As Canadians prepare to vote in the federal election on Monday, U.S. Canada’s party leaders emphasized once more that they will fight to protect the country’s auto industry and sovereignty as President Donald Trump has resumed his attacks. Before reiterating his claim that Canada ought to be a state in the United States, Trump told reporters on Wednesday that it was possible that cars produced in Canada would be subject to his 25% tariffs, which “could go up.” While the president’s escalation of his trade war on Canada and countries around the world has continued throughout the federal campaign, his rhetoric around Canada’s sovereignty has largely quieted during the past several weeks.
Last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump still wants Canada to become the 51st state, but Trump said on Wednesday that he still wants it. I have to be honest, as a state, it works great,” Trump said. “As a nation, considering the fact that, you know, 95 per cent of Canada, what they do is they buy from us, and they sell to us … it doesn’t make sense. If we needed something, that would be a different subject.”
Trump’s comments came weeks after his first call with Prime Minister Mark Carney in March.Carney, who is running in the election as Liberal party leader but remains prime minister of a caretaker government, reiterated on Thursday that it would “never happen,” noting he told this to Trump in that phone call.
“The president has certain things in his mind that he reverts back to all the time,” Carney told reporters.
“He raises it all the time, OK, but then the question is what’s going to be done with it and does he understand where we stand, but more particularly where I stand, he is under no illusions: never, absolutely not, never, move on.” He continued to promote the party’s strategy. “It gives us leverage in the negotiation, we don’t have to deal in the short term, we will do the right deal,” he said.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters in Halifax that his party, if elected to government, would defend Canada’s sovereignty.
“We will never be an American state and we will focus on what we can control,” Poilievre said.
“It’s time to put Canada first for a change with a new Conservative government that will slash taxes, build homes, unleash resources, reduce crime, and bring back jobs to stand strong against Trump.”
After Trump revives 51st state rhetoric, party leaders stress ‘not ever’
