As Kellie Leitch's Conservative campaign lay dying late last week, it raised a weak, feeble arm and slowly beckoned any remaining supporters to lean in closely and listen.

"I regret nothing," it gasped, its voice barely above a whisper. No one was quite sure how it was possibly still breathing.

But of course, this declaration follows Leitch's recent reflections about the campaign she largely built on racist sentiments masquerading as "Canadian values." Especially because she led with suggestions that all immigrants endure a one-on-one interview with Canadian officials. She also vowed to make sanctuary cities ineligible for transit funding. (Plus, there was her her participation at a rally this past winter that opposed a bill to classify Islamophobia as discrimination.) (Okay.)

"I don't have any regrets, because I think this has been a really — and is now becoming even more so — a thoughtful dialogue that Canadians are having," Leitch herself said recently. "I am demanding and I do hard work. I don't think I'm going to change."

Which is unfortunate for Kellie, as this means her condition is permanent. And so, having chosen to decline all heroic measures, her campaign will be left to die slowly, surrounded by equally dangerous minds.

Because let's face it: a platform that promotes division, bolsters xenophobia and racism, and plants the seeds of "us" versus "them" certainly sets the standard for a very particular set of Canadian values. In fact, some people (like me — hi!) might imply that these values are currently being embraced by a certain American president whose zest for discriminating against anybody who isn't rich, white, and male is leading humanity a road as bleak as his administration. Woof.

It's easy to tell ourselves that this sort of thing can't happen in Canada; we're special or too nice or just want to drink our Tim Hortons coffee while sharing gifs of Justin Trudeau. But we also know better. We know that racism and xenophobia live proudly here too, and that hate crimes find a space in which to exist and thrive. I mean, Kellie Leitch got as far as she did for a reason — girlfriend wasn't supported by nobody. Or, I mean, she was: just nobody you or I would want to hang around with.

So for now, the Canadian equivalent of a Trump presidency has been circumvented. That said, while this chapter of Kellie Leitch's political dreams lies dying, it's up to us to keep anyone willing to violate the DNR far, far away. You never know who or what will rally in the midnight hour — and even if it doesn't, there are still always ghosts and zombies.