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An Open Letter To Canadians:
Why We Must Stop
Pierre Poilievre From
Becoming Prime Minister
Dear fellow Canadians,
We are at a defining moment in Canada. The federal election on April 28th is possibly the most important in our country’s history. In an era where compassion, truth, and unity are more important than ever, we must carefully consider the kind of leadership we choose to elevate. This is why we, as concerned musicians, urge Canadians to reflect deeply on the dangerous direction Pierre Poilievre would take this country if elected Prime Minister.
Though he claims to stand for “freedom” and everyday people, Poilievre’s platform threatens Canada’s core values—public services, climate action, and inclusive democracy. His agenda echoes Donald Trump’s playbook: sowing division, empowering the wealthy, and weakening institutions that unite us.
A Threat to the CBC and the Arts
Pierre Poilievre has made no secret of his disdain for the CBC, vowing to defund it within six weeks of being elected. Yet the CBC is more than just a broadcaster—it’s a vital pillar of Canadian culture and democracy.
It brings us together through shared stories, ensures access to trustworthy news in both official languages, and serves rural and northern communities where private media will not go.
Similarly, further cuts to arts funding will silence diverse voices and erode the cultural fabric that holds our country together.
Ignoring the Climate Crisis
The science is clear: we are running out of time to avert climate catastrophe. While countries around the world are racing to reduce emissions and transition to clean energy, Poilievre has aligned himself with climate denial, fossil fuel expansion, and the rollback of environmental regulations.
We cannot afford a leader who sees the climate crisis as an ideological battleground rather than a defining challenge of our era.
What we need is urgent, science-based action to protect our planet and build a green economy for generations to come.
Fostering Division Instead of Unity
Pierre Poilievre’s rhetoric is often steeped in division—pitting people against each other, attacking people based on their identities and stoking resentment rather than offering real solutions. This approach threatens the values that make Canada strong: mutual respect, pluralism, and social solidarity.
Canada's strength lies in our diversity, and now more than ever, we need leaders who will foster a culture of inclusivity, not fear.
Whether it’s supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, Indigenous peoples, immigrants, or anyone who has historically been marginalized, we must choose a future where everyone has a place and a voice.
Unite for the Canada We Need
This election, we need to elect candidates who aren’t afraid to take a stand for everyday people and demonstrate a new style of leadership that is rooted in empathy and cooperation. We need leaders who will:
1. Fight to ensure every person in Canada has a safe, affordable place to call home.
2. Tackle the climate crisis and build a renewable energy economy worthy of working people.
3. Make Canada’s billionaire class pay their fair share with a tax on record-high corporate profits.
4. Support Culture and commit to a 1% allocation of the federal budget (not GDP) to Arts and culture through increases to both the Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Canadian Heritage. This includes increasing funding to the CBC to bring it in line with other national public broadcasters.
Music comes from a place of deep love, and as musicians, we want to use the power of music to help bring our country together in this time of poly crises.
We want art, culture and music to unite us and to help us tap into the abundance of creativity, imagination, and ingenuity we have as a country so we can invest in rebuilding crumbling infrastructure, addressing the climate emergency and making a more equitable Canada.
To do that we need to elect progressive leaders who respect the arts and culture and want to use this moment to unite us. We urge Canadians to think critically, act collectively, and raise their voices for a more compassionate, inclusive, and sustainable Canada.
We urge you to help elect candidates who are best positioned to beat the Conservatives and to consult Cooperate for Canada and Lead Now to find unity & Raise the Bar candidates who will champion progressive issues. Please check out this article with Tips for Strategic Voting.
Let’s wake up on April 29th feeling hopeful, united and committed to building a Canada that future generations will feel proud of.
Allison Russell
Dan Mangan
The Weather Station
Raffi
Stephen Fearing
Torquil Campbell (Stars)
Charlotte Cornfield
Donna Grantis
Jill Barber
Terra Lightfoot
Maïa Davies
Caroline Marie Brooks (Good Lovelies)
Susan Passmore (Good Lovelies)
Haley Blais
Ken Whiteley
Abigail Lapell
Ella Coyes (Sister Ray)
Carleigh Aikins (Dwayne Gretzky)
Suzie Ungerleider
Veda Hille
Michael Olsen
Samantha Martin
Jenny Whiteley
Mathias Korn (The Burning Hell)
Brighid Fry (Housewife)
Adam Sturgeon - Status/Non-Status
boy wonder
Terra Spencer
Isabelle Banos (Ballsy)
Kylie V
Don Kerr
T. Thomason
Andrea Ramolo
Amanda Walther
Declan O'Donovan
Babe Corner
Sam Clark (Basset)
Tania Gill
Blanche I.
