Close X
Wednesday, November 6, 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

Eby makes late pitch to people who have never voted New Democrat in B.C

Eby makes late pitch to people who have never voted New Democrat in B.C
Eby says there hasn't been an election as significant "for a generation," on the day the rival B.C. Conservative Party is poised to release its costed platform and just four days before election day on Saturday. Elections BC says about 597,000 people have already voted in four days of advance polling.

Eby makes late pitch to people who have never voted New Democrat in B.C

Founders of Vancouver club that sold tested illicit drugs file Charter challenge

Founders of Vancouver club that sold tested illicit drugs file Charter challenge
The founders of a Vancouver "compassion club" that sold heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine bought on the dark web and tested for contaminants, have filed a court challenge arguing their Charter rights and the rights of users were violated when the club was shut and they were arrested. 

Founders of Vancouver club that sold tested illicit drugs file Charter challenge

Canada and U.S. list Samidoun as terrorist group, U.S. adds Canadian to terror list

Canada and U.S. list Samidoun as terrorist group, U.S. adds Canadian to terror list
Canada is listing the pro-Palestinian group Samidoun as a terrorist group, while the U.S. has added a Canadian citizen affiliated with the organization to its counter-terrorism list. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Samidoun will now be listed under Criminal Code offences that ban people from donating or providing property to the group.

Canada and U.S. list Samidoun as terrorist group, U.S. adds Canadian to terror list

Why India and Canada are in an escalating rift, with each expelling diplomats

Why India and Canada are in an escalating rift, with each expelling diplomats
Ottawa's decision to expel India's top envoy and five other diplomats have given rise to greater tensions that have simmered for months between the two countries with Sikh groups calling for Indian consulates to be shut down in Vancouver and Toronto. 

Why India and Canada are in an escalating rift, with each expelling diplomats

Carbon pricing rebates land in bank accounts as Liberals defend embattled policy

Carbon pricing rebates land in bank accounts as Liberals defend embattled policy
Canadians are set to receive carbon pricing rebates Tuesday, as the Liberals defend one of their most embattled policies. The government says this is the first time all banks will label the payment as the Canada Carbon Rebate, after years of inconsistent and vague phrasing on bank statements.

Carbon pricing rebates land in bank accounts as Liberals defend embattled policy

B.C. Conservatives expected to release costs of promises days before election

B.C. Conservatives expected to release costs of promises days before election
It's the last week of the British Columbia election campaign after a busy long weekend of promises for the B.C. Conservatives, including a new Children's Hospital for Surrey. B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad is expected to explain how he's going to pay for all his promises, from the so-called Rustad rebate to exempt up to $3,000 a month of rent or mortgage payments from taxes, to the plan to eliminate the carbon tax. 

B.C. Conservatives expected to release costs of promises days before election