Ironically cities and rural frontiers in pre-WW2 Canada were crucibles for populism. The G&M would cringe at that word, yet it's oblivious that great Canadian leaders like early western-Canadian farmers, labour organizers, and political luminaries like Tommy Clement Douglas were populists, or used populism to mobilize the masses towards action for the collective good; noble actions, like forming union and protecting basic services under the state's umbrella.