Pierre Poilievre went to New York last week to go on CNBC and tell Americans that Canadians feel “wounded” and “confused” by Trump’s tariffs. That’s the pitch. That’s the whole strategy from the man who wants to run the country. Fly to the city where the guy tariffing you keeps a gold tower, get on his favourite channel, and describe your entire population as hurt and bewildered. I’ve seen better negotiating posture from a kid who got his lunch money taken and went back to say “that really stung, man, could you maybe not?”
Meanwhile Carney is in Strasbourg pitching a unique alliance with the European Union — not membership, not begging, an actual structural pivot toward a trading bloc of 450 million people who aren’t currently trying to annex us. The European Parliament is opening an office in Ottawa. New trade doors. A country that acts like it has options because it does. Poilievre’s counter? “We will NEVER be the 28th EU state.” Nobody asked you to be, Pierre. The man heard “alliance” and started yelling about sovereignty like somebody proposed a marriage he wasn’t invited to.
One leader told the bully his people are hurt. The other went and made new friends. If you’re confused about which approach keeps the lights on, you might be the one running for prime minister.