A former U.S. ambassador to Canada is warning that a second Donald Trump presidency could cause chaos among Canadians. He is urging Americans abroad to consider their vote could be crucial in the presidential election.
Bruce Heyman, who served as ambassador from 2014 to 2017, issued a “tsunami warning” to Canada, saying that if Mr. Trump takes the White House, Canada is at great risk.
Mr. Heyman’s warning came on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention, where thousands of party faithful gathered to support Kamala Harris and revel in the excitement that has been building around the vice president since she took over as the front-runner for the November presidential election.
The enthusiasm, while palpable in the halls of the convention, does not guarantee victory in November, and Heyman says it is essential that Americans everywhere make sure their vote counts.
He said at least 6.5 million eligible voters live in other countries, primarily Canada and Mexico.
During the 2020 election of President Joe Biden, Heyman said votes from Americans abroad played a significant role in winning key states.
Mr. Heyman said much of that support has been bolstered by a website and outreach efforts targeting American voters abroad.
These efforts helped increase American votes cast elsewhere in the world by more than 73 percent in 2016, and half of those votes went to swing states.
“Americans in Canada, you can participate in deciding who wins the election in the United States,” Heyman said Wednesday.
Harris is expected to formally accept the party’s nomination on Thursday and deliver a speech formally introducing her as the Democrats’ choice for president. The theme for the day is “For Our Future.”
Border impacts for Canada
The former ambassador said the election could also prove crucial to the future of Canadians. Heyman, who was appointed under former President Barack Obama, became known for strengthening Canada-U.S. relations under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Mr. Heyman and his wife, Vicki, left office when Mr. Trump took over America but have remained connected to Canada, even writing a book about their experiences with Canadian diplomacy. They have since supported Democratic campaigns.
The first Trump administration was a tumultuous one for Canada, he said, with the former president’s policies affecting more than trade.
Thousands of people in the United States, frightened by rumors of deportation, have begun traveling to Canada outside the usual border crossings.
Mr. Trump has promised to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants if he wins a second term. Mr. Heyman believes people, once again motivated by fear, would begin fleeing north in even greater numbers.
“I don’t think Canada is prepared for those kinds of numbers coming across the border,” he said.
If the abortion ban spreads further in the United States, Heyman warned, people could look to Canada for help. If Trump rolls back his environmental policies, that could affect Canada’s investment in green technology, Heyman added.
And if a Trump administration withdraws support from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other alliances, Canada’s stature in the world would diminish, alongside the United States, Heyman said.
He added that Canada would likely have to accelerate its NATO defence funding commitments to avoid Trump’s wrath. Prime Minister Trudeau said last month that Canada expected to reach its target of spending 2 per cent of national gross domestic product on defence by 2032.
The Republican Party’s platform suggests new protectionist policies, and Mr. Trump has signaled his intention to impose a 10% tariff on imports.
“I think for Canada it’s a high risk — the Trump administration — if they implement the policies they say they want to implement,” Heyman said.
“And the biggest risk for Canada is that he does it all at once, as a mob attack tactic to attack Democrats.”