The president’s attack on “the very dishonest & weak” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are creating a rift in America’s alliance with its northern ally, but they are having a very different impact inside Canada itself. As reporter Paul Wells of Maclean’s magazine notes, every major political party in Canada from the social democratic New Democratic Party to the pro-business Conservatives agrees with Trudeau’s stance on trade with the United States:
Just a reminder that there is no opposition party advocating a different position from Trudeau's on the main points in litigation. Except they think he's too weak in his defence of supply management, and the Conservatives want him to levy retaliatory tariffs sooner.
— Paul Wells (@InklessPW) June 10, 2018
This unity was amply on display on Sunday in tweets from Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer:
This G7 meeting shows that united support for free trade is at serious risk.
— Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) June 10, 2018
Canada’s Conservatives continue to support the Prime Minister’s efforts to make the case for free trade. Divisive rhetoric and personal attacks from the US administration are clearly unhelpful.
Scheer’s comments were echoed by his ideological opposite, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh:
Canadians are united against Trump’s inflammatory statements & trade tariffs. New Democrats stand with the Govt of Canada against these bully tactics. Also we cannot allow the workers affected to be forgotten. They are hit hardest in a trade war & need immediate govt support.
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) June 10, 2018
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May also agreed:
All Canadian leaders need to support Trudeau. Trump's outbursts, tariffs, amount to bullying. Trudeau is handling it as best anyone could.
— Elizabeth May (@ElizabethMay) June 10, 2018
And even Doug Ford, the Progressive Conservative leader who is about to be sworn in as Ontario’s new Premier, made the same point:
We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister and the people of Canada. My number one goal is to protect jobs in Ontario, starting with my unwavering support for our steel and aluminum workers.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) June 10, 2018
Ford’s tweet is significant because he’s a right-wing populist who is about as close to Donald Trump as any Canadian politician can be. But even Ford rallied to Trudeau’s side. All of which suggests that Trump has no allies in Canada who would agree to the trade terms he wants to impose.