Shopify’s Leaders Are Pushing Right-Wing Politics in Canada w/ Rachel Gilmore
Aug 6, 2026 · 58m
Summary
Host Paris Marks interviews journalist Rachel Gilmore to examine Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke’s anti-democratic rhetoric, including his support for disenfranchising pensioners. They discuss how Shopify’s leadership funds right-wing media and influences Canadian policy through the "Build Canada" group. The episode critiques the tech elite’s growing political power and its impact on democracy.
Topics discussed
Intro: Shopify's political influence and Toby Lutke's radical views
Shopify's business model and market dominance in Canada
Toby Lutke's proposal to disenfranchise low-income voters
Comparison to US tech elites and rising wealth inequality
Shopify's history of hosting right-wing and extremist content
Ad break: ProtonMail sponsorship
Executive complicity and the Kanye West swastika store incident
Build Canada: Tech leaders lobbying for pro-corporate policies
Mark Carney's ties to Shopify and tech industry influence
Canadian media's failure to critically report on tech elites
Policy rollbacks and the government's pro-corporate stance
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