When The United States Sneezes, Canada Catches a Cold: The Trump Effect in Canada

This article examines the link between the era of the Trump administration and the rise of right-wing extremist movements in Canada. Coinciding with the rise of right-wing nationalist movements worldwide, Canada experienced a massive rise in alt-right movements from 2017-2021, as highlighted by the creation of the People’s Party of Canada, the rise of hate crimes, and the reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of geographical proximity, shared culture and language with the United States, Canada is prone to absorbing U.S. political movements, even one as controversial as Trumpism. Overall, Canada is not immune to the rise of deeply divisive ideologies in spite of our progressive national values.