Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau struck out at his country’s right-wing American counterparts over the weekend following a Canadian conservative party’s vote against a highly contentious Ukraine bill.
The bill, which is aimed at strengthening relations between Canada and Ukraine, failed to pass in the House of Commons and sparked debate among Canada’s party leaders. Upon hearing the news, Trudeau claimed that the right-wing “MAGA” mentality had influenced the Canadian conservative party’s decision.
The government-sponsored bill is part of Trudeau’s larger efforts to demonstrate strong support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression in the region. The bill, if passed, would have allowed Canada to provide more military and humanitarian aid, as well as increased diplomatic oversight and security assurances to the struggling European nation.
“It is completely unacceptable that people would use a MAGA-type mentality to try and convince their representatives to vote against a major foreign policy initiative that Canada’s government believes is the right thing to do,” Trudeau said in a statement following the vote.
It is no secret that Canada and the U.S. have had their differences in the past and, according to Trudeau, this is yet another example of American interference in Canada’s domestic affairs. He went on to suggest that this “intentional” one-upmanship was intended to demonize Canada’s efforts to strengthen relations with Ukraine.
This vote stands in stark contrast to the contemporary political environment in the U.S. where MAGA conservatism is seen as the only viable political solution. It appears that Canada’s moderate views towards foreign policy and diplomatic relations are being actively sabotaged by its neighbours to the south.
Canada’s government is vowing to continue to support the people of Ukraine and will continue to work with the European Union in order to put pressure on the Kremlin. Trudeau is determined that this decision does not stand in the way of stronger ties between Canada and its eastern European allies.