Poilievre’s recent weak reactions have some people wondering whether he is really ready for prime time.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on February 26, 2024.

OTTAWA—Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is usually not one to mince words. Why say something in a minute when you can do it in 15, and have your social viewing audience grow exponentially?

That’s why Ottawa was abuzz last week with his curt reference to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. While most world leaders were fulsome in their condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s role in the sudden death of his fiercest critic, two North American politicians were parsing their post-mortem comments.

Poilievre claims he has nothing in common with former U.S. president Donald Trump, but the pair were the only voices that failed to condemn Putin absolutely in the imprisonment and death of Navalny.

The following was Poilievre’s statement: “Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died in prison. Putin imprisoned Navalny for the act of opposing the regime. Conservatives condemn Putin for his death.”

“Brief” is the only way to describe Poilievre’s reaction which was posted on X.

Compare that to the reaction of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In a post on the same site, Trudeau said: “Reports of Alexei Navalny’s death are tragic and horrifying. An unwavering advocate for Russian democracy and freedom, his courage was unparalleled. To be clear: He should never have been imprisoned to begin with. Let this be an important reminder that we must continue to promote, protect, and defend democracy everywhere. The consequences of not doing so are stark. I’m sending my deepest condolences to Alexei Navalny’s family—and to all those around the world who had championed his pursuit of justice. Canada remains committed to holding Putin responsible for his actions.”

Trudeau continued to condemn Putin in multiple media interviews, while the Poilievre family’s main social presence was selling T-shirts following a dust up in the House of Commons where the opposition leader posed a question using the initials “W.T.F.” To Poilievre, it supposedly means “where’s the funds.”

Ignoring the bad grammar, Poilievre’s spouse, Anaida, was flogging the shirts in social media at the same time the world’s focus was on the aftermath of Navalny’s death, and the horrific arrests of Russian mourners.

Trump was also busier shilling than condemning in the days following Navalny’s death. As for the Russian opposition leader, Trump found a way to compare his death to Trump’s own domestic troubles. In a Fox media interview, this is how he framed the situation: “It’s happening in our country, too. We are turning into a communist country in many ways. And if you look at it, I’m the leading candidate, I got indicted … I got indicted four times. I have eight or nine trials … all because of the fact that I’m in politics.”

Trump then pivoted quickly announce the launch of his new US$400 golden running shoes at “Sneaker Con” in Philadelphia. Along with the shoes, Trump introduced a line of cologne, entitled “Victory.” The runners were launched the day after a civil fraud trial judgement where Trump was ordered to pay out $350-million in interest and damages.

Both politicians were notoriously quiet following Navalny’s death, even when his widow was publicly calling on the world to seek justice for her late husband.

Three days after her husband died, Yulia Navalnaya vowed to continue his fight. “In killing Alexei, Putin killed half of me, half of my heart and half of my soul,” Navalnaya said on social media. “But I have another half left—and it is telling me I have no right to give up.”

While Navalnaya vows to continue her husband’s brave battle in opposition to Putin, Ukraine passed the two-year anniversary last week of its unwavering response to Putin’s illegal attack.

Once again, Trump and Poilievre share the same vision. With Trump’s blessing, Republicans have been blocking or reducing war funding for Ukraine, just as Poilievre voted against Canadian funding in the House of Commons.

Conservatives in Canada keep saying they have nothing in common with Trump, but the actions of both men in the past week seem to mirror each other.

Poilievre may think that most Canadians vote on pocketbook issues, not foreign policy. But 1.2 million Ukrainian-Canadians are not happy with his refusal to support Canadian funding for Ukraine.

Strangely, then the leader of the opposition came out against proposed legislation to limit internet hate speech before reading it. Instead, he reminded us of Trudeau’s blackface history.

Poilievre’s recent weak reactions have some people wondering whether he is really ready for prime time.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

The world sees that Russia is engaged in war crimes. U.S. President Joe Biden continues to insist that at this point in time, the accusation cannot be made.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on March 7, 2022.

OTTAWA—American President Joe Biden is a political survivor. But that comes with its own challenges.

As a member of Congress, he was able to work both sides of the aisle and build bi-partisan legislation.

But in the world of war there are no bi-partisans. And that is the problem he is facing as European leaders push the envelope while Biden keeps trying to find compromise.

The world sees that Russia is engaged in war crimes. Biden continues to insist that at this point in time, the accusation cannot be made.

Perhaps the deadliest political moment was the American offer to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to flee the Ukrainian capital. His retort will go down in history. “The fight is here; I need anti-tank ammo, not a ride.”

While British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is well-known for bombast, in this instance, bombast works.

A psychopathic bully like Vladimir Putin will only respond to force. The notion that soft words are a path to peace rings hollow.

While the Ukrainian people literally fight for their lives, the American president seems strangely detached.

He still has a chance to turn it around, but it better happen quickly. While Russian bombs are targeting childcare centres and hospitals, it is time for NATO to declare and enforce a no-fly zone over the Ukraine.

