Shopify CEO Cements Place As Canada's Elon Musk
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2026 2:10 pm
Controversial Statements: Lütke endorsed a social media post suggesting that retired individuals should not be allowed to vote (1:07 - 1:20) and further agreed with a suggestion to implement a weighted voting system where an individual's voting power is tied to the amount of income tax they pay (1:36 - 2:07).
Hypocrisy Critique: The host highlights the irony that Lütke, a billionaire who reportedly takes a $1 salary to avoid personal income taxes, is advocating for a system that would effectively disenfranchise people based on income tax contributions (2:36 - 3:02).
Political Influence: The video details Lütke's significant influence in Canadian politics, including his involvement with the advocacy group Build Canada, which pushes for policies like AI subsidies, digital ID implementation, and cuts to public services (9:15 - 12:51).
Historical Context: Dr. Dennis Pilon of York University describes these ideas as a regression toward a 19th-century plutocracy, where the wealthy feel entitled to consolidate power and ignore their social obligations (5:18 - 6:30).
Call to Action: The host encourages viewers to recognize the threat that wealthy individuals with outsized political influence pose to democracy and urges creators to stop supporting Shopify through ad reads (14:38 - 16:23).
Avi Lewis on Shopify CEO supporting the rich receiving more votes: "This is embarrassing for Canada that we have a CEO class that is trying to imitate the weirdness of the trillionaire class in the US ... These are really un-Canadian, gross, anti-democratic views. And the fact that he has a platform with which to spew them is troubling. It's really not a great day in Canadian democracy."
Avi, still polling at 4% and still doesn't have a seat. PP is neck and neck with undecided at 18%. I feel that the electorate that are up for grabs are just brain dead at this point.
Hypocrisy Critique: The host highlights the irony that Lütke, a billionaire who reportedly takes a $1 salary to avoid personal income taxes, is advocating for a system that would effectively disenfranchise people based on income tax contributions (2:36 - 3:02).
Political Influence: The video details Lütke's significant influence in Canadian politics, including his involvement with the advocacy group Build Canada, which pushes for policies like AI subsidies, digital ID implementation, and cuts to public services (9:15 - 12:51).
Historical Context: Dr. Dennis Pilon of York University describes these ideas as a regression toward a 19th-century plutocracy, where the wealthy feel entitled to consolidate power and ignore their social obligations (5:18 - 6:30).
Call to Action: The host encourages viewers to recognize the threat that wealthy individuals with outsized political influence pose to democracy and urges creators to stop supporting Shopify through ad reads (14:38 - 16:23).
Avi Lewis on Shopify CEO supporting the rich receiving more votes: "This is embarrassing for Canada that we have a CEO class that is trying to imitate the weirdness of the trillionaire class in the US ... These are really un-Canadian, gross, anti-democratic views. And the fact that he has a platform with which to spew them is troubling. It's really not a great day in Canadian democracy."
Avi, still polling at 4% and still doesn't have a seat. PP is neck and neck with undecided at 18%. I feel that the electorate that are up for grabs are just brain dead at this point.