The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, accused the Conservatives on Friday of “turning their backs on Ukraine” by behaving like “right-wing and far-right” politicians who invoke “reasons provided by Vladimir Putin”.
According to him, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s explanation that his troops voted against a free trade agreement with Ukraine earlier this week because the bill favors carbon pricing is a “absurd” and “ridiculous” excuse that hides “the real story”.
“It is indeed the rise of the American right and the right almost everywhere in the world which demonstrates its influence that all Conservative MPs in Canada voted against Ukraine,” he said during a press conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where the Canada-European Union Leaders’ Summit was taking place.
While in Toronto the day before, Mr. Poilievre told journalists that carbon pricing in Ukraine would hinder its economic recovery.
“It’s cruel and frankly disgusting that Trudeau’s ideological obsession with taxing the working class, seniors and suffering families took precedence over what should have been a free trade agreement,” he said. .
However, Ukraine has had a price on pollution for years and its ambassador to Canada is urging Ottawa to adopt the bill.
According to Mr. Trudeau, it is “very worrying” that the Conservatives, who until recently were among “the biggest defenders of Ukraine”, are changing their tune like the “MAGA Republicans”, a a reference to the political slogan “Make America Great Again” popularized by Donald Trump during his presidential campaign.
“Not only Ukrainian Canadians, but all Canadians should be concerned when the Conservative Party of Canada and Pierre Poilievre turn their backs on history, turn their backs on our friends and allies, turn their backs on rules-based international order and our support for the United Nations Charter and territorial integrity,” he sent.