Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his conservative political rival abandoned Ukraine because of “MAGA-influenced thinking.”
On Tuesday, all 109 Conservative MPs in the country blocked updated legislation on the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement.
In response, Trudeau launched a blistering attack on Friday, saying the American MAGA movement and far-right politics were undermining support for Ukraine in Canada.
“To see the Conservative Party of Canada decide not to support Ukraine with something it needs, using the absurd excuse that Ukraine would put a price on pollution, is ridiculous,” Trudeau said.
“The real story is the rise of a right-wing American MAGA influence mindset that has caused Canadian conservatives, once among Ukraine’s strongest defenders, to turn away from something Ukraine needs in its hour of need. “
From left: European Council President Charles Michel, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Commission President Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen hold a news conference in St. John’s Newfoundland on Friday
Trudeau also said politicians in the U.S., Europe and Canada who don’t support aid to Ukraine are “starting to parrot Russian disinformation, disinformation and propaganda.”
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who is leading in all polls, said his party does not support the proposal because it would force Ukraine to introduce a carbon tax.
While the trade bill includes language that the two countries will “promote” carbon pricing and mitigation, it does not contain provisions forcing such a plan.
On Thursday, Poilievre insisted he supported Ukraine and a free trade agreement but “voted against Justin Trudeau introducing a carbon tax into this pre-existing agreement.”
Trudeau also said Friday: “All Canadians should be concerned when the Conservative Party of Canada and Pierre Poilievre turn their backs on history.”
“Turn your back on our friends and allies, turn your back on the international rules-based order and our support for the UN Charter on Territorial Integrity.”
On Friday, a spokesman for Poilievre did not respond to a Portal question about whether the leader was taking cues from Trump.
Canada has the second largest Ukrainian expatriate community after Russia and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress said in a statement it was disappointed the Conservatives voted against the trade deal.
Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre reacts to the Fall Economic Statement in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, November 21, 2023.
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves to his supporters on November 4, 2023 in Kissimmee, Florida, USA
Opinion polls show Poilievre would defeat Trudeau and likely win a majority if an election were held today. One of Poilievre’s main promises is to “cancel” Canada’s carbon tax if elected.
Poilievre said pricing has increased concerns about the cost of living amid high inflation.
Trump, who is seeking re-election in 2024 and is the front-runner for his party’s presidential nomination, has sharply criticized U.S. support for Kiev and said he could end the war in 24 hours if re-elected.
A relatively small but vocal group of Republicans has criticized Ukraine’s aid for months and accused Kiev of failing to adequately combat corruption, something Ukrainian and U.S. officials deny.
This isn’t the first time Trudeau has blamed the American right for Canada’s problems, having previously said they had weaponized LGBTQ rights.
Trudeau spoke to parents at a mosque in Calgary after hundreds of Muslim parents gathered in Ottawa in June to protest LGBTQ education in schools.
Trudeau told the crowd that “people on social media, particularly cheered on by the American right wing,” are stoking the protests.
Binnish Mustafa, a Maryland mother, said she was offended that Trudeau blamed her fears on right-wing disinformation
However, in America, at least one group of Muslim parents told Fox they were offended by Trudeau’s comments.
“I take great offense to what he said,” said Binnish Mustafa, mother of a seven-year-old child with special needs. “That really touched us here in Montgomery County.”
She said Trudeau doesn’t know anything about the reality in U.S. schools and said he “needs to actually go into a public school classroom and sit there and watch the discussions that follow specific textbooks that are being discussed.”
Another parent, Kareem Monib, told Fox he felt Trudeau was ill-informed about what was happening in U.S. schools and that he was simply parroting what his fellow Liberals have said in defense of a “woke” curriculum .
“It is shocking that Trudeau would use the same silly arguments that are used in the United States,” he said.