The Liberal government is preparing scenarios in case former U.S. president Donald Trump, or someone with similar politics, returns to the White House, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says.
“For sure we have to be ready. I think we certainly have to prepare multiple scenarios, because our political and economic reality is greatly tied to what takes place in the U.S.,” Ms. Joly
said in French in an Aug. 16 interview with Montreal radio station 98.5 FM.
Joly’s comment was in response to commentary from the radio host about Mr. Trump and the rise of “far right forces.”
Ms. Joly said that the Trudeau government has experience, having “already managed a Trump administration.”
“In a general way, there’s our game plan to be able to manage what could be a very difficult situation.”
The topic was discussed as Mr. Trump has a commanding lead over other candidates for the Republican nomination.
According to
different polls, his closest rivals, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, share many ideological similarities with Mr. Trump and are more to the right than the Conservative Party of Canada, particularly on issues close to the Liberals’ heart such as gender ideology.
Mr. Trump has held onto a wide lead while facing four different indictments. The latest one
occurred in Georgia on Aug. 14 and relates to his efforts to dispute the 2020 elections results.
While still president, Mr. Trump once called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “two-faced” after a video surfaced in December 2019 from an interaction Mr. Trudeau had with other leaders on the sidelines of a NATO summit in the UK. In the video, Trudeau appears to be mocking the U.S. president after his appearance at an earlier press conference.
‘Far Right’
While preparing for a change of administration in the United States, Ms. Joly also said the “rise of the far right” in Canada must be countered. She didn’t define the concept, but she accused the Conservative Party of “radicalization.”“We know there’s certainly a radicalization of the Conservative Party. Pierre Poilievre won his election by going towards the more extreme base of his party and we all thought he would take back the party to towards the centre, but that’s not what he’s doing.”
When the host asked whether she thinks Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre is “far right,” Ms. Joly said he’s “comfortable straddling the line” and is sending coded messages to those holding that ideology.
“For example when he’s referencing to the World Economic Forum [WEF], which is one of the more well-known conspiracy theories, not based on facts, he’s sending messages to this base,” she said.
Similar comments as Ms. Joly were captured in a recent wire
article published by The Canadian Press titled “Poilievre’s Conservative Party embracing language of mainstream conspiracy theories,” which was published by a large number of outlets. The article touches on Mr. Poilievre’s criticism of the WEF.
“Trudeau’s media are desperate to stop his continued downfall,” Mr. Poilievre
wrote in a response on social media. He said the “hit piece” was written on him “because I dared criticize the World Economic Forum—a group of multinational CEOs and powerful politicians that push their interests.”
“I work for our people in this country and will bring home our democracy—without apology.”
Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis, who has brought to light a lot of information on links between Canada and the WEF through information requests filed with the government, also
reacted on social media to the claim about conspiracy theories.
She said the term is being used to “bully free-thinkers into submission so there’s no need to respond to the merits of an issue.”
“It’s disturbing to see news outlets collude to propagate biased and poorly researched claims and charges without explanation or commitment to facts.”
Ms. Lewis unearthed details about Canada’s participation in WEF initiatives such as a
pilot project using digital credentials in air travel and the signing on to the Agile Nations
charter. The latter initiative seeks to streamline regulations across countries to usher-in the WEF promoted “Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
Mr. Poilievre’s office was contacted for comment but a response was not received before publication.
