IS PRESIDENT TRUMP A THREAT TO CANADA’S SOVEREIGNTY?
U.S. President Donald Trump and his hatchetmen are nightmare house guests. They arrive late, leave early, slam their host and then move on to suck up to one of the world’s most vicious dictators.
Thousands of words have already been said and written about what is likely the most bizarre diplomatic incident in Canadian history.
My favourite, so far, is this Twitter blast from Roland Paris, Trudeau’s former foreign policy adviser:
“Big tough guy once he’s back on his airplane. Can’t do it in person, and knows it, which makes him feel weak.
“So he projects these feelings onto Trudeau and then lashes out at him. You don’t need to be Freud. He’s a pathetic little manchild.”
That’s the public Trump many Canadians have come to see as half-crazy. His actions so often make no sense.
But if there’s method to them, it’s far worse.
Trump is a man of grand dreams for dismantling the postwar western world. He’s always at this job, knocking out brick after brick, cheering Brexit, applauding nativist victories in Europe, promoting crackpot theories and employing bobblehead fanatics (“special place in hell,” etc.).
But what, exactly, would he put in place of the western system?
Consider his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, his affection for random auto- crats, his contempt for western leaders — followed now by this vicious attack on America’s oldest friend and militarily negligible neighbour — and you have to wonder what he has in store for Canada.
Here we stand, underbelly exposed, the geographic link between the U.S. and Russia.
Putin has long coveted Arctic territory. Among many other temptations, we offer an eternal energy and water supply for the U.S.
Trump now says Canada is a national security risk to the U.S. He evokes the War of 1812. Trudeau is a backstabber. How many hints do we need?
You might think I’m the one who’s nuts for even hinting at a U.S. plan to undermine Canadian sovereignty, perhaps in collusion with Russia.
But somewhat to my surprise, the scenario doesn’t provoke outright scorn among people whose official job it is to monitor Trump.
We should also recall that Manifest Destiny, the 19th-century belief that God wants the U.S. to govern all of North America, was once a powerful force. This is not an alien thought in U.S. life.
Meanwhile, our politicians have to deal with Trump day by day, hoping to save the Canadian economy.
Ironically, the threat is momentarily good for Canadian unity.
Asked Tuesday what she thought of this shocking diplomatic betrayal, Premier Rachel Notley said:
“It’s obviously very clear that the position of the United States in terms of its relationship with Canada is a problem. It’s a problem that’s very troubling. We’ve seen it coming.
“We will continue to work with the federal government. One of the strengths that Canada brings to the table is that we actually do work collaboratively as a country, particularly when we need to.”
Notley says Trudeau has encouraged all premiers to fan out in key U.S. states to build relationships and make the case for free trade.
As you’d expect, the mere fact of this effort appears to irritate Trump. He is not a fan of independent power centres or foreigners undermining him on his own territory.
Notley added:
“We will keep doing that because, quite frankly, it’s not my view that the remarks that we’ve seen in the last 48 or 72 hours reflect a majority of opinion of Americans.
“And so we need to continue to work with those folks who understand that strong working relationship.”
Obviously, the current focus of Trudeau and the premiers is on the danger Trump poses to the economy.
But maybe we should start thinking about a much bigger problem.