A Populist Has Exposed a Sinkhole in Canada’s Democracy

When the history of Western populism is written, the tale of Canada’s Brothers Ford may constitute its most bizarre chapter. Hailing from suburban Toronto, the wealthy businessmen Rob and Doug Ford embarked on a populist campaign years before such endeavors became a repeated feature of 21st-century politics. Rob found global infamy as the Toronto mayor caught on camera during a crack-smoking binge. Doug recently became the premier of Ontario, Canada’s richest and most populated province. For more than a decade, the Fords have pitted themselves against the establishment, promising to fight for “the little guy” by reducing the size of government, slashing taxes, and generally demolishing the status quo.

Now wielding serious power, Doug Ford has unleashed the specter of authoritarianism that has haunted Canadian democracy since the ratification of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which forms part of the constitution, 36 years ago. In mid-September, in order to defy an Ontario Superior Court ruling concerning the size of Toronto’s city council, Ford promised to invoke : Section 33 of the