LILLEY: We need to elect a new PM to stand up to Trump now

Get the latest from Brian Lilley straight to your inbox

Published Jan 07, 2025  •  Last updated 3 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

In this file photo, former president Donald Trump waits for the start of proceedings in Manhattan criminal court, April 23, 2024, in New York. Photo by Yuki Iwamura /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Who should we, as a country, be angrier at? Is it Donald Trump for saying he will use economic might to force Canada into becoming the 51st state, or Justin Trudeau for putting us in such a weak position.

Article content

Article content

Article content

On Tuesday, roughly 24 hours after Trudeau put himself first rather than country, Trump was back at it with his talk of annexing Canada.

“Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security. Don’t forget, we basically protect Canada,” Trump told reporters at a wide-ranging news conference at Mar-a-Lago.

He spoke about using military force, if needed, to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland but said “economic force” would suffice with Canada. He said between what the United States pays to defend Canada and what he claims they lose in trade deficits, the Americans are out hundreds of billions.

Article content

Article content

“We lose in trade deficits. We’re losing mass, we don’t need their cars. You know, they make 20% of our cars. We don’t need that. I’d rather make them in Detroit,” Trump said in a clear shot at Ontario’s auto industry.

“We don’t need their lumber. We have massive fields of lumber. We don’t need their lumber.”

He also said the United States doesn’t need Canadian dairy or agricultural products. On the issue of tariffs, Trump was doubling down on the issue.

Recommended video

The threat is real on tariffs, and we should take Trump seriously on his calls to annex Canada. Too bad we don’t have a serious or functioning government to deal with such serious issues.

Trudeau should have left a long time ago; he should have called an election so that a government with a fresh and strong mandate could deal with this.

Article content

Instead, knowing he was losing his own caucus and would lose an election, Trudeau boasted that he was a fighter and then tucked tale and ran. He announced his resignation, but it won’t take effect until his party chooses a new leader.

For now, outrageously, Trudeau remains PM.

Don’t worry, though, he put out a statement on social media defending Canada.

“There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States” Trudeau said on X. “Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner.”

Yeah, that will get Trump’s attention!

A lame statement from a lame duck PM. It is simply more weakness for Trump to try and exploit.

Canadians should be taking to our cold, frigid streets demanding an election. That is what we truly needed, not Trudeau’s delayed resignation and a Liberal leadership race.

Article content

Pierre Poilievre’s statement in response to Trump was clear: Canadians don’t want to be the 51st state. He reminded Trump of the sacrifices Canada made fighting alongside the Americans after 9/11 and said he won’t see Canada reduced to a state of weakness.

“I will fight for Canada, he said.

“When I am Prime Minister, we will rebuild our military and take back control of the border to secure both Canada and the U.S. We will take back control of our Arctic to keep Russia and China out.”

Poilievre is promising to do what Trudeau has failed to do — put Canada first.

We need someone doing that, and the country can’t wait for the Liberal Party to get its act together and choose a new leader. The way things are going, we could be into June before we have a fully functional government.

The answer is an election now, with Canadians choosing a government that will put Canada first.

Demand it.

Article content