Mr. Trudeau goes to Washington
In two days, Justin Trudeau faces one of the biggest and hardest tests in his political life.
He will fly to Washington, D.C., not to dine with the amiable, obliging Barack Obama as he did a year ago, but to venture into the snarling lion’s den that is the White House of Donald Trump.
This will be the first face-to-face meeting between Canada’s suave young Liberal prime minister and the volatile, protectionist conservative who was sworn in as America’s president less than a month ago.
It will also be Trudeau’s first and best opportunity to make a favourable impression on the president and establish a productive relationship with him that serves the interests of both nations. How should he play it? With anti-Trump sentiment running high in this country, many Canadians want Trudeau to get tough with the imperious new chief executive.
A Nanos poll released this week revealed 58 per cent of Canadians surveyed believe Trudeau should stand up to Trump’s protectionism — even if it ignites a trade war.
Opposition New Democrats, meanwhile, are urging the PM to denounce Trump’s mistreatment of minorities.
But this is not an encounter Trudeau can win by lacing up his boxing gloves and going toe-to-toe with Trump. This is a time for him to rationally advance Canada’s interests while diplomatically defending Canadian values. This is a time for him to be cool, calm but also firm.
Trump and Trudeau are as different as chalk and cheese, with sharply contrasting views on everything from abortion, immigration and globalization to how to handle Russia.
But on Monday, Trudeau should show Trump the common ground the two leaders and the two countries occupy. He should tell Trump he shares the president’s commitment to helping the middle classes.
He should remind the president Canada is the top export market for 35 American states and nine million American jobs depend on that trade.
He should be ready to defend Canada’s openness to refugees — including those from Syria — even if Trump disagrees. And he should have an answer prepared if Trump demands that Canada increase its military spending or join a new antiterrorism campaign.
The prime minister has laid the groundwork for this meeting.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan were in the U.S. this week spreading the word that Canada is a good neighbour, essential trading partner and staunch military ally for America.
Getting Trump to hear this message must be Trudeau’s highest priority.
Based on his record since becoming prime minister, Trudeau should be up for the challenge.
The real unknown quantity in all this is the notoriously unpredictable and thin-skinned Trump. He has already ruffled feathers in the Chinese government, frightened European allies, provoked Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto into cancelling a trip to Washington and angrily hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Canadians can expect Trudeau will behave like a statesman Monday. But in the dance of bilateral affairs, it takes two to tango.