Samer Majzoub- Montreal
It has never been a surprise that the electoral competition for the leadership of the Federal Conservative Party witnesses a tug-of-war between candidates over economic and political programs and social trends in their various forms. It should be noted that the platforms were all taking place under titles known historically and traditionally as being right-wing banners.
Furthermore, the candidates' platforms are frequently used to pit them against one another, which is farther to the right of the right-wing "lines" than the others. Some of the party's programs, both before and after the elections, had populist dimensions, according to many.
The Conservative Party's policies that were raising concern, and in some cases public indignation, were largely tied to the party's orientations and connections with various sectors of the Canadian fabric that make up the country's society at large. Adding up what was previously referred to as biased foreign policies on sensitive international issues with well-known special dimensions.
In this context, there was a flaming relationship, on many levels, between the Conservative Party, and, as a by-product, the federal government that it was leading, and some components of Canadian society, including the Muslim community, during the era of Stephen Harper's leadership of the party and, subsequently, as the head of the federal government at the time.
Many observers believe that these ties were tarnished by a state of severe tension, mistrust, and policies predicated on societal friction. Islamophobia is another broad term that has been used to describe several of the Conservative-led policies.
Furthermore, the adopted foreign policy orientations added fuel to the flames of right-wing Conservative Party policies that already existed at the time.
In light of these circumstances, the rise of Patrick Brown, one of the current contenders vying to lead the Conservative Party in the coming time, becomes a very striking good phenomenon
As a result of his background, Patrick Brown's political views are not unusual. He has a long political background and was the former leader of the Conservative Party in Ontario. He , currently, serves as the mayor of Brampton, Ontario.
Brown's decision to have activists from within to co-lead his election campaign demonstrates his desire to create strong ties with the community. Patrick is well-known for his political forwardness. Without hesitation, he campaigned financially and coordinated policy to combat Law 21. Brown is also directly engaging with the community, visiting centers and mosques, meeting with community leaders, and expressing a positive and very understanding of their concerns, fears, and questions about the shape of the Conservative Party's future guidelines if he is elected to the party leadership.
Patrick Brown has made no secret of his role as an outspoken opponent of Islamophobia. In terms of foreign policy, he made public his strong stance on Palestine, the Middle East crisis, Yemen, the Uyghur Muslims, and other relevant issues. As a result of his stance, he was subjected to vicious “slander efforts”.
Many who met Patrick Brown had legitimate questions about how he could confront sweeping counter-current rooted policies within his party that radically opposed his orientations; Patrick's answers, as usual, were bold and straightforward, which he clarified in his interview with the respected journal, Sada ElMashrek, that the parties' policies are largely drawn up by their president and "his clout." In the same interview, he states that he does not expect current party members to vote for him. He claims that his approach is predicated on attracting new members who outnumber existing members in order to secure his party's leadership elections in September 2022.
Furthermore, Brown invited groups, including Canadian Muslims, to join the Conservative Party in order to engage massively in the internal elections to determine the party's president.
Will the community respond to Patrick's request and thereby help in the development of advanced conservative party policies based on fair and equitable Canadian national and unitary foundations for all inhabitants of the country?
It is critical to emphasize that the community's engagement in the Conservative party’s leadership race does not imply any change in the community's political, partisan convictions, orientations, alliances, or choices. It surely does not imply inevitable compromise over strategic relationships established over time at the federal level. It's rather a civic engagement implication in choosing who leads a pivotal political current at a stage of significant importance to the future of the political and media arena and the public mood nationwide.
In conclusion, will the community be duly active, as other fellow Canadians, by participating in the democratic process that leads to the election of a new leader of the Conservative federal party and shines a light on our country's future? Or does it just keep cursing the darkness, and stay on the fringes? Only the coming days shall prove one way or other!
*photo from Twiter