"...Populism is just another code term for conservative extremism.."
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If you want to meet some of the most "conservative" i.e. resistant to change people, just hang around unionized workers at a mine, or mill. They do not want ANYTHING to change, until they can stroke off that last day on that calendar the announces their retirement.

And if they mostly backers (or used to be) of the "conservative" NDP. 

That a paper mill worker who is opposed to say marijuana litigation might support a party that favours it, is similar to the situation in the USA. People who need the programs that the people they elect want to remove get the vote...as long as they feel the person is against abortion, or same-sex marriage, they will allow them to be behind other  things that are  against.