The Canadian politician and activist Annamie Paul frequently uses the expression "the liberals are intellectually exhausted" to characterize what she sees as a dearth of creative thinking in some liberal circles. She believes that some liberals have ceased questioning their own beliefs and presumptions, which is reflected in this statement.

Paul has been a vocal opponent of political slackness in Canada, promoting social justice and more drastic reform. Her criticism goes beyond the Canadian setting; she frequently focuses on what she perceives to be ineffective responses to urgent problems like systemic racism, economic inequality, and climate change.

To put it another way, think of liberalism as a garden that requires ongoing care and creativity to thrive. According to Paul's critique, some areas of this garden need to be replanted or pruned to make room for new growth because they are overrun with out-of-date concepts. She urges rigorous thinking and ongoing scrutiny of accepted conventions.

Paul wants to challenge her audience to consider their approach to social issues critically and to start a conversation about what it means to be liberal in the twenty-first century.