Former prime minister Stephen Harper is reportedly planning a trip to the White House next week, bucking convention by not informing the Canadian government of his visit.
CTV says emails they have obtained show U.S. officials are expecting Harper to visit Washington on July 2, one day after Canada's retaliatory tariffs on imports of a wide range of U.S. goods and as well as steel and aluminum are set to come into effect.
The broadcaster reports Harper is planning to meet with U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was the U.S. ambassador to the UN when Harper was prime minister.
However, CTV says the purpose of Harper's meeting is not clear.
The visit to the U.S. capital comes amid heightened tensions between Canada and the U.S. with the prospect of a trade war.
U.S. President Donald Trump and other administration officials have also engaged in personal attacks against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on political talk shows and social media.
Comments
Stephen Harper was quoted awhile back stating that he could be PM again with no trouble. Considering 2019 is coming up, perhaps Andrew Sheer should be worried. I expect he was always seen a placeholder anyway.
It's also concerning to see Harper thumbing his nose at convention. He would have had a first-rate fit if anyone had done that on his watch. This is not a personal visit. He's looking at getting the Trumpians in line to make sure we go right at the next election. I'd like to think Canadians wouldn't fall for the nonsense but Ontario did. We need electoral reform ASAP.
When will this political troll stop bedeviling us?