A factory can be shuttered for releasing harmful levels of toxicity. However, there’s no effective mechanism to regulate websites trading in noxious political discourse.
Six Canadians are dead following a shooting at a Quebec mosque. Many more were injured.
The man accused of the killing is an Internet troll known for his admiration of Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right demagogue who once likened praying Muslims to invading Nazis.
The days when we could dismiss trolls as innocuous, basement-dwelling buffoons has sadly ended.
Several mass murders on U.S. college campuses have been carried out by shooters who found acceptance in the hateful fringe of online havens.
And as mainstream conservative dialogue becomes increasingly venomous and prone to incite, the lunatic fringe has become commensurately more dangerous.
To be clear, conservatives offer political ideas that have been – and we hope will continue to be – a valued part of our democracy. However, if Canada is going to avoid the fate of our friends to the south, we need to ensure that any political campaign hinged on hate ends in failure.
Of the 14 politicians vying to lead the Conservative Party, 13 are focusing – with varying degrees of success – on economic and social policies. One seems determined only to give voters a symbol to despise.
We urge you to reject any candidate whose fortunes depend on appealing to your fear and prejudice, or who claims to represent “real Canada.”
There are a little more than 35 million living definitions of “real Canada.” For all of us, let’s keep our country open, inclusive, and non-toxic.
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