Canadian TV host George Stroumboulopoulos condemns Canada's political system, House of Commons: 'I despise what they did to this country'
Canadian radio and TV host George Stroumboulopoulos is reflecting on politics and the recent federal election, explaining why he's unhappy with Canada's system at the moment. The former MuchMusic video jockey opened up to Arlene Dickinson in a recent interview on her new podcast, "Arlene Is Alone: The Single Life."
In a second part of the interview published on Wednesday, Stroumboulopoulos explained — after the Dragons' Den star shared she endorsed Prime Minister Mark Carney — that he never publicly endorses any candidates. Still, he always commits to voting nowadays and even "overdosed on political content" this election.
"I sometimes vote and I [will] hate myself for my vote, because sometimes I make a strategic vote and I hate that. ... Sometimes I'll throw the future, I'll take the risk because I'm just going to vote the way I want to vote," he added.
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Recalling his days at MuchMusic, the "Strombo" Apple Music Radio host indicated "I struggle with the voting thing." Back then, he was once handed a pin that read "Much Votes" and was told to wear it on air. At the time, he recalled telling his co-worker that "voting doesn't matter," adding that "if it really mattered, they wouldn't let you do it." Now, he said he's learned voting does matter, but he isn't happy with the way the system works in Canada.
"I despise what they did to this country, what the House of Commons has done to this country," he said. "I despise that the focus has been taken off of getting people out of poverty, protecting workers, giving people the freedom to express themselves."
He eventually stated how he doesn't trust big companies to "put people's best interests at heart," explaining he believes the political parties in Canada have deep relationships with corporations.
"When we complain about this country, there are two parties responsible for it. And their relationships with corporations, and how corporate money and lobby groups have destroyed the actual version of democracy — I'm not even sure if we ever had it," he shared.
Regarding endorsing politicians, he said it's something he can't do because his values don't align with what the parties have done — especially with how, he noted he believes, political parties hate poor people. Moreover, he said can't get behind the government sending money, weapons or helping arm the "destruction of another group of people" in the world. "To give them my endorsement? I wouldn't do that because it doesn't jive with my values."
"I love Canada and I love Toronto. I don't love it for what it is, I love it for the promise it ought to be. This country gave my family so much when I immigrated here, so much," he added. "But that doesn't mean that it can't be better and it can't grow. ... Until we get money out of politics and get rid of religion out of politics, we will be this mess."
He clarified that he doesn't necessarily think endorsing politicians is a bad idea. In fact, he urged that getting people involved in various ways is the only way to make the system better.
"Just where my values are at the moment, found it very difficult to endorse. If somebody stepped up and said my number one job is to get people out of poverty and I'm going to make sure that is our primary goal ... I would say, 'You know what? I'll work with you then.' I don't support politicians but I support their work."
He shared he's had family and friends experiencing homelessness who have unfortunately died while being unhoused. He explained mental health played a role, as well as addiction to substances like drugs and alcohol. "It was also the '70s and the '80s — it was a pretty bleak time. They didn't have the tools and the language that we have now, obviously."
Poverty is his top issue, he said, because most people in that situation aren't there due to their own doing. "It's not just empathy for the people we're trying to protect. The hard part is having empathy for the villains."
Stroumboulopoulos clarified he understands he isn't an easy person to get along with: "I'm a hard guy to be around because I'm very confident and I'm very self-assured." But it's important to him to find common ground with someone who may disagree with his views.
That might come in the form of connecting over "problematic" music or "very aggressive" sports like hockey or football. Even if someone is on the other side of a political issue than him, he noted he can find a "little bit of ground" with them through a common interest.
"I'm always trying to get to the heart of the matter to see if we can find a place to be that we can agree on," he noted. "Because otherwise, I'm going to be alone all the time, and I don't think it's good for me to be alone all the time."
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