Share this Story : National Post Copy Link Email X Reddit LinkedIn Tumblr

Jamie Sarkonak: How Marilyn Gladu awkwardly fits into the Liberal party

She's mild on immigration and open to post-nationalism, and that's enough to keep the Conservative caucus bleeding

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

What started out as a small scrape is turning into a long bleed. On Wednesday, 11-year Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu left caucus and joined the Liberals after denouncing floor crossers. You can actually make it make sense if you really squint, but for Pierre Poilievre, that doesn’t help much.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

Gladu should repulse the Liberals: she’s dined with Freedom Convoyers; stood up for an alleged constituent whose bank account was frozen for buying a convoy T-shirt; spoken at the National March for Life; praised Donald Trump before he was president.

Jamie Sarkonak: How Marilyn Gladu awkwardly fits into the Liberal party Back to video

She’s campaigned for December to be named Christian heritage month. She opposed the Liberal plan to ban “conversion therapy” until her vote was whipped otherwise. She’s advocated for freedom of religion and identifies as pro-life, though she is rated as “not supportable” by the Campaign Life Coalition. And that’s where her common ground with the Liberals begins.

On immigration, she’ll likely manage to follow the Liberal lead. Her typical critiques have had to do with lengthy wait times for applicants, though her Commons contributions have followed party lines. As recently as October, she was lauding the Ship of Theseus model: “We need immigration to build houses and for the nation-building projects we want. We have an aging population. We need more (personal support workers), nurses and doctors than can graduate from the educational institutions in Canada. We need people to come here and help build the country.”

She has even delved into Liberal post-nationalism by pushing amendments to broadcasting and online content laws in 2023 to cover languages other than English and French: “We’re extending it to include with respect to the diversity of languages in Canada, so it will be the official languages plus any indigenous languages and any ethnic languages — like Punjabi — and there are a number of different art forms that we see in film and various things.”

Some social conservatives do embrace migration even at the expense of national identity. They can find a niche in the Liberal party (many are already there) as long as each side can look past their disagreements on issues such as abortion, religious schools, euthanasia and the other sore points between religious conservatives and the progressive left. That’s how Gladu fits.

Nevertheless, it’s a turning point. The first three crossers could be rationalized in a way that didn’t spell disaster for the party. Chris d’Entremont was a longtime Conservative, but an Atlantic Conservative; Michael Ma could have been motivated by external factors; Matt Jeneroux was temptable and detached from his job (and riding). None of them appeared to be too far to the right for the Liberals to stomach, but the latest recruit is a stretch.

The thought running through a lot of heads is now, If the Liberals are willing to take Gladu, then they’ll take anyone. For MPs who want to work in government but don’t believe the Conservatives will form it in their political lifetime, the arrangement won’t be out of the question.

Poilievre has done a lot of good for the party in his time, raising membership recruitment to record levels, building back a confident Conservative public image and giving people hope for a victory. He refused to bow to the totalizing view that climate should put strict boundaries on the Canadian economy, and he ended the moratorium on hammering immigration. Before that, the party was known for either treading water or sinking.

But you have to wonder if he’s hit his ceiling. Poilievre’s strength was in his harsh and creative attacks on Justin Trudeau who is no longer on the playing field, and his sharp edges have been sanded down to make him more approachable. His relationships with provincial parties are strained. His crime policies are delicate when the moment is asking for bold, and he’s careful to avoid mentioning the elephant in the room of racial sentencing; on immigration and Aboriginal title, the party was slow to kick into gear and can reasonably be criticized for being too soft, though improvements have been vast.

Birthright citizenship, Section 35 of the 1982 Constitution, race-based sentencing and hiring, and zero-tolerance policies for non-citizens who commit any criminal or traffic infractions are all debates that the party could be leading.

Meanwhile, the party’s comms strategy seems geared at not alienating older supporters of Mark Carney. Poilievre snubbed Nigel Farage and the Reform party during a recent U.K. visit, implying they’re too extreme even though they’re likely to form the next government. The solidarity he expressed for Carney on the Joe Rogan podcast gave the impression that the interview was targeted at never-Conservative Redditors scrutinizing the clips, not supporters who genuinely wanted to hear more. His focus on libertarian economics avoids direct engagement with the battle line of today, which lies between western nationalists and the Third-Worldist left.

These can be overlooked if you trust that he’ll deal with these issues quietly in government. But if even forming government isn’t likely, and the internal mechanics are starting to seize up, and now caucus has developed a slow leak, well, some will say it’s time to roll the dice with a new leader. Just be careful what you ask for: a downgrade would be cataclysmic, and there’s no clear upgrade waiting in the wings.

Maya Gebala's parents taking UFC president's offer to pay for rehab at L.A. hospital Canada

Maya Gebala's parents taking UFC president's offer to pay for rehab at L.A. hospital

Former law school dean wanted on Canada-wide arrest warrant now disbarred in U.K. Canada

Former law school dean wanted on Canada-wide arrest warrant now disbarred in U.K.

Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

Marilyn Gladu says her floor-crossing is the ‘best thing for my riding, for the country and for myself’ Canadian Politics

Marilyn Gladu says her floor-crossing is the ‘best thing for my riding, for the country and for myself’

12 million Canadians could get a one-time bonus payment this spring. Here's how to check if you qualify Canada

12 million Canadians could get a one-time bonus payment this spring. Here's how to check if you qualify

Here's how much the Artemis II astronauts are likely getting paid Space

Here's how much the Artemis II astronauts are likely getting paid

Share this Story : National Post Copy Link Email X Reddit LinkedIn Tumblr

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Best standup comedy shows in Canada near you this week Ali Wong, Nate Bargatze and Bobby Lee are on sale now 13 hours ago Entertainment

Best standup comedy shows in Canada near you this week

Ali Wong, Nate Bargatze and Bobby Lee are on sale now

How to make the most of the World Cup in Vancouver and Toronto this summer Canada's host cities are set for a soccer-fuelled frenzy with fans due to arrive from around the globe 18 hours ago Travel

How to make the most of the World Cup in Vancouver and Toronto this summer

Canada's host cities are set for a soccer-fuelled frenzy with fans due to arrive from around the globe

Best BBQs in Canada: Top grills for balconies and backyards This summer we're chillin' and grillin'. 1 day ago Outdoor & Garden

Best BBQs in Canada: Top grills for balconies and backyards

This summer we're chillin' and grillin'.

Advertisement 2Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

What are the hidden lessons of Japan's food culture? A culinary tour of the country's street markets and kitchens reveals what Canadians might be missing 1 day ago Travel

What are the hidden lessons of Japan's food culture?

A culinary tour of the country's street markets and kitchens reveals what Canadians might be missing

Allergy seasons are getting worse: A doctor’s essential guide for every Canadian household Dr. Amiirah Aujnarain shares tips, advice and products to have on hand for allergy season in Canada. 1 day ago Wellness

Allergy seasons are getting worse: A doctor’s essential guide for every Canadian household

Dr. Amiirah Aujnarain shares tips, advice and products to have on hand for allergy season in Canada.

© National Post