Former N.B. premier Frank McKenna says Canada will persevere through tariff, annexation threats

As a former premier of New Brunswick and Canadian ambassador to the United States, Frank McKenna has been through two free trade negotiations and countless tense moments.

But McKenna, now a business leader, said he's never seen this level of distrust of the United States government among Canadians.

"I think Canadians feel hurt, they feel betrayed by a best friend, perhaps I could put it that way, and they feel vulnerable and worried and all of the above," he said.

"Americans are still our friends, our allies, our neighbours, our cousins, and it's not Americans that we have an issue with here.

"But the government of the United States right now is betraying a relationship that has been a model for the world for the last 100 years."

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on imports of Canadian goods.

And while that threat is currently on pause until March, a separate 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports is scheduled to come into effect March 12.

Last week, Canada's 13 premiers were in Washington D.C. to talk to U.S. officials about the ongoing tariff threat.

McKenna said the delegation was powerful, with 13 premiers all representing different perspectives coming together in solidarity. 

Trump has also continued to repeat his call for Canada to be the United States's "51st state." He has also repeatedly referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "Governor Trudeau."

McKenna said the threat of annexation has to be taken seriously because it continues to be repeated by a serious elected official, the president, but he said it shouldn't be taken literally.

"I think it's not going to be a military threat that we need to fear, I think he feels that he can roll over us economically, and that's not going to happen," said McKenna.

"I think he knows that Canada is going through a political transition period now, so he sees us as being a bit vulnerable.

"What he doesn't realize is the extraordinary fight that we have in our country, the pride that we have in our country, and the ability that we have in the country to come together."

McKenna said he doesn't believe Trump represents the opinions of most Americans in respect to Canada. 

He said Trump and Elon Musk, a tech tycoon who has been appointed by Trump to cut government spending, are currently in a "honeymoon" stage. 

But McKenna said this won't be the case forever as more and more people get hurt by, and push back against, the measures Trump is taking.

For example, Chuck Grassley, a senior Republican senator from Iowa, has already pleaded for an exemption for potash if Trump moves forward with the tariffs because "family farmers get most of our potash from Canada."

And McKenna said another example is Susan Collins, a senior Republican senator from Maine, who argued that certain tariffs would impose a significant burden, citing a statistic that 95 per cent of heating oil used by most Maine residents comes from refineries in Canada.

"That's just two out of dozens and even hundreds of legislators who will start weighing in when their constituents are affected," McKenna said.

"So inevitably, there will be a turning point in the United States, and there will be pushback from Americans."

McKenna said he thinks Canada is still developing a plan of attack, but he also said the government needs to be careful not to negotiate against itself since there isn't a lot of clarity on whether this battle is over fentanyl, immigrants at the border, military spending, digital taxation or unfair trade.

LISTEN | Former N.B. premier says U.S. underestimates Canada's pride: 

Information Morning - Fredericton16:59​Frank McKenna weighs in on situation with the U.S.

Frank McKenna has held the post of Canada's Ambassador to the U.S., New Brunswick's Premier, and now holds a senior leadership post at TD Bank. What does he think of the moment we're in with the U.S.? Jeanne Armstrong spoke to Mr. McKenna about the tariffs, and the talk of annexation.

Still, he said Canada needs to continue efforts at solidarity.

"We need a common message and we need people deployed into the United States speaking to the communities that President Trump listens to — Fox News, Sinclair Broadcasting Network, Joe Rogan, Newsmax, etc., and get our messages out."

McKenna said all of Canada's troops haven't been thrown into battle yet. He said it will include business leaders, trade unions and the entire public.

"I think we have to get to the point where the entire nation is mobilized behind this effort," he said.

"God, you know, we might have to end up relying on Justin Bieber and Avril Lavigne and Celine Dion … Wayne Gretzky and all of the other celebrities who live in the United States who are Canadians.

"But I think when all is said and done, Canadians will be prepared to rally and fight for our country and our level of intensity will be much higher than Americans, who don't understand even why they're in this fight."