Blueprints and Backchannels: WEF Panic, Project 2025, and the Orange Oracle of Calgary

Not Just Populism: The Conservative Party of Canada's Plan Behind the Thin Blue Curtain

Pierre Poilievre has positioned himself as the face of Canada’s hard-right resurgence, but the ideological scaffolding behind his rise bears the imprint of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. While Poilievre channels the populist energy of the moment, it is Harper who has quietly re-emerged as the movement’s architect—shaping the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) from behind the curtain. Harper’s influence on the Canadian right is comparably foundational: he oversaw the CPC’s updated 2023 Policy Declaration, which codifies a host of new conservative policies, and through his international roles he’s been “helping hard-right leaders get elected” globally [4]. This mirrors a broader North American trend: just as U.S. Republicans have crafted Project 2025 as a blueprint for reshaping American governance, Harper is scripting a parallel vision for Canada—one designed to steer government toward centralized executive power and socially conservative nationalism.

Project 2025: The Template for Hard-Right Governance

Project 2025, led by the U.S. Heritage Foundation, is a nearly 1,000-page “blueprint” for the next Republican president to "usher in a sweeping overhaul of the executive branch." It includes a detailed policy guide and even a vetted personnel database to populate a future administration [10]. In essence, it’s a plan to convert government machinery to execute a hard-right agenda—from abolishing entire departments to rolling back progressive regulations [9]. Harper’s influence on the Canadian right is comparably foundational, offering a Canadian equivalent that codifies similar goals in different language.

“The modern left, while called Marxist often, is not really socialist, it’s nihilist; its ethics are entirely nihilist …And it’s all about ripping everything down. I could go into all the reasons why I think this is so [but] it doesn’t really matter what the explanation for it is, it’s all bad and it needs to be fought and opposed.”
- Stephen Harper (appearing on Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist Podcast)

The Carney Contrast: Populist Strategy Meets Technocratic Symbol

Amid this conservative resurgence, Prime Minister Mark Carney has become a lightning rod for opposition narratives. Carney’s ascent in 2025—from central banker to Liberal leader—has allowed the CPC and affiliated influencers to portray him as the antithesis of their “Canada First” populism. To them, Carney is more than a political opponent; he is the avatar of globalism, technocracy, and elite finance.

Carney’s extensive résumé—former Goldman Sachs executive, Governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, and prominent contributor to the World Economic Forum—has been reframed by right-wing actors as proof of his loyalty to global elites, not Canadians [3]. Alt-media figures and even some CPC candidates have circulated conspiratorial claims that Carney was “installed” by the WEF, not elected by Liberals. His overwhelming victory in the Liberal leadership race has been downplayed as evidence of elite coordination rather than democratic choice [4].

This rhetoric mirrors U.S.-style attacks on expertise and multilateralism, echoing Republican takedowns of figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and career diplomats such as William Burns and Wendy Sherman. Under Trump’s new administration in 2025, similar technocratic figures have been sidelined or purged in favor of ideologically aligned loyalists. Carney’s Canadian critics make use of this framing to position him as a threat to national sovereignty and economic independence—a man whose global connections allegedly undermine his ability to govern “for the people.”

However, the substance of these critiques rarely addresses Carney’s policy proposals directly. Instead, his presence functions as a narrative device for the CPC: he personifies the enemy in their populist war against institutional expertise, regulatory oversight, and multilateral governance. In this sense, the Conservative movement doesn’t just oppose Carney—it requires him as a symbolic boogeyman.

Justice and the Notwithstanding Clause

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently confirmed on the 2025 campaign trail that he would invoke the notwithstanding clause to implement elements of his justice reform plan, including a bill to allow consecutive life sentences for multiple murderers [11]. This is a watershed moment: no federal government in Canadian history has ever used this constitutional override power.

The clause, which allows Parliament or provincial legislatures to override certain Charter rights for up to five years, was intended as a last resort. Its normalization by the CPC raises serious questions about democratic accountability and judicial independence. Poilievre’s vow to use it for justice reform is unlikely to be an isolated case. The CPC platform explicitly supports using every constitutional tool available to push through legislation deemed in the “national interest” [1].

