Paul Anka isn’t exactly known for political bomb-throwing. He’s a crooner, a legend, a guy more likely to be associated with Las Vegas stage lights than culture war flashpoints. But on Bill Maher’s podcast “Club Random,” even the smoothest voice in pop history couldn’t sugarcoat what he sees happening north of the border.
In remarks that will no doubt light up both sides of the political aisle, Anka argued that Canada — long held up as the polite, orderly cousin to the United States — is undergoing a dramatic transformation, and not necessarily for the better. The singer pointed to immigration levels and social change as key factors in what he described as a sharp rise in crime.
“Canada’s homogenous,” Anka said, reflecting on how the country used to be. “Only now are they feeling it. A city like Toronto, there’s over 400,000 immigrants, and their crime rate has gone through the roof.”
Maher, never shy about poking at cultural contradictions himself, chimed in as the two discussed how countries like Canada and England have changed over time. The comedian contrasted modern-day London with earlier eras, suggesting that what some call “progress” looks more like rapid demographic overhaul without a clear stopping point.
“There was an England, and I’m not saying it was all better,” Maher said. “And I think London now is like — I mean, it’s like I think 70 percent minority or something. This is called ‘progress.’”
The conversation veered into Maher’s broader frustration that modern progressives, in his view, often refuse to acknowledge when change has gone far enough — or when the trade-offs of rapid social transformation start to show up in everyday life.
“I’m always having to beg progressives to, like, enjoy the product you’re selling, progress,” Maher said. “They really hate progress.”
He added, with his trademark edge, “Could you just take the W once in a while? Do we always have to b—-? I mean, if I wanted b—-ing, I’d get married.”
The tone of the exchange wasn’t one of panic, but of two longtime observers of Western culture noticing a shift that’s become harder to ignore — especially in major cities where immigration, identity, and public safety debates are colliding in real time.
Anka, for his part, framed the issue in terms of Canada’s historical identity versus its present reality: a country once perceived as culturally uniform, now adjusting to rapid demographic change and the friction that comes with it.
