Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday November 2, 2024
On the Eve of America’s Election, Canadians Hold Their Breath
June 13, 2018
As the United States approaches its presidential election, Canadians, from the urban streets of Toronto to the quiet prairies, are watching with bated breath. The contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is more than just another page in American political history; it represents two starkly different futures that will reverberate beyond U.S. borders, affecting allies and neighbours profoundly. For Canada, America’s closest partner since 1867, this election isn’t just American—it’s personal.
The phrase “the most crucial election in history” is often repeated, but this time it has a tangible edge. The 2024 U.S. election embodies a crossroads, where voters will decide between the steady continuation of policies under Kamala Harris, echoing the Biden administration’s cooperative and measured approach, or the return of Donald Trump, whose prior presidency Canadians recall with unease. The stakes for us north of the 49th parallel couldn’t be higher.
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Kamala Harris offers a promise of continuity. As vice president, she demonstrated alignment with Joe Biden’s multilateral, diplomacy-first approach. For Canada, this means a continuation of relatively stable trade relations, measured discourse, and policies that, while not free from protectionism, are at least navigable within established norms. Harris’s familiarity with Canada, thanks to her time living in Montreal, offers a touch of reassurance. She understands the shared history and mutual dependence that bind our nations.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, conjures memories of the tumultuous years between 2017 and 2021, where tweets upended diplomatic channels, tariffs strained trade worth billions, and public insults created friction. His administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by science denial and erratic policies, unnecessarily prolonged the crisis, deepening misery, death tolls, and border closures that impacted millions on both sides. Trump’s reputation for unpredictability and a bruising, transactional foreign policy leaves little doubt that a second term would likely see him acting with even fewer restraints. His rhetoric has evolved into a more menacing promise of retribution, targeting opponents at home and abroad, unsettling the principles of democracy itself. His protectionist impulses threaten not just U.S.-Canada trade but also the broader framework of international relations.
October 2, 2018
The notion that Trump’s return could usher in authoritarian-style governance is not alarmist; it reflects real concerns. Analysts, former diplomats, and ordinary Canadians alike note that he has adopted policies and attitudes more associated with strongman regimes than democratic leadership. The term “fascism” is whispered with increasing frequency and gravity. A second Trump term could mean a more emboldened, less constrained version of his first, which Canadians remember for its disregard for collaborative norms.
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Canada has worked hard to maintain balanced relations, adapting swiftly when Trump first took office in 2016. We dispatched officials across states, stressed our shared economic interests, and met trade threats with measured responses. Now, as we face the potential of a Trump resurgence, we’re deploying “Team Canada” once again, a reminder that we’re not just bystanders but active participants trying to navigate and protect our future.
August 24, 2017
Canadians, known for their polite stoicism, feel anxious in this moment. The prospect of another Trump presidency, with its barrage of unpredictability, forced tariffs, and potential for fracturing alliances, is unsettling. Many Canadians, particularly those with cross-border ties or who rely on stable U.S. policies for business and security, are praying for an outcome that definitively rejects the path of division and discord.
Public commentary reflects this hope and fear. Canadians express empathy for their American friends, echoing a shared sentiment of dread over what might come. “Sorry about keeping you up at night,” reads one comment, capturing the mutual anxiety. Others voice a readiness to welcome Americans looking for refuge if Trump prevails, a nod to the deep-seated bond and concern Canadians feel for the fate of their southern neighbour.
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On the eve of this election, we hope for a definitive result that repudiates not only Trump’s candidacy but the values he embodies—revenge, authoritarianism, and disregard for multilateralism. A clear and overwhelming victory for Kamala Harris would send a powerful message about the resilience of democratic norms and set the stage for cooperation that extends beyond borders.
For Canada, it’s not just about watching democracy unfold; it’s about witnessing whether the principles that have bound us as allies for over 150 years will be reaffirmed or tested to their limits. We remain hopeful that the ballots cast will ensure a future that holds the potential for partnership, stability, and the quiet peace of mind that comes with knowing that reason has prevailed over chaos. As we wait, the air is thick with apprehension—and the silent wish for stability and continuity in the form of a Harris presidency.