just ceremonial language. It embodies Canada’s commitment to guarding democratic norms, human rights, inclusion, and the rule of law. When we import rhetoric that treats dissent as illegitimate, when we look to foreign enforcement models that prioritize force over dialogue, when we applaud undemocratic actions by foreign governments, we undermine our own democratic guardrails.
Democracy thrives on debate but requires respect for institutions, rights, and the dignity of all citizens. Borrowing American style authoritarian tactics and culture war playbooks threatens those democratic foundations. Canadian political leaders should reject these impulses and defend democratic norms that value inclusive discourse, protect rights, and uphold the rule of law. Democracy is not only about winning elections. It is about preserving the norms and institutions that make pluralistic governance possible.
Wilbur Turner is a seasoned political strategist and community advocate based in Kelowna, British Columbia. Drawing from hands-on experience in political campaigns, he brings a passionate commitment to civic engagement and delivers incisive, approachable commentary on the political and social forces shaping our communities and nation. Honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of British Columbia for his profound community impact, Turner also pens thought-provoking pieces as QueerGranddad on Substack.