Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attacked his country’s Conservatives and blamed “MAGA-influenced thinking” after they rejected a new trade deal with war-torn Ukraine.
“The real story is the rise of a right-wing, American MAGA-influenced thinking that has made Canadian Conservatives — who used to be among the strongest defenders of Ukraine, I’ll admit it — turn their backs on something Ukraine needs in its hour of need,” Trudeau said Friday.
While the legislation passed, it was opposed by 109 Conservative MPs over claims that it would force Ukraine to impose a carbon tax.
Trudeau slammed the Conservative concerns, calling them “ridiculous.”
“To see the Conservative Party of Canada decide not to support Ukraine with something they need with the absurd excuse that it’s because Ukraine is going to put a price on pollution, is ridiculous,” the prime minister said.
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#BREAKING: Justin Trudeau says the rise of a right wing "MAGA" style thinking is dangerous to Canada.
— govt.exe is corrupt (@govt_corrupt) November 24, 2023
He says Pierre Poilievre turning his back on our allies & the UN Charter should be concerning.
I'm sorry Trudeau, but you turned your back on Canadians a long time ago.🖕🖕🖕 pic.twitter.com/rGpWVD5Mca
The New York Post reported:
Canada is home to the second-largest Ukrainian diaspora after Russia.
Some 1.4 million Canadians are of Ukrainian descent.
This week’s parliamentary vote marked the first time that multi-party support for Ukrainian relief has been absent since Russia’s invasion.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Thursday:
“I really think it speaks to how pathologically obsessed Trudeau is with the carbon tax that, while the knife is at the throat of Ukrainians, he would use that to impose his carbon tax ideology on those poor people.”
“The last thing they need is a carbon tax when they’re trying to rebuild from war, and from this illegal invasion by Russia,” he added.
Trudeau accused politicians in the US, Europe and Canada opposed to continuing to provide aid for Ukraine of “starting to parrot Russian disinformation and misinformation and propaganda.”
Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, has argued that opposing Russia in Ukraine is not a vital US strategic interest, but is for Europe.
“That is why Europe should be paying far more than we are, or equal,” he told Tucker Carlson earlier this year.
Canada authorized over $800 million in military assistance for Ukraine this year.
“We’re continuing to impose costs on Russia and ensuring that those responsible for this illegal, unjustifiable invasion do not benefit from it,” Trudeau said earlier this year during a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ottawa.
Canada added 63 Russian individuals and entities to the country’s sanctions list; these included “those complicit in the kidnapping of children and the spreading of disinformation,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau said that Canada’s pledge will include $650 million in new military aid to Ukraine over the next three years.
Trudeau has previously accused American politics of influencing Canadian public opinion.
Earlier this year, the prime minister blamed the “American right wing” for Canadian Muslims’ opposition to gender ideology and LGBTQ curriculum in K-12 education.
WATCH: Justin Trudeau Flips Out When Asked about Seeking Peace in Ukraine
