How woke ideology Is crushing opportunity in Canada

Success should be celebrated, not condemned. Yet across Canada, an alarming cultural shift has taken root: those who work hard, take risks, and achieve something meaningful are attacked not for wrongdoing, but simply for excelling. A warped narrative, fuelled by ideological extremism and the ever-evolving WOKE movement, now treats success as a character flaw. The higher you climb, the bigger the target on your back. And it’s no longer about wealth, it’s about refusing to conform to a narrow, self-righteous worldview.

Social media supercharged this trend. Platforms once meant to connect people became megaphones for division, encouraging online mobs to swarm anyone who dares to think independently or succeed outside the approved ideological mould. What we’re witnessing is a war on reason, orchestrated by jealous activists and spineless politicians who would rather tear down achievers than confront their own failures.

At its core, this movement is powered by envy, a corrosive force rooted in stagnation, resentment, and a lack of personal drive. It is easier to demonize success than to acknowledge that effort, discipline, and determination are what create opportunity. Instead, activists construct imaginary worlds of oppression where effort doesn’t matter and achievement is suspicious. They attack what they cannot replicate.

The WOKE movement declared its hostility toward successful people long ago. Disagreement isn’t enough; they demand obedience. Those who refuse to bend are smeared, cancelled, or publicly shamed. Politicians who won’t bow to their demands are painted as villains.

Entrepreneurs who succeed outside their ideological script are branded as threats. This is not progress. This is cultural intimidation dressed up as “inclusion.” And while some pretend the movement has faded, it hasn’t. It’s simply waiting for its next moment to re-emerge.

Manitoba’s NDP government offers a clear example of this mindset. Their philosophy suggests that the more you accomplish, the more you should be punished for it. They frame success as inherently unfair and treat achievement as a resource to be seized and redistributed. This doesn’t uplift anyone; it drags everyone down. When success is penalized, people stop striving. Fewer innovators means fewer jobs, fewer businesses, and fewer opportunities for families across our province.

The slide began with our obsession with political correctness. The pendulum swung too far, and now even authority figures, police officers, teachers, and parents are treated as automatic villains. Activists target our youth with ideas that undermine respect, responsibility, and ambition. This is weakness masquerading as virtue. True strength lies in building, in creating, in lifting others up, not in tearing achievers apart.

Politicians deserve much of the blame. Too many have abandoned leadership in favour of bowing to online bullies. They enable rhetoric that pits Canadians against one another instead of restoring common-sense values like hard work, integrity, and mutual respect.

And the media? Far from holding extremists accountable, many outlets have become their megaphones. Look at the CBC or many other newspapers. Too often, what they call journalism is little more than activism. During my time in public life, I wasn’t attacked for my ideas, which would be fair; I was attacked through gossip, inference, and character assassination. In recent elections, these outlets brazenly pushed narratives against the Progressive Conservative Party and targeted Glen Murray in the municipal race. That isn’t reporting; it’s campaigning under the guise of news.

These organizations act as gatekeepers of morality, deciding who deserves praise and who should be torn down. They don’t highlight successful local businesspeople unless they conveniently fit into a DEI template. Their priority is not strengthening communities; it’s promoting division and ideological conformity.

We cannot allow this rhetoric to go unchallenged. Silence only allows it to grow. We must push back confidently, unapologetically. There is nothing shameful about success. It fuels innovation, creates jobs, strengthens communities, and improves lives. Bullies only stop when confronted. The WOKE movement is a bully, and it’s time Canadians stood up to it.

Canada needs a return to balance. We don’t need extremes, we need a centre that respects differing views, rewards hard work, and encourages achievement. A healthy society celebrates success and inspires others to pursue it.

So here is my challenge to you: Don’t shrink back. Don’t let the fear of backlash silence your voice. Speak out when you see unfairness. Defend the value of ambition. Stand strong against rhetoric designed to divide and diminish. Together, we can rebuild a Canada that values excellence, rewards innovation, and embraces opportunity for all.