Freedom Isn’t What You Think It Is — And We’re Running Out of Time
Last night, something happened that really disturbed me. A post I had made, about the re-energizing of the “51st state” conversation and the growing influence of American politics on Canadian sovereignty, was seen by thousands. It was shared over 1,500 times.
And then, without warning, it was gone. Deleted. For everyone who shared it? Also gone. I contacted Facebook. No flagged content. No community violations. Yet the post had disappeared, like it had never existed.
Apparently, a grandma living on the Canadian prairies, tapping away on her laptop, is now considered a threat. Are those Pierre Polievre supporting empire-building politicians south of the border really that fragile?
But people began to give me a crash course in something called shadow banning. This is done not by hackers from some villain’s lair, but by tech giants and political billionaires who once proudly sat at Donald Trump’s inauguration. And that’s when it hit me: this is what real loss of freedom looks like. Not masks. Not vaccines. Not temporary closures. This.
We need to have an honest conversation about freedom. Too many people were fed a steady diet of outrage, convincing them that being asked to protect others during a pandemic was some kind of tyranny. Spoiler: it wasn’t. You weren’t in a gulag. You weren’t denied your voice. You weren’t stripped of your right to criticize every step of the way, often loudly, rudely, and inaccurately.
Real loss of freedom? It’s when your words are silenced for political convenience. When a young lady wearing a t-shirt supporting trans rights is removed under threat of arrest from a Pierre Poilievre rally. It’s when women lose the right to control their bodies. It’s when governments dictate who you can love, what books you can read, and what parts of your history you’re allowed to know. It’s when social media platforms, those we trusted to connect us, quietly decide who gets to exist online.
That’s not fearmongering. That’s now. And when I look at how fast “freedom” in the U.S. was twisted into a tool of hate, censorship, and fear, I know exactly what’s at stake if we let the same forces take hold here.
Let’s be absolutely clear: I’m not talking about the fake “freedom” paraded in a cloud of diesel fumes and angry slogans. I’m talking about real freedom, the kind that a Liberal government under Mark Carney would actually fight to protect: Freedom to speak your mind without government interference. Freedom to make your own medical decisions without political meddling. Freedom to live your life, love who you love, and build your future without asking permission. Freedom to vote in real, open elections, not ones rigged by billionaires and bots.
The version Pierre Poilievre and the convoy crowd are peddling. That’s not freedom. That’s marketing for a world where only the angriest voices survive, and the rest of us get shoved out of the conversation. Freedom is not convenience. Freedom is not cruelty. Freedom is not the right to endanger others just because you’re feeling inconvenienced.
Real freedom is fragile. Real freedom is responsibility. Real freedom is being able to live your truth, even when it threatens someone else’s power. Real freedom is the spirit behind the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, not just for the loudest, the angriest, or the wealthiest, but for every single one of us.
Maybe that post removal last night wasn’t a defeat. Maybe it was the best thing that could have happened. Because it reminded me, and should remind you, that freedom isn’t comfortable.
It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s stubborn. And sometimes the recognition of losing can be from something as simple as a Facebook post. Freedom isn’t honking your horn until you get your way. It’s standing your ground when someone with power tells you to sit down and shut up. And frankly, this may be the single most important reason I am doing this. To have people recognize that slippery slope on freedom loss is squickly turning into a landslide in the US.
And when even a prairie grandma becomes “too dangerous to tolerate,” you know exactly who’s afraid of the truth, and why. Just imagine how scared they’ll be when millions of Canadians stand up and vote for real leadership. There is only one person on that ballot who understands that freedom isn’t a tantrum, it’s a responsibility. Only Mark Carney can provide the direction, the protection, and the future we deserve.
So let them ban. Let them censor. Let them throw every dirty trick they have. We’re still here. We’re still fighting. And we know exactly what, and who, is worth fighting for.
Our freedom isn’t a slogan. It’s our future. It’s not for sale. Mark Carney knows what real freedom means, and he will stand up for these Rights and Freedoms when it matters most.
Not just when it’s easy. Not just when it’s popular. But when it’s necessary.
Nancy's Notes 