Donald Trump had a wide spectrum of agendas when he took over as the 47th President of the United States at the beginning of this year — some ambitious, a few even vicious. However, being instrumental in Canada’s political landscape and turning around the fortunes of Liberal Party wasn’t one of them.
On March 14, Justin Trudeau formally stepped down as the Prime Minister of Canada to make way for Mark Carney. For his win, Carney has Donald Trump to thank for. A through and through political rookie, an outsider with no political background, Carney made it to the post riding on the promise and potential of being able to “take on Trump.” Carney marketed his experience as the former governor of two G7 central banks and how that made him the best candidate to deal with the US President. “There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy. He’s attacking Canadian workers, families and businesses. We can’t let him succeed,” said Carney to loud whistles and cheers at a party gathering, after he took over from Trudeau. “My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect.”
A trade war with the US and Trump’s never ending controversial statements on Canada helped Carney. In Trump’s efforts to reshape global trade, Canada not only became the key target, but got called the “nastiest country to deal with,” and even got mocked and threatened as the US’ “51st state.” The very things that upended the fate of The Liberals. On his tenth day in office, the Canadian PM announced snap elections to be held on April 28.
Also read: Shattering of the Canadian 'dream'
Since January 20, the anti Trump sentiment in Canada has been intensifying among the masses, out of both fear and the threats. In the beginning of March, at a protest outside Canada’s Parliament building in Ottawa, dozens of Canadians held up signs protesting Trump and surprisingly with no mention of domestic politics. Ever since elections were announced, Canada’s social media has been filled with hopes of a new leader who will “stop Canada from going into recession and put Trump in his place.”
The US President’s planned 25 per cent tariff on vehicle imports, scheduled to come into effect on 2nd April, could create havoc for the Canadian auto industry. A few estimates put the job losses at 500,000. The US has already imposed a blanket 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, 25 per cent duty on all aluminium and steel imports. Canada retaliated by immediately placing a 25 per cent tariff on US imports worth $20bn.
An ugly trade war and the threats to sovereignty haven't been nullified even by a recent productive call between Trump and Carney. Even though on Friday, the US President took to his
social media to update about his “extremely productive call” with the Canadian Prime Minister. “I just finished speaking with the Prime Minister Mark Carney, of Canada. We agree on many things and will be meeting immediately after Canada’s upcoming election to work on elements of politics, business and all other factors that will end up being great for both the United States of America and Canada.” Those monitoring the relations between the two nations, noticed the change in Trump’s tone, the shift from blunt hostility to willingness to cooperate.
Why Donald Trump matters?
Regardless of the softened stance, Trump’s earlier statements have created enough furore among political parties and uproar among people. Experts now say that it’s a fight down to the key ballot question —- which party is best equipped to handle Trump and manage Canada-US ties. In the run up to the four weeks before elections, Carney’s Liberal Party is neck and neck with the Conservatives in polling. A stark contrast to January when The Conservative Party was well on its way to winning a parliamentary majority. At the time, the prediction perfectly aligned with the Liberal Party’s constantly decreasing popularity with a few polls even writing off its complete ouster from the House of Commons, let alone a humiliating defeat. In January, Liberals trailed by 20 or more points but are now giving a tough fight to the official opposition Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre. In the race are four major federal political parties, namely The Liberals, who’ve been in government since 2015, The Conservative Party, the official opposition in national politics, New Democratic Party known for its left leaning, and The Bloc Quebecois.
After the call between Trump and Carney, leader of the Conservatives Pierre Poiliere, said he “hopes” the change in Trump’s tone remains and his softened stand is the case. “We want to put an end to this crazy tariff chaos.” But Poilievre did not lose the opportunity to lambast the Liberals. “It’s clear the president would like to keep the Liberals in power— they’ve been very good for his agenda. He wants to take our money and our jobs and Liberals have helped him do it.”
Another federal party in the running Bloc Quebecois, said that Carney being open to a further comprehensive discussion meant he was open to giving into the pressure of Team Trump. During an interview with a TV news show, earlier in March, Trump called “The Conservative that’s running a no friend of mine.” He also said, “It's easier to deal with a Liberal and maybe they’re going to win, but I don't really care. It doesn’t matter to me at all.” However, the reverse is not the case. Trump matters to Canada and now it seems he also matters in who will finally win the race.
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