The leadership campaign of Conservative party hopeful Kellie Leitch is jumping on Donald Trump's surprise U.S. victory to fire a shot at so-called Canadian elites.
On Facebook and in emails to supporters overnight, Leitch called Trump's presidential victory an "exciting message that needs to be delivered in Canada as well."
Her reaction, quickly prompted a strong rebuke from one of her former political staffers, Andrew McGrath, who worked for Leitch when she was a minister in the Harper government.
"I'm so disappointed in you," McGrath wrote on his Twitter account. "You were Status of Women Minister - shame on you."
Got this from my old boss. I'm so disappointed in you, @KellieLeitch. You were Status of Women Minister - shame on you. #cpcldr #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/hYYMYgzvH8
— Andrew McGrath (@a_mcgrath1) November 9, 2016
Leitch has aggressively carved out space in the crowded field to replace former prime minister Stephen Harper as Conservative leader.
Her campaign has proposed screening immigrants for as-yet undefined Canadian values, while criticizing her fellow candidates as out-of-touch elites.
The brashly populist message comes from a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon who served as a minister in the former Harper government.
Canadian opinion polls have suggested a strong pro-Democratic sentiment north of the border but Leitch says she looks forward to working with the Republican president-elect on issues of common concern.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was blandly cautious in the run-up to Tuesday's U.S. vote, saying he would work with whomever the American electorate chose as leader.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Trudeau said Canada looks forward to working "very closely" with Trump, his administration and with the U.S. Congress in the coming years, including on issues like trade, investment, international peace and security.
Keep reading
I'd love to know who Kellie
I'd love to know who Kellie Leitch thinks these elites are. For the last few years, wasn't it Harper and his crew that were serving their interests? And has the composition of this thin layer of Canadian 'cream' changed since Justin Trudeau became PM....Bill Morneau our Minister of Finance?
It's one thing to be a Conservative.....even a conservative on the right wing of the party. It's entirely another, to be whining about the elites you've been serving for years..........and will continue to serve, whatever you have to do to convince the common folk that you share their fears, hatreds, and narrow range of values.
LIke Donald, Kallie may preach to values of the little folk on the right; but in office, it's those dreaded 'elites' they both end up serving. And pointing the thin finger of blame at the 'others' will only work for so long. Sooner or later, it will don on the people that demagogues are allowed to rant, and given media publicity for it, BECAUSE of the elites they serve.
Canadian Values, if they still exist Kallie, are what will defeat you. Equity, not fear of the Other, is what will defeat the elites. Everything else is smoke and mirrors.
I'd love to know who Kellie
I'd love to know who Kellie Leitch thinks these elites are. For the last few years, wasn't it Harper and his crew that were serving their interests? And has the composition of this thin layer of Canadian 'cream' changed since Justin Trudeau became PM....Bill Morneau our Minister of Finance?
It's one thing to be a Conservative.....even a conservative on the right wing of the party. It's entirely another, to be whining about the elites you've been serving for years..........and will continue to serve, whatever you have to do to convince the common folk that you share their fears, hatreds, and narrow range of values.
LIke Donald, Kallie may preach to values of the little folk on the right; but in office, it's those dreaded 'elites' they both end up serving. And pointing the thin finger of blame at the 'others' will only work for so long. Sooner or later, it will don on the people that demagogues are allowed to rant, and given media publicity for it, BECAUSE of the elites they serve.
Canadian Values, if they still exist Kallie, are what will defeat you. Equity, not fear of the Other, is what will defeat the elites. Everything else is smoke and mirrors.
Comments