The Conservative Party of Canada has revised its English-language campaign platform to include a pledge to combat what it terms “woke ideology,” a promise that was present in the French version but initially omitted from the English release.
The updated platform now states an intention to “put an end to the imposition of the woke ideology in the federal public service and in the allocation of federal funds for university research.”
When questioned about the initial omission, the Conservative Party did not provide a response.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has previously criticized “woke ideology” on the campaign trail, referring to the Liberal government’s spending as part of a “woke agenda.”
However, when asked to define “woke,” Poilievre offered a broad critique of the Liberal government’s record, stating, “Very simply, after a lost Liberal decade of dividing Canadians, turning people against each other and weakening our Armed Forces, we need to put Canada first.”
The inclusion of the “anti-woke” pledge has drawn comparisons to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly his administration’s efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in universities by tying federal research funding to the removal of such initiatives.
As the federal election approaches, the Conservatives’ stance on “woke ideology” is expected to be a focal point of debate among voters and political analysts.