Sidebar: Comparing CPC Platform to Project 2025

Governance Tools
CPC: Use of the notwithstanding clause to override courts
  → Policy #15, #16
Project 2025: Executive centralization, agency purges, rule by decree
  → Sources [9][10]

Justice Reform
CPC: Tough-on-crime, override sentencing protections
  → Policy #122, #126
Project 2025: DOJ weaponization, harsher sentencing, loyalty-based appointments
  → Source [9]

Climate & Energy
CPC: Scrap carbon pricing, expand fossil fuel infrastructure
  → Policy #34, #52, #54
Project 2025: Eliminate climate regulation, withdraw from Paris Accord
  → Source [10]

Social Policy
CPC: Oppose DEI, ban gender care for minors, enforce campus free speech
  → Policy #92, #110, #19
Project 2025: Ban DEI, repeal LGBTQ protections, enforce Christian conservative norms
  → Source [10]

National Identity
CPC: Emphasis on “Canada First,” sovereignty rhetoric, WEF skepticism
  → Policy #23, #24
Project 2025: “America First,” multilateral hostility, foreign aid cuts
  → Source [12]

Digital Strategy
CPC: Viral media campaigns, YouTube-first strategy, use of bots (observed)
  → Not a formal policy, embedded in CPC campaign
Project 2025: Big data targeting, platform pressure, algorithmic manipulation
  → Source [9]

This mirrors the approach of President Trump’s second administration, which has aggressively relied on executive orders to bypass Congress and judicial review. In a short span, Trump has dismantled climate rules, reshaped immigration and trade frameworks, and suspended large portions of U.S. foreign aid [12]. The CPC’s use of the notwithstanding clause signals a similar turn in Canada: a future government willing to override long-standing norms in pursuit of political expediency.

Economic Policy and Trade

The CPC’s economic vision calls for deregulation, aggressive development of fossil fuels, and major tax reductions to “unlock prosperity.” But critics argue this approach skews heavily in favor of corporate interests while offering little to the working class.

Poilievre has pledged to scrap carbon pricing, ease approval for major infrastructure projects, and implement a “zero capital gains tax” on reinvested profits within Canada [3]. While these policies aim to attract investment, they may also undermine climate goals, weaken regulatory safeguards, and exacerbate wealth inequality.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., President Trump has destabilized global trade norms by cancelling foreign aid programs, withdrawing from multilateral agreements, and introducing punitive tariffs—including against allied nations [12]. Canada’s alignment with a similarly insular and deregulated economic model could expose it to similar instability, especially if foreign investors grow wary of Trump’s unpredictable policy swings.

Social and Cultural Policies

The CPC has embraced an aggressive stance in the culture wars, with policies aimed at countering what it calls “radical woke ideology.” This includes bans on gender-affirming care for minors, opposition to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs, and new mandates on academic institutions to protect “free speech” [1].

These ideas are rooted in Harper’s legacy but have grown sharper under Poilievre. They mirror Republican efforts in the United States, where President Trump has dismantled federal diversity programs, banned certain academic materials, and accused civil service agencies of harboring left-wing ideology [12].

By presenting itself as the defender of common-sense Canadian values, the CPC positions progressive social policy as an imported threat. Figures like Jordan Peterson lend intellectual weight to this campaign, arguing that “cultural Marxism” and “identity politics” are eroding Western civilization [5]. But the actual result is often an increase in polarization and marginalization of already vulnerable groups.

Nationalism and Identity

“Canada First” is more than a slogan for the CPC—it’s a governing principle. The party has increasingly framed issues of trade, immigration, and security through the lens of sovereignty. The WEF, the UN, and even the CBC have been painted as threats to Canadian autonomy.

This nationalism serves as a direct parallel to Trump’s “America First” strategy, which in his second term has led to a dramatic repositioning of U.S. foreign and domestic priorities: massive funding cuts to international institutions, military repositioning, and aggressive border crackdowns [12].

