Why the Right Keeps Splintering—And How to Stop It
By Tom Marazzo
Since the Freedom Convoy in 2022, I’ve watched a disheartening pattern unfold: infighting, disavowals, personal attacks, and public takedowns on social media—often coming not from our political enemies, but from within our own ranks.
I’ve left every group I once supported—not because I’ve changed my beliefs, but because of the toxic environment fostered by those who claim to stand for freedom but show none to their allies.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
The Right is quick to judge, quick to disown, and seemingly addicted to the fight for freedom more than the freedom itself. It’s become a badge of honour to launch exposés from the front seat of a car, beginning with, “I didn’t want to do this, but…” followed by vague accusations and zero proof. Why? Because the real enemies—the ones causing our collective misery—don’t engage with the public. People like me, and many others, are simply the easiest targets.
Meanwhile, there are hundreds of small “freedom” groups across the country. Yet they don’t collaborate. They don’t coordinate. Why not? It's more than ego, though ego certainly plays a role.
If the federal Conservative movement can’t even unify its own house—after five major party iterations since Confederation—how can we expect better unity at the grassroots level?
If the Conservative Movement Itself Can’t Stay United…
Let’s face a hard truth: If the federal Conservative movement, with all its resources, media exposure, and experienced leadership, can’t maintain a unified structure—what hope do smaller grassroots groups have unless they adopt stronger internal discipline?
The Right in Canada has fractured not once—but five separate times since Confederation:
From the Liberal-Conservatives of John A. Macdonald…
To the Conservative Party of the early 20th century…
Then the Progressive Conservatives, who dominated under leaders like Diefenbaker and Mulroney…
Followed by the Reform Party and later the Canadian Alliance, born out of Western frustration…
And finally, the modern Conservative Party of Canada, stitched together in 2003 as a reluctant merger of east and west.
Even now, with the emergence of the People’s Party of Canada, the Right remains divided—often more focused on ideological purity tests than on practical unity.
Why does this matter? Because each of these fractures occurred for reasons that mirror the same struggles at the grassroots level today:
Leadership disputes
Regional resentments
Personality clashes
Purity spirals
Lack of trust
In short: no clearly enforced structure.
The Liberals, by contrast, have operated under one banner and one name for over 150 years. Disagree with their policies all you want—but structurally, they’ve outperformed us in every decade in terms of unity.
If we continue to tolerate chaos at the small group level, we are simply repeating the same self-sabotaging pattern that’s plagued us nationally. The names change. The faces change. The drama stays the same.
The Solution: Structure, Boundaries, and Discipline
We don’t all have to agree on everything. But we do need to agree on something. And that “something” must be built on structure—not sentiment.
Here’s what every serious group on the Right must establish immediately:
1. A Mission Statement
A Mission Statement is your group’s anchor. It defines your purpose, sets your direction, and protects you from mission creep.
Without it, every passionate voice will try to steer the ship—and eventually tear it apart. With it, you can confidently say, “That’s not part of our mission. We’re not doing it.”
It doesn’t have to be long. But it must be clear. And everyone in the group must understand it.
2. A Code of Conduct
Once your mission is defined, your next step is discipline. A Code of Conduct is not a formality—it’s a binding agreement. Every member should sign it as a condition of joining.
It should cover:
Respectful communication (especially online)
Commitment to shared values
Internal accountability processes
Agreement not to speak for the group without authorization
And most importantly, it must include a clause that authorizes removal for violating the code.
This document will become your shield when internal disputes arise. And they will arise.
3. A Defined Exit Strategy
What does success look like? If you can’t answer that, you’ll never stop fighting—even after the war is over.
Every group must agree, up front, on what constitutes mission success. And just as importantly: what triggers a wind-down of the group.
Groups that don’t know how—or when—to disband inevitably drift into dysfunction. They start responding to every issue, get pulled into every controversy, and soon forget why they existed in the first place.
Holding the Line: How to Manage Internal Fractures
Even with a mission and a code, someone will test the boundaries. They’ll speak out of turn. They’ll try to hijack the group’s direction. They’ll act as if passion justifies disobedience.
And you’ll need to have that conversation.
Not in public. Not on social media. But firmly, directly, and privately:
“You agreed to our Code of Conduct. You’re violating it. This isn’t what we’re about—and you don’t have the right to redirect the group.”
If they double down, you have to be willing to say no. If they don’t stop, you have to be willing to remove them. If you don’t, your group will pay the price—sooner or later.
This is not cruelty. It’s leadership. And it’s the only way to survive.
Because if you don’t deal with it in private, you’ll be the next target of someone’s “I didn’t want to have to do this, but…” video.
Conclusion: Structure Before Sentiment
There’s no shortage of passion on the Right. But there is a shortage of structure, discipline, and unity. We can fix that.
It starts with a Mission Statement.
It’s protected by a Code of Conduct.
And it ends with an Exit Strategy.
This is how we defend each other, and the cause, from the chaos within. Because the fight for freedom isn’t about tearing each other down—it’s about building something that lasts.
For a Conservative movement badly in need of sound advice comes Tom Marazzo with some common sense and a template for getting things right going forward. Thanks Tom!