CROWD PLEASER

Re Poilievre Populism (Opinion, July 30): Over the past few centuries, “native-born Canadians” have been largely replaced by European immigrants. Now some of these descendants are worried about being “replaced” by immigrants from other parts of the world.

Isn’t that just continuing the tradition?

Mik Bickis Saskatoon

At the same time that Social Credit was establishing itself in Alberta (and to a lesser extent in British Columbia) under William Aberhart, the progressive Social Gospel movement coalesced around J.S. Woodsworth and Tommy Douglas in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Mr. Woodsworth went to Ottawa as an MP leading the populist-socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, while Mr. Douglas built the party in the Prairies. Mr. Douglas even formed an alliance with Mr. Aberhart: Neither party would run candidates against the other in their respective home provinces, so they could defeat Conservative and Liberal candidates. It took Mr. Douglas longer to become premier of Saskatchewan than it did Mr. Aberhart to take the post next door, but his moves to establish universal health care in the province prompted Ottawa’s Liberals to introduce a national program.

So Canadians owe much to its leftist populists, while today cautiously watching contemporary populists on the right.

David Balcon Producer, Social Gospel and the Public Good; Toronto