Share this Story : National Post Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Raymond J. de Souza: Poilievre right to shut down Jivani after 'hissy fit' comment

Conservatives who want to blame Canada are a problem for the party

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was curt and harsh about Jamil Jivani telling Trump-friendly American media that Canada was having an “anti-American hissy fit” and that governing Liberals needed “to grow up and mature” in the face of American aggression on trade policy.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

“He speaks for himself, I speak for the party,” Poilievre said. He wanted to quickly shut down discussion about whether Jivani was more sympathetic to the Trump administration than he was to Canada. Poilievre was wise to do so. Blaming Canada is not a winning strategy for a party that is trying to earn Canadian votes.

Raymond J. de Souza: Poilievre right to shut down Jivani after 'hissy fit' comment Back to video

“Blame Canada” was popular once — in the United States. Satirically. In 1999 a South Park movie about parents concerned with the corruption of their youth had them evade responsibility by choosing an improbable scapegoat: Blame Canada!

This newsletter tackles hot topics with boldness, verve and wit. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Platformed will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

“They are not even a real country anyway,” claimed the lyrics, comedically foreshadowing Putin on Ukraine and Trump on Canada.

The original song was nominated for an Oscar. There was certain absurdity in the political air; Donald Trump had ended the first of his four presidential campaigns just weeks before the Academy Awards. (Trump ran for the Reform Party in 2000).

Robin Williams performed “Blame Canada” on the show in a Rockettes-style dance number. A good time was had by all, including the wholesome Anne Murray, who was described in the song with a not-very-nice word. It was outrageous good fun because who would possibly, seriously, blame Canada?

The serious and consequential political lesson was taught fifteen years earlier, by the formidable Jeanne Kirkpatrick, the fiercely anticommunist Democrat whom Ronald Reagan appointed as his ambassador to the United Nations.

In 1984, at the Republican convention nominating Reagan for re-election, Kirkpatrick explained why Democrats like her — she began by favourably quoting Harry Truman — supported Reagan on foreign policy. She delivered an impressive tour d’horizon of the global scene, but the professor stole the entire convention, even from the Great Communicator himself, with her diagnosis of a sickness in her fellow Democrats.

Terry Newman: Apparently, everything is discrimination now

Amy Hamm: Misgendering case an absurd waste of time and resources

Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

“They said that saving Grenada from terror and totalitarianism was the wrong thing to do,” Kirkpatrick said. “They didn’t blame Cuba or the communists for threatening American students and murdering Grenadians — they blamed the United States instead. But then, somehow, they always blame America first.”

“When our Marines, sent to Lebanon on a multinational peacekeeping mission with the consent of the United States Congress, were murdered in their sleep, the ‘blame America first’ crowd didn’t blame the terrorists who murdered the Marines; they blamed the United States. But then, they always blame America first.”

Kirkpatrick continued her litany: “When the Soviet Union walked out of arms control negotiations … they blamed the United States…. When Marxist dictators shoot their way into power in Central America, they blame United States policies of 100 years ago. They always blame America first.”

Wild pigs, giant goldfish and bugs that won't die: Invaders 'absolutely everywhere' in Canada Longreads

Wild pigs, giant goldfish and bugs that won't die: Invaders 'absolutely everywhere' in Canada

Canadians vacationing at popular Cancun resort hit hard by vomiting, cramps and diarrhea Canada

Canadians vacationing at popular Cancun resort hit hard by vomiting, cramps and diarrhea

Advertisement 2Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

Government plans to boost Canadian Forces with foreign recruits Canada

Government plans to boost Canadian Forces with foreign recruits

FIRST READING: The Canadians being punished by the state for not believing in gender ideology NP Comment

FIRST READING: The Canadians being punished by the state for not believing in gender ideology

Feds won't stand in the way of Alberta's fall referendum, stress common immigration goals Canada

Feds won't stand in the way of Alberta's fall referendum, stress common immigration goals

The phenomenon of the “Reagan Democrats” was a major factor in Reagan’s reshaping of American politics. Kirkpatrick represented one important faction of the Reagan Democrats, those who were tired of liberals siding with America’s rivals and enemies over America itself. “Peace through Strength” was Reagan’s motto then, but “peace with patriotism” could have been a corollary.

Poilievre, who knows his voting base very well — his recent smashing triumph at the leadership review in Calgary is evidence of that — is aware of the danger of a “blame Canada first” virus infecting his own party. Hence his quick action in shutting down Jivani, even as Poilievre himself has been reluctant to criticize Trump too directly. (He didn’t mention the American president is his convention speech.)

During the early 1980s, when Kirkpatrick was serving in the Reagan administration, Canadian conservatives, chafing under Trudeau père and underwhelmed by the Red Tory Joe Clark, looked to the United States and United Kingdom in admiration of what a robust, successful conservatism could look like.

Admiration for foreigners is fine; denigration of neighbours is not. That distinction is important, which is why Stephen Harper promoted Canadian patriotism and pride, against the sloppy habit of instinctively preferring what American or British conservatives were doing.

Few are the Canadians who desire American approbation at the cost of insulting their countrymen. But they have become more prominent recently, with Alberta separatists delighting in being received in Washington. Even Premier Danielle Smith put her toe in those waters when she went swanning around Mar-a-Lago before Trump’s inauguration.

Those Canadians who do “blame Canada first” for a trade war that Trump, and Trump alone, started, to say nothing of his boorish talk of annexation, are not many, but they are disproportionately Conservatives — even though there precious little that is conservative about Trump and his policies. In reaction, like the Reagan Democrats of 40 years ago, there are now Carney Conservatives, voters who might otherwise vote Tory but prefer Carney to stand up to Trump. Poilievre, by shutting down Jivani, is alert to that.

Jivani and Vice President JD Vance have been friends since their law school days at Yale. Genuine friendships should not be imperilled by politics, so Jivani is right to maintain that relationship. But it was a mistake to think that Canada has anything to learn from Vance about how to deal with Trump, when Vance himself completely reversed and abased himself to gain Trump’s favour. That’s not a model that is attractive to Canadians — at least those who don’t blame Canada first.

Share this Story : National Post Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

I tried the viral activewear brand POPFLEX: What to know before you buy Even Taylor Swift is a fan of the activewear brand created by Blogilates fitness instructor Cassey Ho 19 hours ago Fashion

I tried the viral activewear brand POPFLEX: What to know before you buy

Even Taylor Swift is a fan of the activewear brand created by Blogilates fitness instructor Cassey Ho

Canadian concert tours: Hottest tickets in 2026 Andrea Bocelli, Don Toliver and TWICE are on sale now 19 hours ago Music

Canadian concert tours: Hottest tickets in 2026

Andrea Bocelli, Don Toliver and TWICE are on sale now

Fashion resale is booming in Canada. Here's why ... Canadian fashion resale experts sound off on booming market. Read more ... 21 hours ago Fashion & Beauty

Fashion resale is booming in Canada. Here's why ...

Canadian fashion resale experts sound off on booming market. Read more ...

Advertisement 3Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

How to take your kids skiing: Tips to enjoy the mountain with young ones Start small and get the right gear 21 hours ago Kids

How to take your kids skiing: Tips to enjoy the mountain with young ones

Start small and get the right gear

Best standup comedy shows in Canada near you this week Jo Koy, Hannah Berner and Jimmy Carr are on sale now 21 hours ago Entertainment

Best standup comedy shows in Canada near you this week

Jo Koy, Hannah Berner and Jimmy Carr are on sale now

© National Post