(Chicago) 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 realize that their vote could be crucial in this presidential election.
Bruce Heyman, who served as U.S. ambassador to Ottawa from 2014 to 2017 under Barack Obama, issued a “tsunami warning” to Canada: “If Donald Trump is elected president, Canada is at great risk.”
Mr Heyman’s warning came on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where thousands of party activists gathered to support Kamala Harris and capitalise on the growing enthusiasm around the US vice-president since she took over as the front-runner in the November 5 election.
The enthusiasm, while palpable in the halls of the convention, does not guarantee a Democratic victory in November, and Heyman says it is critical for American expatriates around the world to make sure their votes count. He points out that at least 6.5 million eligible American voters reside abroad, primarily in Canada and Mexico.
Mr. Heyman argues that in the 2020 election of President Joe Biden, the votes of these expats played a significant role in key states. The former ambassador explained that much of that support was bolstered by a website and outreach efforts targeting American voters abroad.
Those efforts helped boost American voting numbers around the world by more than 73% in 2020 compared to 2016, and half of those votes came in key states. “Americans in Canada: You can be part of deciding who wins the election in the United States,” Heyman said Wednesday.
Border impacts for Canada
Mme Harris is expected to formally accept the party’s nomination on Thursday and deliver a speech officially introducing her as the Democrats’ choice for president. The theme of the day is “For Our Future.”
But former ambassador Heyman believes the election could also prove crucial to Canadians’ future. Heyman, who was appointed by Barack Obama in 2014, has earned a reputation for strengthening U.S.-Canada ties under both Conservative Stephen Harper and Liberal Justin Trudeau.
Mr. Heyman left office when Mr. Trump became president, but he has remained connected to Canada, even writing a book about his experiences with Canadian diplomacy. He and his wife Vicki have since supported Democratic campaigns.
The first Trump administration was a tumultuous one for Canada, he recalled, with policies that affected more than trade.
Thousands of people in the United States, frightened by rumors of deportation, have begun entering Canada outside the usual border crossings.
But 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, could start fleeing north in even greater numbers. “I don’t think Canada is prepared for that,” he said.
Moreover, if abortion bans spread across U.S. states, people could turn to Canada for the procedure, Heyman warned. And if Trump rolls back his environmental policies, that could hurt Canada’s investment in green technology, he added.
Finally, if a Trump administration cuts U.S. support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other alliances, Canada’s stature in the world would diminish, as would that of the United States, Heyman said.
He added that Canada would likely have to accelerate its military funding commitments to avoid Trump’s wrath. Prime Minister Trudeau said last month that Canada expected to meet NATO’s target of spending 2 per cent of 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, the Trump administration is a high risk, if he implements the policies he says he wants to implement,” Heyman said. “And the biggest risk for Canada is if he does it all at once, as a one-man offensive tactic to attack the Democrats.”