Jivani’s trip to Washington has some Conservative MPs scratching their heads – National

A solo trip to Washington, D.C., by Conservative MP Jamil Jivani has sparked concern among some of his colleagues, who fear it could be perceived as aligning with the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Jivani’s Visit and Concerns Within the Conservative Party

Jivani, a friend of U.S. Vice-President JD Vance from their time at Yale Law School, visited Vance’s office in an effort he described as “building bridges” between Canada and the United States. His office has not responded to repeated requests for interviews or a list of those he met with. The office of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also remained silent on the matter.

Two Conservative sources told Global News that some within the caucus are unhappy with what they see as Jivani’s “freelance” diplomacy with the Trump administration. One source, speaking anonymously, questioned the differing standards applied to Jivani and the potential impact on the party.

It remains unclear whether Jivani’s trip was authorized by Poilievre’s office. Jivani does not hold a shadow minister position related to foreign affairs or Canada-U.S. trade. Shelby Kramp-Neuman, the party’s Canada-U.S. trade critic, also recently visited Washington, according to her social media posts.

Potential Political Ramifications

Highlighting ties to the Trump administration is considered a risky move for Canada’s Conservatives, given Trump’s unpopularity with Canadian voters. A recent poll by Angus Reid found that 66 per cent of Canadians gave Trump an ‘F’ grade on his first year of his second term, while only 15 per cent gave him an ‘A’ or ‘B.’

However, the same poll revealed a different sentiment among Conservative voters, with 50 per cent giving Trump a ‘C’ grade or better. This suggests a significant divide between the general Canadian population and the Conservative base regarding their views on the U.S. president.

Jivani’s Stated Goals

In an interview with Semafor, Jivani stated his trip aimed to convey to the Trump administration that Canada and the U.S. share common goals. “I think there’s a real opportunity to build something with the U.S. administration,” he said.

Jivani also expressed hope for a revised tariff regime between the two countries. In a social media post, he reported having “productive meetings” with the White House and State Department, and confirmed meeting with both Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump reportedly asked Jivani to “pass along a message” expressing his affection for Canadians. Jivani expressed optimism about achieving positive outcomes for Canadian workers and businesses, though it is unclear who “we” refers to in that statement.

Jivani, first elected in 2024, has said he is “sick” of the current political dynamics surrounding the Canada-U.S. relationship and has attempted to engage the Liberal government in his efforts. Poilievre, meanwhile, stated his party is willing to cooperate with the Liberals to oppose Trump’s trade policies, stating he would work to “knock down these unjust tariffs and fight for our workers.”

Roland Paris, director of the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, noted that meetings between Canadian politicians and U.S. officials are not inherently problematic, but emphasized the importance of prioritizing Canadian interests and being mindful of commitments made.

— with files from Global’s Jillian Piper and David Akin