Socialism and communism are making a serious comeback.
The Party has elevated Avi Lewis as a figure who openly embraces ideas that go well beyond mild social democracy.
He’s proposing free buses, free internet and phone services, and government-run grocery stores.
But what is Socialism?
The Fraser Institute study asked people across Canada, the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. what they think socialism means.
It offered three definitions.
State ownership of the means of production
In plain terms: government control over industries and companies.
This had the
lowest support—around 40%.
Government providing more social services
This drew the
highest support—roughly 55–65%.
Guaranteed basic income (GBI)
Also popular, landing around 45–57%.
All three point in the same direction—greater state involvement in the economy.
When asked how to pay for expanded government programs, the most popular answers were,
by
taxing the top 1% (66–72% support) and taxing the top 10% (53–59%).
People favor socialism when they believe they won’t have to pay for it.
That’s why phrases like “eat the rich” are so popular.
People are separated into groups of oppressor or oppressed, proletariat or bourgeoisie, working class or ruling class.
Those on the bottom of the economic hierarchy are empowered to take from those on the top.
Many people wishfully dream that taxing the rich will be how this growth in government will be realized.
In practice large welfare states are often funded by broad taxation.
In Canada, the average person pays over 42% of their income in taxes.
Combine income tax, sales tax, payroll deductions, and other levies.
That’s more than what many spend on food, housing, and clothing combined.
Beyond direct taxes, there’s the silent almost invisible taxation, inflation.
Driven by government spending and money creation.
The third reason is the strongest driver.
Life is expensive. Housing is out of reach for many. Wages haven’t kept pace.
In 2024, Canada was ranked 2nd worst globally for house price-to-income ratio.
2 major cities in Canada, namely Vancouver and Toronto were among the
top 20 most expensive real estate markets in the world.
Abacus data conducted a national survey asking Canadians about their top concerns when it comes to the state of the country.
60% of Canadians cite cost of living as their number 1 concern.
Nearly 90% are worried about the current state of housing and that increases to 91% for Canadians 18-44.
When people feel locked out, they stop participating and start looking for another option.
With the ever growing favor of socialism in western countries Avi Lewis’s platform, contains policies a lot of people admire.
Avi Lewis correctly identifies the problem but, like many socialists, I suspect his solutions - in the end - will not justify the means.
