His comments trying to belittle Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is negotiating with Donald Trump on our behalf, compromise our position.
Pierre Poilievre can see his Christmas present, an election victory, perfectly gift-wrapped sitting right there under the tree. After nine years of the Trudeau administration, which has struggled through complicated economic times and in delivering basic federal government services to Canadians, polls show a decisive Conservative election victory is there for the taking.
But if Poilievre wants to ultimately open his gift, he shouldn’t be trying to grab it too hastily or too greedily. He must start being more careful in showing that his preoccupation is first and foremost the best interests of Canadians and not his own electoral fortunes. His actions of the past week don’t help that perception.
Trudeau’s meeting with Trump was a first step. It could turn out to be a major victory if he somehow succeeds in having Trump back off. If he fails and the tariffs fully materialize, it could be the last nail in the coffin for Trudeau’s leadership.
Poilievre’s comments, however, seemed politically selfish and potentially reckless. He could have risen above partisan politics, as part of Team Canada, like the premiers, by offering his support to the PM in hoping for him to succeed on behalf of all Canadians. Instead, his public comments trying to belittle the PM, who is negotiating on our behalf, compromise our position.
It also places Poilievre himself in a lose-lose situation.
And if Trudeau manages to succeed, Poilievre will reek of sour grapes compared to the impression he would have left had he taken a more statesmanlike stance in multilateral support of his PM, acting in Canadians’ best interests against an external threat.
The last thing Canadians probably want now before the holidays is for the government to fall and to be thrown into a divisive election.
If Poilievre isn’t more careful, he may end up ultimately returning the gift that Trudeau so neatly wrapped for him.
Robert Libman is an architect and planning consultant who has served as Equality Party leader and MNA, mayor of Côte-St-Luc and a member of the Montreal executive committee. He was a Conservative candidate in the 2015 federal election.