Of course, this will be viewed as an act of war by Putin, but he is banking on the fact that his opponents will be afraid to unleash his ire with a direct act inside Ukrainian borders.

But it will push him back and stem the bleeding that is currently happening inside the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

An opportunity to push Putin back will also allow time for international financial sanctions to bite deeper into his pocket and those of his friends and allies.

Only a week ago, the German government said no to offering more weapons and closing down SWIFT to Russian banks.

In a stunning reversal, the Germans are leading the charge in ways to frustrate Putin’s war.

That response was prompted by public horror at what was happening in the Ukraine. And as more pictures of maimed and murdered women and children emerge, the international horror will only mount.

So why doesn’t Biden lead the charge instead of appearing to play follow the European leader?

In the same way that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a peacemaker by nature, Biden’s first instinct is to find a diplomatic way out.

Putin keeps saying that he is ready for a diplomatic solution, but actions speak louder than words.

In Canada, the war cabinet is looking very strong. With the Ukrainian roots of the deputy prime minister, it is obvious to all that Chrystia Freeland is personally invested in saving her family’s homeland.

As finance minister, she also has the tools to cut off the money supply to the murderers. Freeland has been working incessantly to bring her European partners onside for deeper and stronger financial sanctions.

Defence Minister Anita Anand has also risen to the occasion, appearing composed and knowledgeable on the military deployment and arms procurement process for the effort.

With Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly rounding out the triumvirate, it is the first time in Canadian history that three women have led an international war effort on behalf of our country. These women are also potential successors to the prime minister. Despite that internal competition, they all appear to be working well in tandem.

The huge Ukrainian diaspora in Canada is also politically important for the government.

Canada boasts the largest community of Ukrainians outside the Ukraine. Their high level of political involvement makes them very important to any party that hopes to form government.

In the Greater Toronto Area, Ukrainians can make the difference in several ridings in west Toronto, Mississauga, and Hamilton.

Likewise, Winnipeg and Edmonton have strong Ukrainian ties and the community is not only working to promote government action but many are returning to Ukraine to join the battle for the homeland.

The world of sport is also stepping up to the plate, with international federations cancelling events in Russia and tossing their teams from global competition.

The world is definitely ahead of the NATO politicians.

But that gives Biden the chance to follow his finely honed political instincts and build back some political support.

The more Putin is isolated, the easier it will be for NATO to provide real support to the Ukrainian people.

The no-fly zone is the only way to stop this insanity.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is a bully. Bullies understand force. Economic sanctions will hit the Russian people with much more force than they will either Putin or his obscenely wealthy friends.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on February 28, 2022.

OTTAWA—Sanctions are not enough.

If Canada and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies are not willing to directly engage the invading military, the Russian attack won’t stop.

Sanctions caused the value of the Russian stock market to fall by 30 per cent. But President Vladimir Putin’s personal holdings were left untouched. And Russia was allowed to remain in the international Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system that moves money around the globe.

The 30 members in the alliance fighting Russia could not agree on cutting Russia out of SWIFT, partly because of Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources.

But how can Russia possibly remain a member in good standing of the world banking community when Putin’s goal is clearly to destroy the current world order?

Until last Thursday, the integrity of sovereign territory in Europe had remained relatively safe since the Second World War.

But Putin’s crazed rhetoric gives the world an idea of his agenda. He doesn’t like the fact that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have all joined a western defence alliance and has made it abundantly clear that he has plans to reunite the former Soviet empire.

He even claims that Ukraine was a creation of Russia, even though the country has a history dating back to the Middle Ages.

The global community believes Putin is mentally unstable. But mental instability doesn’t prevent a leader from inflicting major political damage.

Just look at Donald Trump. While the world watched the Russian attack in horror, Trump was pontificating about his “very close friend,” calling Putin a genius.

Putin is also appealing to the Ukrainian military, asking them to put down their arms as Russia is only there to help. Some help.

The West watches with fascination and horror, but refuses to offer direct military assistance. American President Joe Biden made it very clear that the United States will not be securing boots on the ground in Ukraine.

The sanctions have targeted the Russian oligarchy, who have made millions with Putin’s help. It is hard to comprehend why Putin should personally be left untouched when he is the key reason that his country has gone ahead with an illegal show of force in the Ukraine.

The oligarchs who are being hit may suffer, but it is unlikely that will impact Putin’s personal pocketbook.

Back on home territory, Russians in opposition to the invasion have courageously taken to the streets, facing police arrest for their efforts.

Putin is a bully. Bullies understand force. As for economic sanctions, they will likely hit the Russian people a lot more swiftly than they will affect either Putin or his obscenely wealthy friends.

This is eerily reminiscent of the Second World War with one vital difference. At that time, the Americans sat on the sidelines for more than two years before they could be convinced to join their European allies in the fight.

