Canada, the 51st state? Senator Cramer optimistic for stronger ties amid trade and security debate
Steve Hallstrom
Special to The Farmer
U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) says he is cautiously optimistic about revitalizing U.S.-Canada relations in the wake of strong rhetoric surrounding Canada’s future.
In an exclusive interview with The Farmer and AM 1090 The Flag, Cramer emphasized the need for enhanced national security cooperation and urgent trade negotiations under Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney.
Cramer, a staunch advocate for deepening ties with America’s northern neighbor, recently met with Carney, a former banker and political outsider, who led Canada’s Liberal Party to victory, overcoming an early 25-point deficit against Conservative candidate Pierre Poilievre.
“I was very impressed with the Prime Minister,” Cramer said. “He’s a business guy, not a politician, so he’s a lot like Trump in that sense. He was the President of the Bank of Canada and a member of the Board of Governors of the Bank of London, so he’s a sharp, capable leader with a strong financial background.”
Cramer characterized Carney’s approach as diplomatic-yet-serious; a contrast, he says, from former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“Trudeau was rather proud of the fact that they were pacifists and didn’t need to invest much in national security. I sent a couple of nasty grams to Trudeau over their pathetic contributions to NATO, where they rank second-lowest among members despite being a charter member, largely because the U.S. covers for them with our robust security assets.”
Carney’s first months on the job come at a time of fiery debate about the future of Canada’s sovereignty.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that the Canadian government should begin talks toward voluntarily becoming a part of the United States. The rhetoric has been met with anger in many parts of Canada, with most elected officials and residents overwhelmingly rejecting the idea.
In the province of Alberta, the idea has gotten some traction among some political factions, but currently there does not appear to be serious consideration, among governmental officials, to making an organized effort to secede from Canada.
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