Conservatives pause hostilities with Liberals on eve of Trump, Trudeau meeting
OTTAWA — The past, present and potential future of the federal Conservative party offered their Liberal rivals an unprecedented show of solidarity Sunday on the eve of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The olive branch, a departure from the usual cut and thrust of party politics, reflects a shared understanding that crosses the traditional partisan divide: that Canadian jobs depend on a strong relationship with the U.S. regardless of who might be residing in the White House.
Recalling one of the tightest relationships between a prime minister and an unpopular president, Derek Burney — a confidante of former Progressive Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney — called his former boss’s relationship with Ronald Reagan “the prime example of getting along with Americans,” one that could prove useful for Trudeau on Monday.
Burney served as chief of staff to and U.S. ambassador for Mulroney, who he said has had “a number of discussions” with Trudeau about Trump, the former prime minister’s longtime neighbour in Palm Beach, Fla.