Pierre Poilievre wants Canadians to believe that bigger pay cheques are the key to a happier life. In a recent statement, he claimed:
 乌鸦传媒淥ur economy has stagnated for 10 years, while costs are rising faster than pay cheques. My Economic Growth Council will find out why and how we can supercharge our growth, so earnings rise faster than prices and our people get better, richer and happier lives.乌鸦传媒�

On the surface, that might sound appealing. But dig a little deeper, and this narrative reveals itself to be not just economically shallow, but morally hollow. Happiness, well-being, and social progress are not things you can buy, and tying human fulfilment solely to financial growth erases the real challenges people are facing in their day-to-day lives.

Let乌鸦传媒檚 look beyond our borders. The World Happiness Report, which ranks countries based on well-being rather than wealth alone, consistently places nations like Finland, Denmark, and Iceland at the top. These are not countries defined by aggressive GDP growth or corporate deregulation. They lead because they invest in their people. What boosts happiness in these societies? Universal healthcare. Affordable and secure housing. Access to mental health support. Strong public education. Trust in government. And perhaps most importantly乌鸦传媒攕ocial connection and safety.

In contrast, Poilievre乌鸦传媒檚 economic theory rests on the belief that a more "supercharged" economy will magically lead to more fulfilled lives. But Canadians don乌鸦传媒檛 just want bigger cheques. They want to know they can find housing, see a doctor without delay, raise children in inclusive schools, grow old with dignity, and walk through public life without fear of hate or discrimination.

His claim that Canada乌鸦传媒檚 economy has 乌鸦传媒渟tagnated乌鸦传媒� for a decade also ignores context. The past 10 years have included a global pandemic, international conflict, a surge in inflation driven in large part by corporate profiteering, and decades of housing policies that have allowed speculation and financialization to outpace community well-being. Poilievre乌鸦传媒檚 solution is to flatten all of that complexity into a single, tired narrative: if you乌鸦传媒檙e not happy, blame the government, elect the Conservatives, and expect your life to improve.

But life doesn乌鸦传媒檛 improve because of slogans. It improves when we invest in people. That means building deeply affordable housing. It means protecting and expanding public healthcare. It means ensuring that parents of trans youth don乌鸦传媒檛 live in fear that their child乌鸦传媒檚 care will be politicized. It means funding public education that reflects the diversity of our society and affirms the dignity of all students. And it means standing up to the very culture war rhetoric that Poilievre乌鸦传媒檚 campaign has leaned into乌鸦传媒攔hetoric that frames inclusion as extremism and social progress as a threat.

It乌鸦传媒檚 also worth noting that if high income alone produces happiness, Pierre Poilievre乌鸦传媒攚ho earns a six-figure government salary乌鸦传媒攕hould be a poster child for contentment. Yet his public persona is one of relentless anger and constant grievance. His speeches are rarely hopeful, his tone consistently combative. It raises the question: if money brings happiness, why is the man most obsessed with it always so furious?

Happiness is not something you find in an economic report. It乌鸦传媒檚 something you feel when your child thrives in school, when your rent doesn乌鸦传媒檛 eat half your income, when you乌鸦传媒檙e not afraid to be who you are in public.

We didn乌鸦传媒檛 just dodge a policy shift in the last election乌鸦传媒攚e narrowly avoided the legitimization of a worldview that sees the economy as an end in itself, rather than a tool to build equity, connection, and resilience. That reprieve should not lull us into complacency. It should be a call to action.

We must push for a politics that centers people, not profit. That recognizes that safety and dignity are the foundation of happiness乌鸦传媒攏ot market performance. And that understands we deserve more than survival. We deserve joy, celebration, and a country that reflects our shared humanity.

~ Wilbur Turner is a political strategist and community advocate based in Kelowna, British Columbia, with deep roots in Alberta. With experience on the ground in federal and municipal campaigns, and a passion for civic engagement, Turner offers sharp, accessible insight into the political and social issues shaping our region and country. He was selected by the University of British Columbia for an Honorary Doctor of Laws for his significant contribution to the community. He also writes articles as QueerGranddad on Substack.