We’ll get past trade spat, U.S. envoy tells Canadians

OTTAWA — U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy to Canada told guests at her cosier than-usual Fourth of July party in Ottawa on Wednesday night that the countries’ strained relationship will overcome the tough times.

Ambassador Kelly Craft delivered the message with the U.S. and Canada locked in an unprecedented trade dispute.

She made the acknowledgment to hundreds of partygoers, who listened as they sipped cocktails and ate shrimp on the sweeping front lawn of her official residence.

“Canada and the United States have an enduring partnership that I am confident will stand the test of time — and believe me, these are testing times,” Craft told the crowd, which experienced attendees of the annual gathering described as far smaller than past years.

Craft, who was hosting her first Fourth of July party as ambassador, also quoted U.S. president Thomas Jefferson in her remarks to drive home her message.

“I have never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy as a cause for withdrawing from a friend,” she said.

Then she added: “By your presence here tonight, I would assert that we all agree with Jefferson on that fundamental point of friendship.”

With the relationship at a low point, some notable Canadians publicly announced before the event that they would steer clear of the Fourth of July party out of principle.

In past years, the annual Independence Day bash has been the talk of the town, with a guest list that grew to include more than 4,000 people under former ambassador and former Barack Obama appointee Bruce Heyman.

Under successor Craft, however — named to the post by Trump — the guest list had been trimmed to an estimated 1,000 people.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and interim Ontario Liberal leader John Fraser were among those who gave the event a pass, citing trade tensions and ongoing concerns with the Trump administration.

Watson, who usually attends the party, sent his regrets this year, saying he was unhappy about the “constant attacks on our country.” A spokesman for Singh said the NDP leader was invited, but wouldn’t be attending as a show of protest against U.S. policies on trade and immigration.

“While he will not be attending the July 4th celebrations, Mr. Singh knows that it will take more than symbolic gestures to successfully pressure the Trump administration,” James Smith said in an email.