Washington (Rajeev Sharma): Conservative MP Jamil Jivani said he held meetings with senior officials from the Trump administration during an independent visit to Washington, describing the trip as an effort to improve strained Canada–U.S. trade relations.
In a post on social media platform X, the Ontario MP said he had “productive meetings” with officials from the White House and the U.S. State Department, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump had a message for Canadians.
“The President asked me to pass along a message: ‘Tell the Canadians I love them,’” Jivani wrote, saying he would share more details later.
Jivani, who shares a long-standing friendship with U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance from their time at Yale Law School, said he believes he can help build communication channels between the two countries. In a video message, he stated that he has “something to offer” in strengthening bilateral dialogue.
The MP said he had offered to collaborate with the Liberal government ahead of his trip but felt his outreach was ignored. Prime Minister Mark Carney, however, said Jivani had been briefed by Canada–U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, while stressing that the government remains in constant contact with U.S. officials through its own diplomatic channels.
“Mr. Jivani is not the trade critic for the Opposition, nor the minister of international trade or the prime minister,” Carney said, adding that the government has an extensive network of contacts with the U.S. administration.
Responding to this, Jivani said he had exchanged emails with LeBlanc but had not yet spoken with him directly despite weeks of effort. He said a meeting is being planned for next week to brief the minister on his Washington discussions and expressed hope of speaking directly with the prime minister to move beyond media exchanges.
During his visit, Jivani plans to meet representatives from General Motors and other major automotive and manufacturing firms. He is also scheduled to attend the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event in Washington attended by political leaders and influential figures from across the globe.
Jivani has shared multiple emails with media outlets showing his attempts to reach out to the prime minister and senior Liberal MPs since mid-December. In his correspondence, he called for bipartisan cooperation on trade issues, particularly as the Canada–U.S.–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) approaches its review in 2026.
He also criticised growing political divisiveness in Ottawa, warning that internal party conflicts and high-profile floor-crossings risk undermining national unity at a critical moment for trade negotiations.
While some Conservatives have welcomed Jivani’s outreach, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly expressed skepticism, saying she had not seen him strongly defend Canadian autoworkers affected by layoffs linked to U.S. trade pressures.
Jivani, whose riding has been impacted by recent GM layoffs, said his goal is to convey urgency to U.S. decision-makers about the consequences of tariffs and trade uncertainty on Canadian jobs.
