Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
National

Preparation for next U.S. president started months ago, Trudeau's cabinet says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Nov, 2024 10:58 AM
  • Preparation for next U.S. president started months ago, Trudeau's cabinet says

The Canadian government is in a better position to manage trade negotiations with the next American president than it was the last time it signed a deal with the U.S. and Mexico, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said as Americans headed to the polls Tuesday.

U.S. voters are choosing between starkly different visions of their country's future with either former president Donald Trump or Vice-President Kamala Harris. Whoever wins the White House this year will be in charge when the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement is reviewed in 2026. 

The "Team Canada" approach the Liberal government launched when negotiating with the first Trump administration is already back in play, and Joly said the government is ready to work with premiers, mayors, the business sector and unions to look out for Canadian interests.

Joly also said she's been speaking with other foreign ministers and world leaders about how to work with the next president. 

"So we have an approach that is very broad and we are very unique in the world. We have the strongest and, I think, most important relationship as a country with the U.S.," Joly said. 

While they'll be watching the election results closely, several cabinet ministers who are expected to be involved in upcoming trade talks say they've been laying the groundwork for months.

Trump and Harris have both campaigned on protectionist policies, which could pose a major threat to Canada's economy.

Trump's pledge to bring in a 10 per cent across-the-board tariff — something the Canadian Chamber of Commerce believes could cost the Canadian economy around $30 billion per year.

Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the goal over the last several months has been to define Canada as a critical and strategic partner, particularly on economic security, as opposed to just a friendly neighbour to the north. 

"The focus of our friends in the United States is national security. National security and economic security are one. I think there is a better understanding today that the strategic relationship that we have is serving North America's national security," Champagne said. 

The two presidential candidates differ significantly on their approach to security, in particular when it comes to the NATO alliance. 

Trump has been highly critical of NATO allies — particularly those, like Canada, that are not meeting the agreed-upon spending target — accusing them of failing to pull their weight and calling the alliance "obsolete."

Canada does not plan to reach the target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence until at least 2032. 

Meanwhile, Harris has said her administration would uphold mutual defence pacts and continue steadfast support for Ukraine. 

Defence Minister Bill Blair said he believes either administration will recognize the work Canada is doing to boost defence spending.

"It takes time to build new battleships, it takes time to build the new submarines we're going to require, and deliver the airplanes we need," Blair said on his way into Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

"I have great confidence in the institutions of the United States, including our relationship with the State Department and their military."

Joly said Trudeau's government now has a well of experience to draw on after dealing with three different U.S. administrations over the last decade. 

The government has also built relationships with both Republicans and Democrats in preparation for whoever takes over the White House.

Irregular border crossing may once again become an issue for Canada with Trump promising to launch the biggest deportation effort in American history, pledging to send upwards of 10 million migrants back to their home countries.  

Policies in the first Trump administration contributed to more than 113,000 migrants entering Quebec from the U.S. at Roxham Road. That unofficial crossing was closed last year.  

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said he wishes both candidates luck, and noted that a secure, stable border is in both country's interest.  

"We've always been able to manage the border with the U.S., and particularly during COVID. Particularly with attempts to put the military on the border, close it, do all sorts of things that didn't make sense," Miller said.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Lights back on for almost all BC Hydro customers who lost power in strong winds

Lights back on for almost all BC Hydro customers who lost power in strong winds
British Columbia's Crown utility says crews have restored power to 95 per cent of some 290,000 businesses and homes that were in the dark at some point Monday as strong winds battered coastal areas and parts of the central Interior. BC Hydro says crews have been working around the clock to replace dozens of spans of power lines as well as power poles knocked down by toppled trees.

Lights back on for almost all BC Hydro customers who lost power in strong winds

Rustad seeks review as Elections BC says box of 861 votes went uncounted

Rustad seeks review as Elections BC says box of 861 votes went uncounted
British Columbia's election agency says it has discovered that a ballot box containing 861 votes wasn't counted in the recent provincial election, as well as other mistakes, including 14 votes going unreported in a crucial riding narrowly won by the NDP. The errors prompted B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad to call for an independent review on Monday.

Rustad seeks review as Elections BC says box of 861 votes went uncounted

Series of robberies in Richmond

Series of robberies in Richmond
Police in the Metro Vancouver community of Richmond have issued a public warning after a series of robberies that took place near a school. RCMP say four of the six robberies happened between October 14th and November 1st, and all but one occurred at night.

Series of robberies in Richmond

Key architect of reconciliation: Judge, senator, TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73

Key architect of reconciliation: Judge, senator, TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73
A teepee and a sacred fire were set up in front of the Manitoba legislature on Monday to honour Murray Sinclair, as tributes poured in from across the country for the former judge, senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools. People lined up under grey skies, facing a cold wind, to enter the teepee and pay respects. Flags nearby flew at half-mast.

Key architect of reconciliation: Judge, senator, TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73

Hindu temple in Surrey wants police suspended after protest unrest

Hindu temple in Surrey wants police suspended after protest unrest
The arrests outside the Sri Lakshmi Narayana Hindu Temple came as protesters calling for a separate Sikh nation called Khalistan had demonstrated outside the temple on Sunday during a visit by Indian consular officials.

Hindu temple in Surrey wants police suspended after protest unrest

Jump in home sales in Vancouver

Jump in home sales in Vancouver
Home sales in Greater Vancouver jumped nearly 32 per cent last month compared with October 2023 as interest rate reductions boosted demand. A statement from Greater Vancouver Realtors says more than 26-hundred homes changed hands, although that's still about 5.5 per cent below the 10-year average.

Jump in home sales in Vancouver

PrevNext