Jivani's U.S. connections continue to create 'clap back' for Poilievre: strategist

Leader of the Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre walks with new member of Parliament for Durham Jamil Jivani as he takes his place in the House of Commons before Question Period, Monday, April 8, 2024 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA — Some Conservative strategists say there is little to take away from U.S. Vice-President JD Vance’s apparent mockery of Leader Pierre Poilievre in a fundraising speech this week.

But Tim Powers, Summa Strategies chair and a former Conservative adviser, says Poilievre is being undermined, at least a little, by the repeated trips to the U.S. by Ontario Conservative MP Jami Jivani.

Jivani and Vance are longtime friends and a recording of a speech by Vance obtained by The Canadian Press shows the vice-president praising Jivani for playing an active role in recent trade talks, and dismissing Poilievre as a “non-entity.”

Jivani has travelled to Washington on numerous occasions, including an April meeting with Canadian business interests and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Powers says Jivani is not a team player, and his efforts in Washington are causing some “clap back” in Canada and demonstrate some weakness for Poilievre.

When asked about Vance’s comments about Jivani today, Poilievre said he asked all his MPs to use connections they have in the States to “fight for tariff-free trade.”

With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington

David Baxter, The Canadian Press