“Wake up! What makes you think that Canadians would ever give up the best country in the world — and make no mistake, that’s what we are — to join the United States? affirms Mr. Chrétien in a letter published in The Press in this pugnacious style which was the trademark of the “little guy from Shawinigan” during his long political career in Ottawa.
President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump. (Evan Vucci/Archives Associated Press)
Taking up his pen on his 91st birthday, the former prime minister speaks out against the “totally unacceptable insults and [les] unprecedented threats against our sovereignty” made by Donald Trump since his victory in the presidential election on November 5.
Among other things, Mr. Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products upon his return to power on January 20, called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “governor of the 51st state”, and recently claimed to want to annex Canada using “economic force”, while evoking the use of military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Faced with these threats, Jean Chrétien calls for the unity of political leaders in the country to defend Canadian sovereignty tooth and nail and for consultation with states threatened by the expansionist aims expressed by President Trump.
Despite his venerable age, the former prime minister says he is ready to step up to the plate himself to defend the independence of Canada “as I have done all my life”, recalling the battles he fought to defend the unity of the country during the two referendums on sovereignty in Quebec.
A country that stands out
In his open letter to Donald Trump, Mr. Chrétien maintains that Canadians have built over the years a country that is distinguished by openness to others, tolerance and compassion and “which is the envy of the world” . In addition, Canadians have a social safety net that aims to reduce social inequalities and protect the most vulnerable.
“Maybe it’s not the “American way” or the “Trump way.” But this is the reality I have witnessed and experienced throughout my long life. […] I can tell you that Canadians value their independence. We love our country,” said the former prime minister.
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and American President George W. Bush, in Detroit, in 2002. In 2003, Jean Chrétien announced that Canada would not participate in the war in Iraq despite pressure from the United States. (Carlos Osorio/Archives Associated Press)
“If you think threatening and insulting us is going to change our minds, you really don’t know us. You don’t know that when it came to fighting in two world wars for freedom, we signed up — both times — years before your country. We fought and we made enormous sacrifices,” he recalled.
“We also had the courage to say no to your country when it tried to drag us into a totally unjustified and destabilizing war in Iraq.”
— Excerpt from the letter from Jean Chrétien, former Prime Minister of Canada
And he issued a warning to the next tenant of the White House. “We can appear easy-going and gentle. But make no mistake, we are determined and tough.”
Go on the offensive
Mr. Chrétien believes that Donald Trump’s “blackmail” has already united Canadians more than ever in the face of this “new existential threat.” “Since Trump’s attacks, all political parties have come out in favor of Canada. In fact, to my great satisfaction, even the Bloc Québécois defends Canada!”
Jean Chrétien and former American president Bill Clinton, during a conference in Montreal, in 2017. (Bernard Brault/Archives La Presse)
However, political leaders must show leadership and go on the offensive to “reduce our vulnerability”. According to him, the old formulas according to which Canada is the best ally and the most important trading partner of the United States will not work.
Canadian leaders must do this, according to him, by making the American authorities understand, for example, that Canada also has grievances about the border through which the vast majority of illegal weapons used by organized crime enter Canadian territory.
Canada must also take the necessary steps to assert its sovereignty in the Northwest Passage, in the Arctic region.
Mr. Chrétien also urges political leaders to abolish trade barriers between provinces and strengthen economic ties by creating a real energy network across the country.
“We must also understand that Donald Trump is not only threatening us, he is also targeting a growing number of other countries as well as the European Union itself. He’s only just getting started. Canada should quickly organize a meeting of the leaders of Denmark, Panama, Mexico and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to formulate a plan to combat these threats,” he said.
“Every time Mr. Trump opens his mouth, he creates new allies for all of us. Let’s get organized! To combat raw and unconscionable power, we need strength in numbers. The challenge is not to wait in fear for Donald Trump’s next move, but to build a country and an international community capable of resisting him.”