Carolyn Mark
JP Hoe
Braden Lam
Lia Kurihara (Lia Kuri, Afternoon Bike Ride)
Liz Cazzola (Tragedy Ann, The Lifers)
George Woodhouse (The Public Service)
Alex Millaire (Moonfruits)
Sarah Mangle
JoJo Worthington
Doohickey Cubicle
Luther Wright
Amber Goodwyn (Natural Sympathies)
Rupert Hudson (Orchid Orchestra)
Taylor Abrahamse
Alex Southey
Rachella Wred
Alex Maunders
Alexandria Maillot
Leena Rodriguez
Laura Simpson
Moira Demorest
Phillip Vonesh
Julia McDougall (Yawn)
David Vertesi
Sonia Deleo Music
Leigh Brown
Tica Holiday
Freya Milliken
Brendan McCarney
Rachella Wred
Adam Soloway
Kue Varo (Kue Varo & The Only Hopes)
Jonathan Bunce (Wavelength Music)
Moira & Claire
Jen Ochej
Nathan Lawr
Dee Dee Austin
Mia Kelly
Brenley MacEachern
Kaitlin Milroy (Moonfruits)
Nico Paulo
Katie DuTemple
Daniel Ledwell
Brookfield North
Devin Latimer
Richard Garvey
Dan Dwoskin
Samantha Wilson
Blair Packham
Geoff Arsenault
CJ Wiley
Denise Benson
Steph Yates
Anna Ruddick
Dave Meslin
Anna Wiebe
Eamon McGrath
Nick Fraser
Ben Grossman
Dominique R (Singer-songwriter)
Jessy Brunette
CC Walker (blunderspublik)
Mike Murley
Colleen Brown / Major Love
Lisa MacIsaac
Sarafina Bortolon-Vettor
Avery Dakin
Phil Dwyer C.M.
Taylor Janzen
Mallory Chipman
James Gordon
Evan Cartwright
Joanne Mackell
Ava Janzen (Vikki Minor)
Doug Green (New Enemies)
Dan Fortin
Billianne
Theresa Sokyrka
Kim Barlow
Robin Dann
Luke Wallace
Trevor Mann (Scenic Route to Alaska)
Stevie Tea
Tim Bovaconti (Burton Cummings)
Jane Lewis
Scott Merritt
Sarah Hiltz
Alex Whorms
John Mullane (In-Flight Safety/Future Dad)
Christopher Simmons
Kurt Swinghammer
Damian Abraham (Fucked Up)
Nick Zubeck
Liv Macqueen (The MacQueens)
Mike Trebilcock (The Killjoys)
Melanie Bednis (Casper Skulls)
Reuben Bullock (Reuben and the Dark)
Tania Joy Senior (Tania Joy)
Tara Kannangara
Rachael Cardiello (ZINNIA)
Lukas Pearse
Jorge Requena Ramos (The Mariachi Ghost)
Russell Louder
Stew Crookes
Dan Hand
Kristen Martell
Rebekah HAwker
R Grunwald
Kate Stevens
Jennifer King
Warren Grosland
Bob Wegner
Cara Luft
Kenna Keeling
Joakim Moe
Noelle Coughlin (Noelle Frances/The Pairs)
Eve Goldberg
Tanika Charles
Stacey Shopsowitz
Jolene Higgins (Little Miss Higgins)
Vish Khanna (Kreative Kontrol)
Joel Henderson (Poor Nameless Boy)
Adrian Morningstar (AD Morningstar)
Joanna Mohammed (Aphrose)
David Plowman (Dave Plowman)
Claire Davis
Freddi MacDougall (The Goddamsels)
Amy Cole
Yvonne Boon
Kaïa Kater
Francesco Rizzuto
Jesse Dollimont
Madi Allen
Brandon Baker (Electric Religious)
Amanda Penner
David Kelmer (KELMER)
Scott Morin
Joshua Banks
Steve Sainas
C.A. Smith (Mayor McCa)
Lily Monaghan
Devon Pelley
Jeremy Campbell
Liam McPherson (Starhood)
Stacy DuBois (Satellite Birdhouse)
Tayler Grace
Kaleb Hikele (The Sun Harmonic)
Lobo (SKYDOAM/Hi Park/New Tones)
Fontine Beavis (FONTINE)
Avery Florence
Jade Bennett
Kristin Goetz (Lonely Little Kitsch)
Dan Pitt
Jessica Deutsch
Ethan Theijsmeijer
Jeff gay (Jeff gay/Dirthmouth)
Alexander Callaghan (June Body/Hospital Gossip)
Tim Hatcher (Good Dear Good)
Lindsay Coleman (Wayward Saints)
Maclayne Simone (Maclayne)
Jordan Haines (Hospital Gossip)
Astra Bamba (Honeymask)
Brent Oliver (Ayla Brook & The Sound Men)
Cayley Thomas
Jon Jasper-Lawless (swim good now)
Kelly McMichael
Jenni Roberts
Jenny Mitchell (Bird City, Jenny Omnichord)
Skye Wallace
LUCILLE
Robin Jessome
Aidan Woollard (Absence)
Shuvanjan Karmaker (Superfluid Collective, BlackTea Buffalo, ShuvanjanKarmaker)
Lindsay Pratt (The Hearts)
Valmy Assam (Valmy)
Bramwell Park
Jon Martin (Jon Martin and Lovers)
Tanya Tagaq (Tanya Tagaq Trio)
Darryl James (Close Kicks/The Strumbellas)
Anthony Carone (Arkells)
Tristan Grant (Wolf Castle)
Lila Rose
Shiv Scott (Shiv and the Carvers)
Dylan Hay
Signatories