Conservative MP Jamil Jivani’s Washington trip faces skepticism in Ottawa

By Canadian Press on February 4, 2026.

WASHINGTON — Conservative MP Jamil Jivani’s mission to Washington is meeting with some skepticism in Ottawa today.

When asked about the Bowmanville-Oshawa North MP’s trip to the U.S. capital to meet with political and business figures, Prime Minister Mark Carney pointed out that Jivani is neither the minister of international trade nor the Conservative trade critic.

Carney said Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc did brief the Conservative MP before his departure.

Jivani is a longtime friend of U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and, in a video posted to social media Tuesday, the MP said he has “something to offer to help build bridges of communication between our two countries.”

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said she hopes Jivani speaks in the U.S. about the closure of an automobile plant in his riding.

Joly said Jivani’s constituents are facing the burden of unjustifiable tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 4, 2026.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press

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