On Thursday, Conservative MP Jamil Jivani shared a video on social media expressing his frustration over the absence of a viable “alternative to the Liberals,” coinciding with the start of his party leader Pierre Poilievre’s tour in the U.S. aimed at promoting tariff-free trade.
In the video posted on X, Jivani remarked, “Individuals who should be providing an alternative to the Liberals are instead seeking to appease those in power.”
He continued, emphasizing that both he and the Conservative Party have a responsibility to present an alternative perspective in Ottawa.
“The truth is, we have an excellent alternative to propose: a vision for Canada that fosters a positive relationship with the United States, prevents economic crises, facilitates the construction of pipelines and infrastructure, and bolsters our economy,” he stated.
Jivani further claimed that the Liberal government is leveraging ongoing tensions with the U.S. to evade public accountability, accused the media of labeling dissenting opinions on Liberal policies as “traitors,” and criticized the government for pursuing closer ties with China.
While Jivani did not specifically mention Poilievre, the timing of his video drew criticism from former Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney, who responded to the MP.
In a separate post on X, Kenney commended Poilievre for “effectively advocating for Canada and free trade.”
He also highlighted that other members of the Conservative caucus are supporting the leader’s message and criticized Jivani for not aligning with them.
“Instead, he chooses to undermine Pierre’s significant trip by sharing a self-serving video portraying himself as a martyr, without offering any praise for his leader’s initiatives or criticizing Trump’s frequent attacks on Canada,” Kenney expressed.
Dimitri Soudas, a former communications director for ex-Prime Minister Stephen Harper, also questioned Jivani’s omission of any reference to the Conservative leader.
“At times, what a politician refrains from saying can be more telling than their words,” Soudas commented on X.
Canadians ‘confused’ by U.S. tactics: Poilievre
Poilievre commenced his two-day U.S. tour on Thursday, stating in a CNBC interview that Canadians feel “wounded” and “confused” about the reasons behind Canada’s economy being targeted by the Trump administration.
In another interview with BNN Bloomberg on Friday, Poilievre asserted that Canada is asserting its sovereignty while advocating for a stronger bilateral relationship to protect both nations from strategic threats like China.
“By increasing trade with Canada, we can reduce your living costs, ensure you are well-supplied in case of a future conflict, and restore the industrial foundation of our continent,” Poilievre indicated.
CBC News has contacted both Poilievre’s and Jivani’s offices for remarks.
Poilievre, who has made several visits to the U.S., has refrained from criticizing Prime Minister Mark Carney while in the U.S.
Nonetheless, he has been vocal about the matter, urging the government to reconvene Parliament, disclose details about the rejected trade agreement, and provide a cost-analysis of Canada’s counter-tariffs.
The Conservative leader has previously faced inquiries regarding Jivani’s remarks about the U.S.
Pierre Poilievre was asked about comments made by Conservative MP Jamil Jivani, who said Canadian officials are shooting themselves ‘in the foot if we continue this anti-America hissy-fit.’ Jivani travelled to Washington, D.C., earlier this month, saying he hoped to help Prime Minister Mark Carney negotiate a trade deal with the U.S.
Jivani-Vance friendship
Jivani, a longtime college acquaintance of U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, has visited Washington, D.C. twice to engage with U.S. trade officials.
During an interview with the right-wing U.S. media outlet Breitbart News in February, Jivani remarked that Canada is “shooting ourselves in the foot if we continue this anti-America hissy-fit.”
This statement prompted Poilievre to publicly refute his MP’s description of the current strained relations between the two nations.
“Canadians are rightfully upset by the unwarranted tariffs and comments made by the president,” Poilievre stated to reporters at that time, adding that Jivani “speaks for himself [while] I speak for the party.”
Days prior to the collapse of the latest tariff negotiations, Vance acknowledged Jivani during a fundraising speech, commending him for having a “good relationship” with the Trump administration and being “an effective advocate” for Canada.
In the same address, Vance referred to Poilievre as a “non-entity” in the trade discussions.
Conservative MP Kyle Seeback criticizes fellow Conservative MP Jamil Jivani’s comments on counter-tariffs in a social media post that he later deleted. (Kyle Seeback/X)
When asked about Vance’s remarks regarding Jivani, Poilievre stated that Conservative MPs, as well as all Canadians, should utilize their connections to advocate for free trade with the U.S.
On the day when trade discussions deteriorated last month, Jivani accused Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford of prioritizing “their political self-interests over Canadian workers.”
Later, the MP told the National Post that retaliating against the U.S.’s latest tariffs on Canadian goods with dollar-for-dollar tariffs would be an “overreaction” — despite the fact that dollar-for-dollar counter tariffs were part of the Conservatives’ 2025 platform.
This comment appeared to irritate at least one other Conservative member. Ontario MP Kyle Seeback reposted the article on X, stating that Jivani “speaks for no one but himself.”
Seeback later removed the post.