Canadians should not fear speaking out about COVID-19 failures and must reject censorship of opinions that go against the official narrative, MP Pierre Poilevre says.
Responding to an audience question on a Canada Strong and Free Network panel, the Conservative firebrand told Canadians to “speak up” to affect change.
“Don’t be silenced. We’ve all heard about herd immunity, well there’s an attempt to drive ‘herd consensus’ and to prevent anyone who has a contrary point of view from stating it out loud,” Poilievre said. “Those who are confident in the factual underpinnings of their position should not fear debate, they should welcome it and the people in the community should speak up when they hear things that don’t make any sense to them.”
Poilievre added people should “not be afraid” of discourse.
“We have a good debate and thrash these issues out based on facts. And not based on a manufactured consensus that silences anyone who disagrees and puts on a pedestal those in authority who have consistently stated what everyone now agrees to be false information,” he said.
The Apr. 21 event, titled “When Politicians Panic: A Look at COVID Management – What’s Working, What’s Not Working and Alternatives Moving Forward,” also featured US Congressman Ralph Norman, Toronto Sun journalist Anthony Furey, Dr. Richard Audas, Dr. Matt Strauss and Lt. Col. David Redman.
Poilievre also went on to slam the Trudeau government for failing Canadians during the pandemic on several fronts including dismissing early calls to close the Canadian border as “racist.”
In a Feb. 2, 2020 statement, the Prime Minister’s Office emphasized Trudeau’s commitment to “combatting fear, stigma, and racism” as the government weighed COVID prevention measures.
“When people suggested the borders should close, he just called them racist. Finally, he agreed they were right, so he then closed the borders too late,” said Poilievre.
Early on in the pandemic, officials within the Trudeau government repeatedly advocated against border closures while then-US President Donald Trump implemented several travel restrictions in his country.
