Straight to the point | Pierre Poilievre mocks democracy

Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre was absent from the debate hosted by his party last night. In total only three of the five aspiring chefs crossed swords, Leslyn Lewis having also withdrawn.

Favorite in the polls, Mr. Poilievre sails towards victory with great arrogance. But his lead does not justify the denial of democracy we are witnessing these days. Debating your ideas is a minimum when you aspire to lead one of the main political parties in the country. Even more so when you cherish the dream of becoming prime minister.

But is it so surprising from the one who wants to decapitate the Bank of Canada, and who supported the convoy of conspirators who took Ottawa hostage?

Mr. Poilievre will have to pay a fine of $50,000, the penalty imposed by his party for his refusal to participate in the debate. But this money will not come from his pocket. He will draw on the donations of more than 4 million dollars raised since the start of his campaign. For a man who says he is close to the concerns of the people, let’s say that he treats the money entrusted to him by his supporters with great ease.

This attitude does not bode well for the future. If he ever moves into the Prime Minister’s office, will Mr. Poilievre categorically refuse, as he does today, interview requests from journalists? What other democratic principle will fall by the wayside?

This contempt is not reassuring.