Former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chretien came together with a common message Monday, stressing the importance of national unity, especially amid an ongoing trade war and threats to Canada’s sovereignty by the United States. The two sat down for a 35-minute fireside chat in Ottawa on Monday, discussing the topic of ‘Canada and the World,’ moderated by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). “There are people, obviously, in both parts of the country that think differently,” Harper said, in reference to separatist movements in Alberta and Quebec. “But I think the reality is if the federal government manages this country right, puts the stress on unity and not on ideological tangents, there’s no reason why we can’t pull the country together at this moment.” RCGS CEO John Geiger kicked off the conversation with a question about what the Arctic means to the former prime ministers. Chretien said the region was his portfolio for six years. He was minister of Indian affairs and Northern development from 1968 to 1974 under former prime minister Pierre Trudeau. He said he developed a “great liking to go to the North,” and referenced current U.S. threats to Canadian sovereignty. “I’m happy that it’s clearly Canadian. And now some people look at Canada and would like to take it over from us, but we stand on guard, don’t worry,” he said, to laughter and applause from the crowd. In the last year, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed several times his desire to make Canada the 51st state, ramping up that rhetoric in recent weeks, and referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney as “governor” for the first time. ‘A big shift’ Harper also pointed to U.S. threats in speaking about the Arctic, telling the crowd he believed threats to the region were “actually quite serious” when he took office, but adding he “didn’t anticipate that being our southern neighbour.” The conversation — between two former political rivals — pivoted to talk of sovereignty, nationalism and the need for unity. Chretien said it’s a “very important time in the world,” and called it a “big shift.” “It is probably what I would call the beginning of the end of the American empire,” he said, adding that tensions with the United States have spurred feelings of Canadian pride. “You know, the desire to have a referendum is very low in Quebec. I don’t know what the hell is going on in Alberta,” Chretien said, in reference to a growing separatist movement in Alberta, to more laughter from the crowd. Harper, meanwhile, said this is a time for Canadians to come together, regardless of political stripe. He said for politicians specifically, they have to “pick (their) battles.” “There are times, like now, where you have to decide, ‘we’re not gonna fight about that, we’ll fight about something else,’” he said. “You always need to be fighting about something, because the public needs to be given choices choices, but on big things like Canadian sovereignty, you need to work together.” Ahead of the conversation, Harper received an RCGS Gold Medal, in recognition of his “distinguished career in public service,” according to the organization. Since his electoral defeat in 2015, Harper has kept a relatively low public profile, compared to other past prime ministers. His sit-down with Chretien is taking place the day before Harper’s official portrait is set to be unveiled Tuesday. The former Conservative prime minister will also mark two decades since he formed government this week. He was sworn in on Feb. 6, 2006. With files from CTV News’ Mike Le Couteur, Rachel Aiello and Lynn Chaya
