Canadians say country split between ordinary folks and elites. But what is an elite?

This story is part of a series, called On Guard for Me: The Uneasy Canadian,digginginto the results of a CBC News-commissioned online poll of 4,500 Canadians ahead of the October federal election.

Between bites of his free hamburgerat last Saturday'sFord Fest celebration north of Torontoan annual barbecue hosted by the family of Ontario Premier Doug Ford 65-year-old Tony Lainoprovided a conciseanswer whenasked who he considers the "elites" of society.

"Those that think they're better than me," he said."Because I don't espouse their beliefs."

That's one definition, anyway.

The label "elites" seems to get flung around the political arena constantly these days. It's becomeone of the dirty words of politics.

It's also a term that resonates with many Canadians, particularlyin an era when political populism seems to be gaining ground.A newCBCpoll suggestsnearly 80 per cent of Canadians either strongly or somewhat agree with the statement: "My country is divided between ordinary people and elites."

But what exactlydoes it mean? And why has it gained such traction as a political insult?

"It's become such an elastic term, it's become useless as aclassification," said Sean Speer, a sessional instructor andseniorfellow in public policy at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

As history professor Beverly Gagenoted in a 2017 New York Times column, the wordisstill seen in a positive light when used as an adjective an elite athlete, for example.But it takes on a nefarious meaning when used as a noun and "has become one of the nastiest epithets in American politics."

It's been used frequently byU.S. President Donald Trump, but it's also been a rallying cry for many Canadian politicians, including Ford and former prime minister Stephen Harper, who would often take shots at the "liberal elite."

Historically, the term "elite" seemed to have a connection to the rich. Politicians of allstripes have often tried toshow off theirworking-class bona fides, regardless of their personal wealth.

In his initial foray ontothe political stage, former prime minister Brian Mulroney was branded as the "Boy from BaieComeau,"Que., downplaying his role aspresident of the Iron Ore Company of Canada, said Tim Powers, vice-chairman of Summa Strategies, who served as the director of policy and research for theProgressive Conservative Party of Canada.

Mulroney'sformer Liberal rival,Jean Chrtien, who amassed great wealth in the private sector and would also go on to become prime minister,was promoted as the "little guy from Shawinigan."

"So it's always been there," Powers said."Ithink the right really co-opted it with more vigour under Stephen Harper."

'We want to look average'

Powers said by 2006, when the Conservatives under Harper were trying to unseat Prime Minister Paul Martin, the party had done a lot of researchlookingat how people identified themselves.

In an appeal to the middle class, he said, the Conservatives ran a series of what can be described as low-budget commercials.

"The whole plot point of those commercials, as I recall hearing the rationale behind the advertising, was, 'We want to look average. So, not elite. We want to contrast ourselves to Paul Martin,the shipping magnate."

The term, or concept anyway, would continue to be used to score political points. Another of Harper's Liberal opponents, Michael Ignatieff, was portrayedas anout-of-touch elitist in the 2011 federal election.

Current Prime MinisterJustin Trudeauhas had to deflect barbs from the Tories about being a "trust fund baby."

"It'sbeen pretty commonplace because most people would prefer to self-identify as being with the 'us'as opposed to the 'them,' because the 'them' are the elites and the people who get an advantage," Powers said.

He suspects the increased potency of going against the so-called elite in recent years comes from the reaction of people who have "drank the populist elixir" for their concerns about globalism, economic inequality, and being left out of jobs and opportunity.

"I think it's become more and more politically valuable to talk about elitism," he said, "because it also now means you recognize there is an advantage afforded to elites that wasn't there before."

The same CBC pollsuggests 52 per cent of Canadians either stronglyor somewhat agreewith the statement: "The government doesn't do anything for me."

Speer, who was the research assistant on Harper's bookRight Here, Right Now:Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption, suggested one segment of the population feels particularly ignored by the political system people without a post-secondary education.

And populist politicians like Trump have been able to tapinto their frustrations and fuel the divide, he said.

Nothing to do with money

But Speer believes the results of the CBC survey may reflecta confusion about what's happening in this country.

"I think peoplewouldbe shocked to discoverwhere they fit in the broader Canadian society," he said."Asignificant number of them, based on income status, would be quote, unquote elite."

However, that's where the subjectivity of the term comes into play. Would "elite" not apply to the same wealthy politicianslike Ford and Trumpwho useit to disparage their opponents?

Laino, the Ford Fest attendee and a retired information managementconsultant, says no. It doesn't have to do with money.

"DonaldTrump is a super wealthyguy and he's not an elite by any means," he said. "It's attitude."

Ford made similar comments when asked to define the term while appearing on CBC's Metro Morning in March2018.

WATCH| Doug Ford provides his definition of the"elite"

Doug Ford on Metro Morning

7 years ago

Duration 9:07

Newly elected Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford speaks with Metro Morning guest host David Common.

"People that look down on the common folk, the people that think they're smarter than other people ... they just think they're better, they're smarter, and they can tell the common folk how to live their lives," he said."And they drink their little bottle or glass of champagne with their pinkyup in the air.That's what an elite is."

Elitism has nothing to do with money,Ford said."Half of them don't have two pennies to rub together.They think they're something that they aren't."

But Amanda Galbraith, a principal with thepublic strategy and communications firm Navigtor Ltd., said theword may actually be losing some of its political punch.

"I do think it's kind of reached the point now where it is sort of white noise, because who defineselites?Everybody's using the term."