Harper helped craft the modern Conservative identity that elevates national sovereignty above international collaboration. Under Poilievre, this posture has been amplified, often with rhetoric that borders on conspiratorial—especially regarding the WEF and global climate frameworks. Carney’s associations with these institutions make him an ideal foil for this nationalist messaging [3][4].

Campaign Strategy and Infrastructure

Poilievre’s CPC has built one of the most sophisticated digital operations in Canadian political history. Drawing from Harper-era data innovations and the aggressive style of U.S. Republican strategists, the party has mastered online engagement.

Poilievre’s YouTube presence is unprecedented, often bypassing mainstream media entirely [8]. The CPC also benefits from a constellation of aligned social media accounts, meme factories, and viral attack pages. Some of this network has veered into murky territory: a 2024 investigation found over 400 bot accounts amplifying CPC messaging [7].

This isn’t just grassroots energy—it’s algorithmic warfare. And it resembles the Trump campaign’s infamous use of Facebook targeting and digital disinformation, now being further refined in his return to office [12].

Conclusion: A Canadian Project 2025

What we are witnessing is not simply a political campaign — it is the quiet rollout of a comprehensive ideological program. Harper’s legacy architecture, Poilievre’s populist charisma, and Trump’s aggressive use of executive authority are converging into a cross-border, conservative operating system. Each component complements the others: economic nationalism, reactionary culture war politics, and institutional override tactics. And it’s happening by design — not accident.

Crucially, the success of this agenda depends on controlling the message more than the mechanics. Like their Republican counterparts, Canada’s Conservatives have avoided releasing a full election platform. Poilievre’s team has instead relied on viral slogans, grievance-based rhetoric, and algorithmic precision to avoid alarming the broader public. It mirrors how Republicans in the U.S. denied the scope of Project 2025 — until it was too late to stop.

In this story, Mark Carney plays a necessary role: the symbol of everything the movement claims to reject — globalist, technocratic, elite. His presence provides the foil that allows the populist message to sharpen without exposing the full implications of the Conservative policy playbook.

This isn’t just strategy. It’s stealth governance. The question now is not whether Canadians support this vision — but whether they’ll realize what’s being enacted before it’s already in place.

Sources

1. Conservative Party of Canada. *Policy Declaration* (Sept 2023). https://www.conservative.ca/policy-declaration/

2. Harper, Stephen – *American Optimist* interview transcript (2023). Watch here

3. Poilievre, Pierre – *Knowledge Project* interview transcript (2023). Watch here

4. Michael Harris, *The Tyee* – "Democracy Under Siege" (Apr 2024). https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2024/04/08/Democracy-Under-Siege/

5. Marc Fawcett-Atkinson, *National Observer/DeSmog* – "Jordan Peterson’s International Network" (Apr 2025). https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/08/news/jordan-peterson-conservatives-international-network

6. Nick Taylor-Vaisey, *Politico Ottawa Playbook* – "Harper on the stump" (Apr 8, 2025). https://www.politico.com/newsletters/ottawa-playbook/2025/04/08/harper-on-the-stump-00110932

7. Canadian Digital Media Research Network – "Incident Update: Bots and LLMs" (Aug 2024). https://canadiandigitalresearch.ca/reports/poilievre-bot-campaign-aug2024

8. Canadian Parliamentary Review – "Mapping Canadian Leaders’ Use of YouTube" (2023). https://www.revparl.ca/english/issue.asp?param=257&art=1950

9. Democracy Docket – "These Republicans Have Ties to Project 2025" (July 2024). https://www.democracydocket.com/news/these-republicans-have-ties-to-project-2025/

10. CBS News – "What is Project 2025?" (Nov 2024). https://www.cbsnews.com/news/project-2025-conservative-blueprint-trump-heritage-foundation/

11. CP24 – “Poilievre vows to use notwithstanding clause to toughen consecutive sentencing” (Apr 14, 2025). https://www.cp24.com/federal-election-2025/2025/04/14/poilievre-will-use-notwithstanding-clause-to-pass-law-on-consecutive-murder-sentences

12. Reuters – “Trump’s foreign aid cuts, agency reshuffles spark backlash” (Apr 13, 2025). https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-reshuffles-global-aid-us-agencies-2025-04-13/