‘ We sit and watch’

Officials urge caution over Tuesday’s vote

It may take long past Tuesday to decide who their next president will be, but for the Canadian officials in charge the last time America’s choice was disputed, the advice to the Liberal government is simple: Stay quiet.

Americans go to the polls Tuesday, but with so many voters choosing to cast their ballots through the mail it could take days to determine a winner.

On top of that, U. S. President Donald Trump has made it clear he could contest election results in the courts, potentially setting up a weeks- long timetable to come to a clear result. He has suggested in advance he believes mail- in ballots will lead to fraud.

The 2000 U. S. election was similarly stuck for weeks without a winner as the result in Florida was subject to recounts and court challenges ultimately ending in mid- December when the Supreme Court issued a decision suspending a recount and paving the way for President

George W. Bush to take office. Then vice- president Al Gore conceded shortly after the court decision and Bush took office in January.

Eddie Goldenberg was a senior adviser to then prime minister Jean Chrétien at the time. He said they knew instinctively to stay out of the fray down south and he suspects Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will do the same.

“It’s for the Americans to decide who has won, that’s not for another country to decide who has won. I’m sure the prime minister would be very careful on that,” he said. “There’s not a lot that any other country can do. We sit and watch.”

John Manley had just taken over as foreign minister just before the 2000 election and said Canada had no choice but to stay quiet.

“In 2000, we waited it out. I mean, there was counting going on in Florida until the very end.”

Chrétien called Bush on Dec. 14 to offer his congratulations after Gore conceded and the court cases were resolved.

Michael Kergin, Canada’s ambassador in Washington at the time, said the embassy kept a close eye on things, but they had little to say in public. He said they got advice and information about how the Florida process would play out, but they were careful not to say anything that might indicate favouritism.

“We were getting as much advice as we could from legal people as to how the process was going to unfold,” he said. “We’re being pretty quiet and pretty discreet. And I suspect that’s what’s going to happen with this government as well.”

Kergin said the embassy also had information about both candidates policies, so the government could be prepared for whoever came to office and he is confident the current embassy staff will have done the same.

Trudeau said last week he has confidence in the American system and will wait until the dust clears before having anything to say.

“We will of course be watching Election Day unfold in the United States with confidence in American democracy and their democratic traditions that have managed this event every four years for a very, very long time successfully.”

Goldenberg said as much as 2000 was a disputed election, both sides respected the process and it was easier for Canada to stay on the sidelines until the issues were settled.

“It’s not analogous at all to what’s happening now, because both Gore and Bush had respect for American institutions.”

Manley said many might still disagree about the result in 2000, but it was a clear choice and everyone involved respected the process.

“After the Supreme Court decision, Al Gore came out and said, It’s over. It’s time for the healing to begin. It was, in my view, a great moment in American democracy.”

He said he worries about the challenge ahead because Trump doesn’t appear to respect the rules.

“We have a president who is somewhat unfamiliar with objective fact. I mean, he creates realities out of his head,” he said. “I think it’s a lot trickier situation than we faced then.”

Both Goldenberg and Manley say that when the election is settled, Canada should be quick to reach out. Manley said the relationship is simply too important to wait a long time to connect with the new administration.

“I remember very clearly, because it happened to be my daughter’s birthday. We were in the White House for dinner on February 5, so less than two weeks after the inauguration.”

Goldenberg said there will be tensions between Canada and the U. S., but he believes it will be easier to manage the relationship with a Biden win.

“You’ll be dealing with people you can disagree with, and you can talk to.”

We have a president who is somewhat unfamiliar with objective fact.