This time, President Joe Biden is leading the charge, and there are supporters on both sides of the aisle who have close ties with the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States.

It could also provide Biden with a way of building back his popularity. In the first days of his presidency, Americans were hopeful that he would lead them in a new direction. But with the disastrous exit from Afghanistan and the grinding damage of Covid, Biden has sunk to a new low in public opinion polls.

A war could change all that.

Notwithstanding Trump’s bombast, Republicans would be hard pressed to side with Russia on this invasion, especially since their party has spent decades vilifying communism on all fronts.

In the midst of the Russian incursion, Taiwan was seeking western help against alleged Chinese air incursion over its territory.

While the attention of the world is focused on Ukraine, a successful invasion by Russia could embolden China in its desire to bring Taiwan under Chinese rule.

With Russian assaults on many parts of Ukraine, Biden frightened political leadership in Ukraine by saying it would take sanctions “a month” to have a real effect.

Ukraine does not have a month, as the takeover has been swift and Russian military might is expected to overpower the capital in less than 48 hours.

Russian television RT is telling civilians in the Ukraine that they have nothing to fear because the military operation is only targeting infrastructure.

But unconvinced citizens are huddled in subway stations operating as bomb shelters, as they try to protect themselves from the return of the brutal Soviet occupation that many still remember.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

By SHEILA COPPS
First published in The Hill Times on July 2, 2018.

OTTAWA—What if you threw a party and nobody came?

That is exactly what might happen to the annual Fourth of July bash at the U.S. ambassador’s official residence in Rockcliffe.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson is not known as a big risk-taker. Throughout his time in politics, as a Parliament Hill employee, a provincial minister, and then mayor, he has usually managed to keep all sides happy.

So when the mayor of Canada’s capital city decides to boycott the American ambassador’s annual Fourth of July picnic, you know the jig with the Yanks is up.

Unlike the federal and provincial scene, civic politics is most successful for leaders who try to find middle ground. They must appeal to all sides of the spectrum in order to secure support and usually win by making few enemies.

Watson’s publicly-announced boycott is an indication that millions of Canadians are feeling the same angst.

A no-show party list would be a clear indication that the trade war launched by United States President Donald Trump has no support in Canada.

Watson’s decision is a reflection of just how most of us are feeling in the wake of an unprovoked and scurrilous attack on our prime minister by the man who purports to be the leader of the free world.

Some might argue that missing the party is bad manners. The ambassadorial invite is billed as the biggest Independence Day bash outside the U.S. But this certainly is not politics as usual.

The current ambassador is a Trump-friendly appointee and the situation has gotten so tense that even her own predecessor is throwing grenades at the president.

Barack Obama-appointed ambassador Bruce Heyman weighed in on the fight last month when he demanded that Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro apologize to the Canadian people for stating on an American news show that “a special place in hell for any foreign leader” has been reserved for Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau because of his “stunt press conference” after the G7 meeting in Quebec.

Canadians thought Trump was joking when he referenced the war of 1812 as the starting point for warring relations between the country. They didn’t realize that that sally was a precursor of the war he was starting on the trade front.

Trump supporters have been fed fake memes and elaborate online charts purporting to show how Canada is clobbering the United States with unfair tariffs. The only problem: the numbers are wrong, but that means nothing to Trump collaborators who care little for news truth.

Even when confronted with the falsity of the facts, multiple-pro-Trump supporters have refused to edit them. Some have even been created by Russian agents. And while the American president trashes his closest friend and ally, he is busy playing footsy with Russian and North Korean despots and dictators.

The world order has, indeed, been upended, and it has been carried out by deliberation, not chance. Heyman told The Globe and Mail last week that Trump “is purposefully evoking a fight against Canada right now. He has an agenda to demonize the relationship.”

Mentions of the Trudeau name provoke hisses and boos at Trump rallies, at the same time the White House is finalizing details for a bilateral tête-à-tête with Vladimir Putin. The summit will confer special status on the Russian leader in the midst of ongoing investigations into his meddling in the American election.

Based on Trump’s recent actions, we can only assume that he is more comfortable building relationships with leaders who regularly threaten their enemies with nuclear attacks or engage in subterfuge to despoil elections.

Trump the bully is actually more comfortable with his own kind.

His campaign manager has already been charged with criminal activity, his family members are under investigation, and his own behaviour has reinforced the fact that the television caricature of Trump is actually the real deal.

But Canadians do have a few arrows in our own quiver. On Canada Day, our retaliatory efforts against unfair U.S. tariffs commenced.

Some are suggesting we should also target coal, blocking its shipment to Asia via the Port of Vancouver.

Ordinary people are changing their summer travel plans. Why visit the United States when there are so many beautiful destinations in Canada and elsewhere?

Even people booking international flights can do their best to avoid transiting in American airspace.

And then there is the ultimate rebuff, which may happen at the American ambassador’s residence on July 4.

You throw a party and nobody comes.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.