Ambassador Confirms Canada is ‘Ready and Prepared’ for Potential Second Trump Presidency
Canada’s ambassador to the United States has expressed that Ottawa isn’t concerned about the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House.
Ambassador Hillman noted that the Canadian government is well aware of the upcoming U.S. presidential election between incumbent Joe Biden and former President Trump, who is committed to advocating for a staunchly protectionist “America First” trade policy.
“A U.S. presidential election, given the depth of integration between our two countries, is always important,” Hillman said.
“The relationship between our two countries is not about one individual and another individual,” Kirsten Hillman said Tuesday in Philadelphia, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed a conference of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which has members in both Canada and the U.S.
“A U.S. presidential election, given the depth of integration between our two countries, is always important,” Hilmman said.
“But what matters here is that we are ready and prepared and able, as we’ve demonstrated, to work with both of the candidates that are up for election in the fall.”
Hillman, along with Industry Minister Francois Philippe Champagne and International Trade Minister Mary Ng, has been leading the government’s Team Canada approach to prepare for any outcome of the U.S. presidential race.
Hillman, Champagne, Ng, and other federal ministers have been engaging with American business and political leaders at national, state, and local levels to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and address potential sources of tension, such as a possible second Trump administration.
At a cabinet retreat in Montreal in January, Trudeau introduced the Team Canada plans, acknowledging that Trump “represents a certain amount of unpredictability.” He emphasized the need for Canada to handle “whatever gets tossed at us” and to defend Canadian interests within a strong bilateral relationship.
Trudeau reiterated this sentiment in Philadelphia, avoiding direct mention of U.S. politics in his speech to SEIU delegates. Instead, he highlighted his government’s achievements in child care and workers’ rights and the robust cooperation between businesses and trade unions on both sides of the border.
“We must never take for granted the peace, the stability, and the enduring friendship that characterizes the Canada-U.S. relationship,” Trudeau told delegates.
At a later news conference, Trudeau declined to comment on whether Trump was being irresponsible by campaigning on a promise to impose a ten per cent tariff on goods entering the U.S., noting that Canada has faced such policies before.
