There were plenty of shared stories at the conference of progressives’ struggles against nationalist parties that had gained ground with the younger and working class voters whom they used to count on. It unfolded as another would-be model for progressive governance — the UK Labour Party, which came into power in a 2024 landslide — got demolished in local elections by newer parties of the far right and far left.
“Progressives are in the ‘prove it’ business now,” said Evan Solomon, Canada’s minister for AI and digital transformation.
Their challenge, he added, was winning “people who are disenfranchised and turning to populist right-wing movements, because they think when they ask us for something, they get a lecture, not an affordable house. They get a lecture, not good service at the hospital.”
Conference attendees were optimistic about Democratic chances in the US’ November midterms, thanks to the unpopularity of the Trump administration. The non-Americans in Toronto saw their own opportunities: Building out more energy infrastructure, raising wages, and making trade deals without the US to safeguard against whatever Trump might do.
“When there is a retreat towards protectionism by the United States, we need to ensure we’re de-risking,” said Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign minister. “And we do that by trade diversification.”
Carney, who took over the Liberal Party when it badly trailed in polls, had defeated Canada’s Conservative Party with a patriotic campaign, benefiting from Trump’s tariffs and annexation talk. He’d scrapped a consumer climate tax and electric vehicle mandate and announced funds for new and faster home-building, which sounded good to attendees.
Attendees also identified models beyond Canada when it comes to showing progressivism can deliver tangible benefits, and fast.
Tanden nodded enthusiastically when Diana Alarcon, a former advisor to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, described her “delivering the keys” to the people moving into government-built housing.
And Pete Buttigieg, the other Democrat at the conference seen as a potential presidential candidate, suggested that Democrats bring up “clean bills” on “higher wages,” “universal health insurance coverage,” and paid leave for families.
“It might not be so bad that that needs to happen on new terms,” Buttigieg said of American leadership, “where there is a kind of a flying formation, where we hope America continues to hold and turn a leading position, but one where it makes sense for different players to be aligned with us.”
