Conservative MP Jamil Jivani, a longtime friend of U.S Vice-President JD Vance, is in Washington this week to advocate for Canada-U.S. relations after multiple unsuccessful emails to members of the Liberal front bench.

The Bowmanville-Oshawa North MP says he plans to meet with General Motors representatives and other automotive and manufacturing heavyweights. He will also attend the National Prayer Breakfast in the U.S. capital on Thursday — an annual gathering of thousands of politicians and power brokers.

"I'm reaching out to everyone I know," Jivani said, adding that he is still confirming meetings with political contacts throughout the week.

Canadian politicians across the spectrum have attended the prayer breakfast in previous years. But Jivani is offering his unique experience as a friend of Vance. The pair met at Yale Law School and have maintained a friendship.

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[–] snoons@lemmy.ca 15 points 1 month ago (3 children)

A prayer breakfast? Wtf?

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It's a huge picking tradition in the US and a great example of how separation of church and state has been eroded away. Recent Democratic presidents also attended, I'm pretty sure.

[–] Corngood@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago

Is it the reactionary version of drag brunch?

He will also attend the National Prayer Breakfast in the U.S. capital on Thursday — an annual gathering of thousands of politicians and power brokers.

Why are you praying? You're the ones with actual fucking power. It's the rest of us that should be praying for you to do something useful.

[–] swordgeek@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago

The National Prayer Breakfast is a HUGE deal. Every president since Ike has attended. It is a deeply evangelical event, withh thousands of attendees. And it's appalling.

[–] RaskolnikovsAxe@lemmy.ca 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There is nothing in this guy's history or demeanour that suggests he is going to represent Canada in a nonpartisan fashion. Based on everything I've heard him say in the past I'd say his judgement is questionable, and this

But Jivani is offering his unique experience as a friend of Vance.

does nothing to improve on that assessment.

Does anyone really believe he's going to go and advocate for Canada? Or is he going to advocate for his party?

[–] Threeskittiesinatrenchcoat@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The CPC have been clear, they see the problem of US aggression as an LPC issue. The CPC has always advocated for giving Trump everything he wants, just have to remember with all of their statements, they come from a place that believes Trumps rhetoric that Canada would be a greater, stronger country through submission to his demands.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 month ago

Jivani is an asshole.

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 month ago

This might be some internal popularity repositioning to have his name elevated in people's memories for after PP loses a hypothetical election this year.

[–] dermanus@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago

Who the fuck is he to represent Canada? He's not even in the governing party. I'd be curious if he has the blessing of the CPC leadership to do this.

Being friends with the slimiest guy in US politics is not a selling point.

[–] asg101@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago

He can stay there, Canada would be better off.