Sunday Editorial -Irum Khan
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Elections are desperate times. Ends justify the means, A few voices crushed, truth left to fend for itself, and conviction tossed aside—is this the new election normal Canada is getting used to? The Gandhian era of standing for the truth and “standing with the last person,” in crisis or celebration, has now been relegated to optics—useful only after the victory is secured.
Listening to Mark Carney’s comment, with a noticeable smirk, on Rod Loyola, “The Edmonton candidate is no longer with us,” pulled the curtain back on his claim that his politics served the people.
I sensed the same condescension when Trump said, “Canada can be our 51st state.”
After approving Loyola’s candidacy, leading to his resignation as an MLA, in March, the Liberal Party expelled him on flimsy grounds shortly after. The accusation? That Loyola expressed approval for Hamas and Hezbollah based on thoughts he shared 16 years ago, as a youth rapper, unmindful of the complexities of politics that began for him six years after the incident.
By dropping Loyola, the Liberals ditched a candidate who represented his constituency for three consecutive terms in the Alberta Legislature, winning with overwhelming majority each time. He was the mandate of the people that the Liberals disregarded.
The timing of the video resurfacing—just before the election— signified a malicious attempt to tarnish his reputation. Even if we allow a sliver of doubt, the fact remains that the reporter relied on lazy journalism: digging up old videos to manufacture a scandalous headline. The Liberals succumbed to this armchair reporting, prioritizing email exchanges over meeting the candidate —who was easily accessible.
An objective analysis of the video and the channel where it was published would have revealed the truth. Loyola was introducing a hip-hop segment at an anti-war rally. Watching the video shows nothing more than an artistic yet bold expression of a young person navigating the truths of politics.
The journalist selectively highlighted one part of the video, turning it into a sensation. However, the video was centered on the anti-war message and defended the right to resist occupation. The channel where the video was uploaded, called Radical Citizen Media, describes itself as “an independent production company operated by Paula E. Kirman, which documents social justice and activist events such as rallies, protests, and conferences in Edmonton, Alberta.”
Its content ranges from women’s rights demonstrations to children’s welfare issues and Truth and Reconciliation rallies. So, what exactly was the point that the journalist was trying to prove?
Nevertheless, the Liberals acted swiftly—far swifter than they did in responding to the mass killing of Palestinians and the targeting of civilians and children in Gaza. As an observer, I take their silence as tacit approval of the Israel-led humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While human rights organizations across the world and nations with a backbone have called out the genocide, the Liberal-led government chose silence. In the Liberal dictionary, “Freedom of Expression” apparently has two definitions.
Returning to Loyola’s case—this author has had countless arguments with him on policy matters, but he always listened with intent and patience. His door was always open, and his assistant, Desiree, was unfailingly responsive to public inquiries. In stark contrast, I managed to enter the rival Conservative candidate Tim Uppal’s office twice—for both a personal concern and a media request. On both occasions, I was told, “Uppal hardly visits the constituency office.” I was handed a phone number and email that went unanswered. The contrast between the two politicians was obvious.
By dropping Loyola, the Liberals have lost a candidate with a winning character, a clean record, and a fearless commitment to championing the concerns of the common person—all in the name of appearing politically correct and chasing numbers.
They may win. But they have already lost the character that once justified their name—Liberal.
For those who stand with Loyola—and those who oppose him—I leave you with a quote often regarded as the cornerstone of democracy:
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
