In a significant political development in Canada, opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has emerged as a leading choice for Canadians as the next prime minister, with his party gaining traction in opinion polls for the general elections set for 2025. Poilievre, who leads the Conservative Party, did not mince his words when criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s handling of diplomatic relations with India and the global community.
The diplomatic rift between Canada and India has raised eyebrows, with Poilievre asserting that Trudeau is “not worth the cost after eight long years” in office. The Conservative leader stated that Trudeau’s leadership has not only polarized Canadians but also eroded Canada’s standing on the world stage, with India now regarding him as a “laughing stock.”
Addressing a wide range of foreign policy issues, Poilievre expressed his intention to restore a “professional relationship” with the Indian government, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive and constructive rapport with the world’s largest democracy.
“This is another example of how Justin Trudeau is not worth the cost after eight long years. He has turned Canadians against each other at home, and he has blown up our relations abroad. He is so incompetent and unprofessional that now we are in major disputes with every major power in the world, and that includes India,” Poilievre stated in an interview with Nepalese media outlet Namaste Radio Toronto.
The opposition leader further accused Trudeau’s administration of allowing China to interfere within Canada’s borders and criticized the way U.S. President Joe Biden handled his Canadian counterpart. “After eight years of Trudeau, our reputation is in tatters. Beijing is interfering in our country, opening police stations in Canada to abuse our people. Justin Trudeau is considered a laughing stock in India, the world’s biggest democracy. President Biden is walking all over Trudeau and treating him like a doormat and slapping him around like a rag doll,” Poilievre claimed.
The leader of the Conservative Party also took the opportunity to mention a widely criticized incident where a Nazi was present in the Canadian Parliament while the President of Ukraine visited, describing it as an “incredible embarrassment.”
On the issue of the vandalization of a Hindu temple and rising Hinduphobia in Canada, Poilievre expressed strong condemnation. He highlighted that the Conservative Party shares Hindu values of faith, family, and freedom, which include the freedom to worship without fear and vandalism. He advocated for criminal charges against those responsible for attacking Hindu temples and individuals, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom and tolerance.
A recent poll conducted for Canadian news platform Global News indicated that 40% of Canadians prefer Pierre Poilievre as the next prime minister, while only 31% favored Justin Trudeau, reflecting the growing popularity of the opposition leader as the 2025 elections draw closer.
The deteriorating relations between India and Canada stem from Prime Minister Trudeau’s recent statement in the parliament, where he alleged “credible allegations” linking the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar to the “agents of the Government of India.” In response, Canada announced the withdrawal of 41 diplomats from India, citing concerns over the alleged revocation of diplomatic immunity for its diplomats, a move India argued was consistent with international norms.
As the Canadian political landscape becomes more dynamic, the criticism from the opposition leader is likely to intensify, putting pressure on the Trudeau government to address these diplomatic challenges and rebuild Canada’s reputation on the world stage.
Sources By Agencies
