A Conservative MP is using a long-standing friendship to connect with Donald Trump’s top aides as Canada prepares for the president-elect’s return to the White House next month as the country faces the threat of devastating tariffs. I made a connection.
Jamil Jibani posted on social media on Saturday a photo of himself in Washington with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and British conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch.
The Canadian Conservative Party member from Durham and the U.S. senator from Ohio have been friends since they both attended Yale University, and Givani has previously spoken about their close relationship and his speech at Vance’s wedding. I was writing about.
This is the first time Mr. Givani has publicly posted about his meeting with a friend since the November election that confirmed Mr. Vance as the next commander in chief of the next administration.
The cross-border contact announcement comes as Conservative leader Pierre Poièvre navigates a response to President Trump’s tariff threats against the United States’ closest neighbor ahead of an impending review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement. It was done while trying to do so.
A general election must be held by October next year, but it could be brought earlier if the Liberal Party loses the confidence of the House of Commons. The winner will be in charge of reviewing the trilateral agreement in 2026.
Opinion polls have long shown the Conservatives leading against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals.
As an opposition leader, Poièvre largely avoided engaging with or criticizing Trump or the Republican Party in the run-up to the US presidential election.
But Mr. Poilievre is being forced to respond to President Trump’s threat of 25% tariffs, which economists say would severely damage Canada’s economy.
Poiivre initially called the job threats “unwarranted,” but later criticized Trudeau for being weak.
Prime Minister Trudeau held an unprecedented surprise dinner with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, a Republican club in Florida, and then met with other Federalist leaders.
The prime minister urged other leaders not to negotiate with Canada in public, saying the border is broken, while reinforcing the message that Trump’s tariffs will also hurt the American economy.
But Poièvre said Trudeau had lost control of key government documents, including the budget and borders, leaving Canada in a vulnerable position.
Prime Minister Trudeau called Poilievre’s criticisms unhelpful when it comes to dealing with the incoming Trump administration. Prime Minister Trudeau said Canadians have a long-standing tradition of coming together to defend Canada when it is threatened in any way.
In response, Poièvre said Trudeau is pushing Canadian jobs south with a planned carbon tax hike this spring.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2024.
