VANCOUVER, British Columbia — President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks that Canada ought to change into the 51st state drew condemnation and a patriotic outburst Saturday from a former Canadian prime minister who provided blunt recommendation to the incoming American chief: “Shake your head!”
Jean Chrétien, who was Canadian prime minister from 1993 to 2003, has joined the refrain of officers from the United States’ northern neighbor who say Trump’s remarks are now not a joke and will undermine America’s closest ally.
Canada would by no means comply with change into a part of the United States, Chrétien wrote in an article printed in The Globe and Mail newspaper, celebrating his 91st birthday.
He extolled his nation’s love of independence and stated Trump’s remarks amounted to “completely unacceptable insults and unprecedented threats” to Canadian sovereignty.
“To Donald Trump, from one previous man to a different, shake your head!” Chretien stated. “What may make you suppose that Canadians would ever surrender the very best nation on this planet – and make no mistake, that is what we’re – to affix the United States?
Trump has launched expansionist rhetoric not solely in opposition to Canada but additionally different U.S. allies, arguing that the frontiers of American energy have to be prolonged to the Danish territory of Greenland, and southward to incorporate the Panama Canal.
And whereas many European leaders have been measured of their response, Canadians haven’t held again.
“If you suppose that threatening us and insulting us will win us over, you actually know nothing about us,” Chrétien wrote within the article. “We could appear easygoing, well mannered. But make no mistake, we now have spine and tenacity.
The United States imports about 60% of its crude oil from Canada, which can also be the highest export vacation spot for 36 US states. Every day, items and providers value almost C$3.6 billion ($2.7 billion) cross the border.
Canadian officers have spoken to new Trump administration officers about rising border safety in an effort to keep away from a sweeping 25% tariff that Trump has threatened to impose on all Canadian merchandise.
When Trump imposed greater tariffs throughout his first time period, different nations responded with retaliatory tariffs. Canada introduced billions in new tariffs in 2018 in opposition to the United States in a response to new taxes on Canadian metal and aluminum.
