OTTAWA — Canada’s Conservative leader used a rally in Ottawa on Saturday to deliver a message to Donald Trump. “Let me be clear: We will never be the 51st state,” said Pierre Poilievre, warning that he is prepared to defend Canadians against the president at all costs.
“We will bear any burden and pay any price to protect the sovereignty and independence of our country,” he said.
The populist leader had been long favored to win Canada’s next federal election, which could come as soon as spring. But the race has been complicated by the arrival of Trump and by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to step down as soon as his Liberal Party chooses a new leader next month.
Poilievre, who has appealed to Canadians by tackling complex issues with pithy slogans, used a Flag Day rally to reset his campaign in response to tariff threats that have scrambled the political landscape.
Trump has pledged to slap Canada with 25 percent tariffs in response to a growing list of grievances. It started with complaints about what Canadian leaders say are small amounts of fentanyl and illegal migration entering the U.S. from Canada, but has since expanded to include banking, and the trade deficit.
“We are slow to anger and quick to forgive. But never confuse our kindness for weakness,” Poilievre said about Canada. “We are mild-mannered and made of steel.”
Poilievre had focused his “change” campaign on overturning Trudeau’s carbon policy. However since the start of Trump’s trade war a new ballot box question has emerged: Which Canadian leader will best defend their interests against the U.S.?
At his “Canada First” rally, Poilievre tackled the question head-on, laying out his vision for the country should he become prime minister, while leaning heavily on Canadian symbols and its history. He promised to “end cancel culture,” restore national monuments and make it a criminal offense to deface them, to expand Canada’s military and to update the citizenship oath with more patriotic language.
“Sometimes it does take a threat to remind us what we have, what we could lose and what we could become,” Poilievre said, pointing to an upsurge in patriotism.
The Conservative leader said Trump has two options: Work with Canada, or lose it as a friend.
As he defined the choices, Poilievre spoke directly to Americans, saying their “energy-hungry future” can not exist without Canada or its oil, gas and critical minerals. He argued that America’s defense is dependent on Canada’s North.
“Carry out the unprovoked attack on our economy and your consumers will pay more and your workers will make less,” Poilievre said. “Gas prices will skyrocket. You will turn a loyal friend into a resentful neighbor, forced to match tariff with tariff and to seek friends elsewhere. Both our economies will weaken, leaving less money for defense and security and our enemies will grow stronger.”
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When you manage to p*** off Canada, you know you have accomplished something. And oh my but they are not happy. Canadians are boycotting American goods, cancelling vacations to the US and booing our national anthem at sporting events. Since the Second World War the Unites States has managed to accumulate a staggering amount of good will globally. I'm not sure what their objective is, but the current administration with it's bullying behavior and rhetoric seems intent on pouring gasoline all over that and tossing a match.
1 comment:
Having partially grown up in the States, I could never understand why people in my other countries went so star-eyed when they talked about the USA. Having learned more about the USA's foreign aid work in the last month than I did my whole life up till this point, I can understand now. And yes, those bridges are burning. I only hope it isn't too late for Canada to protect itself from its "friend" to the south and the USA's agents within Canada's borders (Polievre, Moe, Smith, Ford, and their ilk).
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