Donald Trump once again raised the idea of making Canada 51 on social media on Wednesdaye American state, speaking of this possibility as an “excellent idea”, while the country is in the midst of a political crisis.
Canadians would “save massively on taxes and military protection.” I think it’s a great idea. 51st State!!! », added the American president-elect on his Truth social platform.
“Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51e State,” he also said. A poll conducted last week by the Leger Institute showed that 13% of Canadians would like their country to become a state of the United States.
Mr. Trump made his first remark on the “51e State” during a dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in late November.
During this meeting, the American president-elect joked that if Canada could not survive the 25% customs duties, it could become the 51st American state, according to the Fox News channel.
Since then, he has, on several occasions, described the head of the Canadian government as governor in messages posted on social networks, a title designating in the United States the head of the executive of a federated state.
Political crisis
These posts were very poorly received in the Canadian political class, who saw them as humiliation, even threats, from the United States.
And this worries Canadians all the more as the country is in the middle of a political crisis after the surprise resignation on Monday of the number 2 of the government, due to differences with Justin Trudeau on how to manage the economic war which is looming with the powerful American ally.
The intention of the elected American president to increase customs duties to 25% with his Mexican and Canadian neighbors has created a shock wave in Canada, whose first partner is the United States, where 75% of its exports go.
In terms of employment, nearly 2 million people in Canada depend on exports out of a population of approximately 41 million.
Justin Trudeau’s former advisor, Gerry Butts, judged on social networks that Donald Trump “hits where it hurts.”
While it is true that the idea of closer integration with the United States has already been discussed, “nothing could be a greater obstacle to this idea than Donald Trump in power in Washington”, explains Max Cameron, professor of political science at the University of British Columbia.
According to him, “this is all part of a form of intimidation which is his way of approaching negotiations”.
Dominic LeBlanc, the new Minister of Finance since Monday, insisted that despite Donald Trump’s impromptu declarations, discussions were “productive” with the American president-elect’s team.
Tuesday, with Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, he presented the Canadian plan ($1.3 billion over six years) to better secure the border, as requested by Donald Trump, through increased cooperation with the States. -United and increased investments in surveillance tools (drones, helicopters, etc.).
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