Conservative Diplomacy - Tomorrow Never Knows

 Conservative backbencher Jamil Jivani is acting as a "freelance diplomat," jetting off for meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Meanwhile, Conservative MPs across Canada are left wondering who exactly signed off on this Washington visit, as Pierre Poilievre remains conspicuously silent. Although Jivani cannot negotiate on behalf of Canada, he is framing the trip as a bipartisan effort, claiming the Canadian government is being “too partisan.”

 He maintains this stance even though the pressure is coming entirely from south of the border. President Trump and his even crazier JD Vance have not only leveled massive tariff threats but have explicitly revived "51st State" rhetoric, referring to the international border as an "artificial line." Most alarming are the President's own words: when asked if he would use military force to acquire Canada, Trump responded, “No - economic force,” a direct threat of annexation through financial strangulation.

 Reports indicate Jivani’s trip was independent, with some Conservative sources expressing frustration over this "freelancing" and the potential risk of the Conservatives appearing too cozy with an administration that is openly menacing Canadian sovereignty. Poilievre's office has not commented directly on the visit or whether it was officially sanctioned. It is a strange silence, given that Pierre Poilievre likes to portray himself as a “strong” leader, yet he has conspicuously lost his voice when responding to questions regarding Jivani's actions.

 Meanwhile, former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in an internationally televised speech this past week, sent a direct message to Canadian Conservatives: “In the past year, Canada has faced a challenge unique in our lifetimes. A hostile United States. One that has openly questioned Canadian sovereignty. That has openly broken the trade agreements we have made to each other. And that regularly issues further threats against us.”

 Harper went on to say, “There are many, particularly in the business community, who believe things will go back to the way they were in due course with secure and predictable access to the U.S. market and a United States that upholds a global order - I do not believe that is a safe assumption.” He clearly told Conservatives, “Canada must adapt to new geopolitical realities. To be clear, these realities mean we must reduce our dependence on the U.S.” Will the convoy Conservatives follow the roadmap presented to them by Stephen Harper? Will Poilievre act?

 Recent polling from the Angus Reid Institute reveals a stark divide in how Canadians view the current U.S. administration. A full 66 percent of Canadians gave Donald Trump a failing "F" grade for the first year of his second term. In contrast, a mere 15 percent of the general population awarded him an "A" or "B." However, this consensus evaporates when looking at specific political subgroups. Among "Convoy Conservatives," 50 percent gave Trump a grade of "C" or better. This data highlights a massive disconnect within the Canadian electorate: while a strong majority of voters loathe Trump's "economic force" tactics, half of the Conservative base maintains a positive view of the American president. In other words, Conservative voters don’t represent Canadians at large.

 Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the leader of the UCP refuse to question the loyalties of their MLAs, despite reports that some are pushing for a sovereignty referendum to break up Canada. Others are allegedly "playing footsie" with Alberta separatists in rural regions - activists who claim to have met with the White House with the intent of dismantling the federation. Separatists have confirmed multiple meetings with U.S. officials (including State Department representatives) since 2025, seeking financial backing for an independent Alberta, while claims circulate that more than a dozen UCP MLAs have signed petitions pushing for a separation referendum. None of this should come as any surprise, however, since it's a party and movement that fired Jason Kenney, former Premier of Alberta, from his job for simply implementing prudent and responsible vaccine responsibilities and for speaking out against illegal border blockades.  The internal shift within the UCP from established conservative thought to this new, more radical fringe is a cancer on conservatism.

 Smith has repeatedly stated she supports “a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada” and insists she doesn't police her caucus members' personal views or petition signings, refusing to condemn or discipline any alleged involvement. But that signature line - “a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada” - sounds a lot like a spouse insisting they support a strong, committed marriage while demanding separate finances, separate vacations, and separate rules, and threatening to walk if things don't go their way.

 It’s a political version of the Beatles song "We Can Work It Out," but without any of the compromise; Smith is essentially telling the rest of Canada to "see it my way" or "run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone." It's the political equivalent of saying “I support our strong marriage, on my terms,” which usually means the relationship is on thin ice, with the door left wide open for an exit if the federation doesn't improve exactly as she wants it. It should not come as a surprise, since those MAGA North culture conservatives within the UCP don’t buy into the metric system, let alone Confederation. Tomorrow never knows.