CANADA IS NOT THE 51ST STATE

A strong Canada. A fair relationship. Respect for our neighbours.

Canada is America’s largest export market. For generations, our two countries have built businesses, created jobs and supported families through a trading relationship that benefited both sides of the border.

That is why Donald Trump’s decision to launch a trade war against Canada is so difficult to understand. We are not an enemy. We are a neighbour, an ally and a trusted trading partner who has stood beside the United States through difficult times.

But the consequences are real. Tariffs disrupt businesses, threaten jobs and increase costs. And it is not just Canadians who suffer. Ordinary Americans, already struggling with the cost of living, can also pay more for goods and materials when trade is disrupted. Workers and small businesses on both sides of the border are caught in the middle of a political decision they did not make.

I have empathy for those Americans. They are our neighbours, and many are facing the same economic pressures as Canadian families. We should never confuse the decisions of a government with the worth of the people it represents.

Even the American people think it is stupid

Justin Wolfers (above left)is a Professor of Economics and a Professor of Public Policy at the University of Michigan and a Visiting Professor at the UNSW calls it Bonkers.

But friendship requires trust, and trust requires respect.

Canada must respond by strengthening our economy, expanding trade with other countries and reducing our excessive dependence on a single market. Mark Carney’s message about diversifying Canadian trade has resonated with people across the country, including in Alberta. That should tell us something important: protecting Canada’s economic independence is a national interest.

We do not need to turn our backs on the American people. We need to protect our own future while leaving the door open to a fair and respectful relationship.

I want to see a strong, united Canada that can stand on its own feet, defend its interests and choose its partners freely and our current government is thinking big and representing us on the world stage in a positive manner. All of Canada has to support this vision for it to work.

We are Canadians. We are not the 51st state. We can stand firm without hatred, show strength without arrogance, and defend our country without losing our empathy for the people on the other side of the border.

That is the Canada I believe in.