ADAMS: Elect a Harper-era Conservative, Prepare for Harper-era Politics

Air Canada pilots show support for CUPE flight attendants as they prepare to strike under the Canada Labour Code. Photo credit: @AirCanadaPilots on X

There comes a moment when the mask slips, and the true nature of a leader is revealed. For Mark Carney, that moment came this week, when his Jobs Minister forced Air Canada’s flight attendants back to work after not even a day on strike.

In a single stroke, Carney revealed that he is not the progressive champion his party sells him to be, but a man governing from the Harper playbook.

Canadians should not forget that it was Stephen Harper who repeatedly used back-to-work legislation as a weapon against organized labour. Canada Post. Air Canada, 2011. CP Rail, 2012. Time and again, the Harper Conservative government chose Bay Street over Main Street, boardrooms over break rooms. The Liberals, then in opposition, condemned it. They said it was wrong. They said it undermined our democracy, our rights, and our Charter. And yet here we are again.

A Liberal government, elected on a promise of balance and fairness, rushing to silence workers before their voices could even be heard.

And let’s be honest: the optics could not be worse.

No one is siding with Air Canada here. No one believes workers should be forced into unpaid labour, ever. And when approximately 70% of those workers are women, as is the case with Air Canada’s flight attendants, the choice to silence them as quickly as he did is not just tone-deaf, it is reckless. I will not be disingenuous and call Mark Carney a misogynist. But he is giving the public no reason to believe otherwise.

And considering that the majority of Canadians who identify as women also vote Liberal, this borders on political malpractice. Alienating the very people who have stood with you for decades is just terrible strategy. Ask Kamala.

Conservatives Score on Carney’s Misstep

Speaking of optics, Carney’s move has already given the Conservatives fresh ammunition. Shadow Minister for Labour Kyle Seeback released a statement on August 16th calling out what he saw as the government’s mishandling of the strike.

“Mark Carney is proving once again that he is no friend to workers or labour, and would rather reward his corporate buddies than pay flight attendants who work tirelessly on their feet all day.,” Seeback said.

“No worker – federally-regulated or otherwise – should be forced, especially by the government, to work without being paid. Yet, that is exactly what flight attendants are being ordered to do. Instead of continuing to attack flight attendants by forcing them back to work, Carney should work with Parliament to pass the Conservatives’ Flight Attendants Fairness Act, ensuring workers are paid for the work they do before, during and after a flight.”

“Flight attendants play a vital role in safely getting Canadians where they need to go. It’s time that Air Canada, and the Carney government, treat them fairly and respect their rights.” Seeback concluded.

Now let’s be clear: the Conservative Party of Canada has no credibility on this issue. They are the most pro-business, anti-worker party in Canada. Their record speaks for itself: union-busting bills, opposition to wage increases, corporate tax cuts. No serious person should mistake them for friends of working Canadians.

But what Carney has done is worse in a way. He has given the Conservatives legitimacy they do not deserve. He has handed them the talking point that Liberals are no different, that only Conservatives will stand up to “special interests,” that only Conservatives care about the ordinary worker.

The Conservatives are on CUPE's side of this Air Canada strike. Is it a lie? Probably. But it is a lie made easier to sell when Liberals behave like Conservatives.

Dear Liberals: Hold Carney Accountable

I say this as an ex-Carney Liberal. I believed in what Carney promised, and I know many of you still do. But please, be honest with yourselves: Carney is governing in a way that is deeply illiberal. He is betraying the very values Liberals are supposed to stand for. For years, strategic voting advocates have emotionally manipulated New Democrats and Greens to “vote Liberal just this once to stop Conservatives.”

I watched it happen in riding after riding, even where it was an NDP/Tory or Green/Tory race, the cry was always the same: vote Liberal or else.

That line only works if Liberals are truly different from the Tories.

If Carney keeps this up—if Liberals keep acting like Conservatives—then the next time someone even worse than Pension Poilievre comes along, who will believe you? Who will take “vote Liberal just this once” seriously ever again? The reality is that this is the Liberal Party’s 4th term. Our country is in shambles. The Liberals have had 10 years to get it done, and instead of delivering on their promises to the Canadian people, Carney is eroding the last ounce of credibility his party has left.

So my plea to Liberal voters is simple: hold Carney to account. Demand better of your leader, or you will find yourselves unable to demand anything of anyone else. Because if Liberals continue being Conservatives, no one will ever trust them again.