OTTAWA—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 hailed Trump’s presidential victory as an “exciting message that needs to be delivered in Canada as well.”

Rona Ambrose, the interim leader of the Conservative party as it chooses a successor to Stephen Harper, issued a much more low-key message of congratulations to president-elect Trump.

“The United States is, and will remain, Canada’s closest friend and ally,” Ambrose said in a release. “Our unique relationship has stood the test of nearly 150 years.”

Leitch has aggressively carved out space in the crowded field to replace former prime minister Stephen Harper as Conservative leader.

The Collingwood, Ont., MP’s campaign has proposed screening immigrants for as-yet undefined Canadian values, while criticizing her fellow candidates as out-of-touch elites.

“It’s why I’m the only candidate who will ensure that every visitor, immigrant, and refugee will be screened for Canadian values,” said her latest campaign missive.

The brashly populist message comes from a pediatric orthopedic 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.

Conservative party members will get an early chance to assess the 12-person leadership field against the new Trump reality when they face off Wednesday evening in the first leadership debate in Saskatoon.

Andrew McGrath, a former press secretary to Leitch when she was in cabinet, responded to her overnight pitch with disappointment on social media.

“You were status of women minister,” McGrath posted to Leitch on Twitter. “Shame on you.”

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Trump was the focus of a number of allegations of lewd behaviour from women who came forward after an old tape emerged in which he boasted that his star power allowed him to sexually accost women with impunity.

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.