The incoming Donald Trump administration and Republicans in Congress still view Canada as a friend and ally, but will continue to pressure Ottawa on tackling border security and defense spending, a senior conservative consultant said.
Georganne Burke, who has worked in American and Canadian politics and supported Trump’s return to the White House, says those two issues in particular will be major sticking points in the relationship between Canada and the United States unless the Liberal government shows a willingness to act in these ways. Trump wants.
“The government has to get serious and understand that (Trump and Republicans) are not asking for anything crazy,” she told Mercedes Stevenson in an interview that aired Sunday. Western bloc. “They’re simply saying: Can you guys do what’s needed at the border, and can you meet your defense requirements?”
“If I were advising our current government, I would say: Take these matters seriously, because if you don’t, there will be a price to pay in terms of your relationship with the United States.”
said Tom Homan, whom Trump recently appointed America’s “border czar.” In an interview last week with 7News in Watertown, New York — a community close to the Ontario border — that there is a “severe national security vulnerability” along the Canada-U.S. border that must be addressed.
Canada has also long been pressed to meet the NATO standard of spending at least 2 per cent of gross domestic product on defence, a target that Ottawa says will not be met until 2032. The parliamentary budget officer has questioned that plan.
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Trump said he would not provide assistance to NATO members who fall short if they are attacked by a foreign adversary such as Russia.
Burke said the Republicans she speaks to in the United States — including congressmen, senators and leaders on the Republican National Committee — have “a lot of affection” for Canada but view the Liberal government as “lax” on border and defense policy at the same time. the time. Similar to how they described the Biden administration and the Democrats.
Addressing crime and “lawlessness” in big cities — a key issue raised by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, with whom Burke is close — is another issue on which she said Trump also wants consensus from Canada.
“He intends to end this in the United States, and he would like to see it end here in Canada as well,” she added.
There have also been concerns among Canadian industry leaders about Trump’s threats to impose a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all foreign imports, which economists say could hurt cross-border trade and lead to higher prices for consumers.
But Burke said Trump intends to use threats of tariffs “strategically” to pressure Canada to take action on the border and on defence.
“These are areas where Trump thinks he might use tariffs a little to punish,” she said. “So he would say, (for example)…” If we have to take on the burden for you on defense, it’s going to cost you money to do it.
“There’s a logic to it, if you think about it.”
Burke added that Canada should consider the potential impacts on its trade relations when “all he (Trump) is asking the government to do is fulfill its responsibilities as a neighbour.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has repeatedly expressed confidence that reciprocal tariffs on steel and aluminum under the first Trump administration have proven that such moves are harmful and will not be repeated.
The government also said it is prepared to address the potential influx of migrants fleeing the United States into Canada if Trump carries out mass deportations, as well as law enforcement to stop potential security risks from entering the United States and deport people who enter Canada illegally.
Burke said Homan and South Dakota Governors Kristi Noem, Trump’s pick to be the next Homeland Security secretary, are likely to have their eyes on Canadian border security given their roots in the northern United States.
She also defended Trump’s more controversial Cabinet picks, including Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general, Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary.
“I think the people he chose were strategically chosen for a reason,” she said. “They have the kind of experience he wants, and sometimes not the kind of experience (others) expect to see.”
Although she described Kennedy as a “geeky guy,” she added, “Trump likes weird people, in case no one notices.”
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