Tom Mulcair: Donald Trump has a long enemies list, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on it
Donald Trump’s election as president could have a profound effect on Canadian trade, manufacturing and immigration.
Trump’s icy relationship with Justin Trudeau could aggravate what already promises to be a very difficult situation for Canada, socially, economically and environmentally.
When Trump was last in power, he started making life much more difficult for asylum seekers in the United States. Seeing a political advantage in the contrast, Justin Trudeau famously tweeted #WelcometoCanada in January, 2017.
What followed was a massive influx of asylum seekers who arrived mostly through an irregular border crossing at Roxham Road, south of Montreal. It quickly became a political hotspot that exacerbated relations between the Quebec provincial government and Ottawa.
After years of refusing to see the problem, Trudeau was finally forced to act, but the unplanned massive increase in new arrivals, including those now pouring in from the U.S., became a major cause of the decline of his political fortunes across our country.
Trudeau had bought into a theory that Canada should aim to have a population of 100 million by the end of the century. The problem was, this massive increase in our population (from 36 million when Trudeau came to power in 2015, to nearly 42 million today) came with no planning for health and educational services and, especially, no thought as to the effect it could have on the availability and affordability of housing in Canada.
Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives have been feasting on that failure and it has contributed mightily to their increased support among Canadians.
That influx into Canada, provoked by Trump and exacerbated by Trudeau, could become a tsunami of new arrivals in Trump’s second term. If, as he’s promised to do, Trump shuts down his southern border and starts expelling illegal aliens and asylum seekers, Canada could see even larger numbers crossing our own border.
Canada will rightfully treat asylum seekers in accordance with our international obligations, but the political price in Canada could be very high.
Trump has also promised to increase tariffs on manufactured goods entering the United States. That could potentially hurt all provinces, but Quebec and Ontario could be particularly hard hit. Not good news for Trudeau who keeps swearing that he’s running in the next election.
The Beauce region of Quebec, south of Quebec City, runs to the U.S. border. It has traditionally tended to vote Conservative more than the rest of the province. Proximity to the U.S. and a very entrepreneurial mindset are part of the reasons for this region’s distinctiveness.
It will be interesting to see if voters in other regions turn to the Conservatives as a bulwark against Trump’s plans.
Several Liberals I’ve spoken with have expressed the view that Canadians would want to keep Trudeau as prime minister, because he would provide such a stark contrast to Trump.
That’s wishful thinking. When Trump made his one and only trip to Canada, to a G-7 meeting in Charlevoix, Que., Trudeau decided to take potshots at Trump right after he left the meeting.
Problem for Trudeau was that Trump was still on Air Force One and heard his remarks. He derided Trudeau for having been nice to him, face to face, then carping about him once his back was turned.
Trump has a very long enemies list and Trudeau has been on it ever since. Trudeau biographer Stephen Maher nailed it when he described Trudeau’s penchant for “pious scolding.” The thought that Trudeau’s continued scolding of Trump and his policies could somehow be helpful to Canada, seems deluded.
Canada and the United States share a unique, extremely close history and geography. Our economies are also intimately intertwined.
Trump’s disdain for environmental protection will, predictably, be at odds even with Trudeau’s meagre attempts to do something to reduce greenhouse gases in Canada. Trump will see our fossil fuel resources as his own and Trudeau will be singularly ill-equipped to do anything about it.
We’re a long way from Mulroney and Bush coming together to fight acid rain.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets U.S. President Donald Trump at Winfield House in London on Dec. 3, 2019 (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
The coming months will start to provide key indicators as to what’s actually on the horizon in Canada-U.S. relations.
The people Trump chooses to handle key files will provide clues as to how things will play out.
In the meantime, pressure will continue to grow for Trudeau to finally step down and give a new Liberal leader a chance to at least try to develop a less mistrustful relationship with the new American administration.
Tom Mulcair was the leader of the federal New Democratic Party of Canada between 2012 and 2017
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to cut off energy to U.S. in response to Trump's tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to cut off energy supply to the U.S. in response to the tariffs President-elect Donald Trump plans to impose on all Canadian imports.
Elon Musk calls Justin Trudeau 'insufferable tool' in new social media post
Billionaire Elon Musk is calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'an insufferable tool' in a new social media post on Wednesday. 'Won't be in power for much longer,' Musk also wrote about the prime minister on 'X.'
Sask. hockey coach convicted of historic sex crime back on day parole after 'behavioural concerns'
A former WHL coach found guilty last year of sexually assaulting a teen boy is back on day parole.
Settlement reached in complaint over Canada Post layoffs as strike hits four weeks
The union representing Canada Post workers says an unfair labour practice complaint over the company's layoffs has been resolved.
'We are in for more terrorism, not less,' warns Canadian terror expert amid Syria's political chaos
The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime means the ticking time bomb of prisons holding thousands of suspected ISIS members in northeast Syria has become even more unstable, a Canadian terrorism expert warns.
The Body Shop Canada to be sold to Serruya Private Equity
The Body Shop Canada is due to be sold to a company led by the co-founder of frozen yogurt chain Yogen Früz.
Missing 'lost Canadians' deadline creates 'unknowable' number of new citizens: feds
The federal government is asking an Ontario Superior Court for more time to pass citizenship legislation for the "lost Canadians," saying that without an extension an "unknowable" number of people would automatically become citizens next week.
Trudeau will have to 'kiss the ring' to achieve smoother bilateral relations with Trump: John Bolton
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants to get on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's good side for the sake of a smooth bilateral relationship, he'll likely have to be openly deferential, says former U.S. National Security Advisor, John Bolton.
'Fire hazard': Health Canada recalls candles over how they burn
Health Canada announced Wednesday a consumer product recall on candles in ceramic containers due to fire hazards, a release from the agency reads.
Local Spotlight
North Pole post: N.S. firefighters collect letters to Santa, return them by hand during postal strike
Fire departments across Nova Scotia are doing their part to ensure children’s letters to Santa make their way to the North Pole while Canada Post workers are on strike.
'Creatively incredible': Regina raised talent featured in 'Wicked' film
A professional dancer from Saskatchewan was featured in the movie adaptation of Wicked, which has seen significant success at the box office.
Montreal man retiring early after winning half of the $80 million Lotto-Max jackpot
Factor worker Jean Lamontagne, 63, will retire earlier than planned after he won $40 million on Dec. 3 in the Lotto-Max draw.
Man, 99, still at work 7 decades after opening eastern Ontario Christmas tree farm
This weekend is one of the busiest of the year for Christmas tree farms all over the region as the holidays approach and people start looking for a fresh smell of pine in their homes.
Saskatoon honours Bella Brave with birthday celebration
It has been five months since Bella Thompson, widely known as Bella Brave to her millions of TikTok followers, passed away after a long battle with Hirschsprung’s disease and an auto-immune disorder.
Major Manitoba fossil milestones highlight the potential for future discoveries in the province
A trio of fossil finds through the years helped put Manitoba on the mosasaur map, and the milestone of those finds have all been marked in 2024.
The 61st annual Christmas Daddies Telethon raises more than $559,000 for children in need
The 61st annual Christmas Daddies Telethon continued its proud Maritime tradition, raising more than $559,000 for children in need on Saturday.
Calgary company steps up to help grieving family with free furnace after fatal carbon monoxide poisoning
A Calgary furnace company stepped up big time Friday to help a Calgary family grieving the loss of a loved one.
'A well-loved piece': Historic carousel display from Hudson’s Bay Company store lands at Winnipeg shop
When a carousel setup from the Hudson’s Bay Company became available during an auction, a Winnipeg business owner had to have it.