While Canadian premiers landed in Washington in a historic solidarity effort to convince US lawmakers, business groups, and lobbyists to oppose President Donald Trump’s plans for devastating duties, five former Prime Ministers have asked Canadians to fly Maple Leaf flags on Saturday to express their solidarity.
It is the first time all 13 premiers have travelled to the American capital together. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, chair of the Council of the Federation, appealed to members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday to send a message to Trump that tariffs would hurt the American and Canadian economies. Incidentally, Doug Ford had called early provincial elections on February 27. He has taken time out of his hectic election schedule to plead for the withdrawal of tariffs on Canadian exports to the US. Since his return to the White House last month, Trump has rapidly implemented tariffs to reshape global trade and American foreign policy. This has surprised the world, as some trade-partnering nations have announced counter-tariffs.
Donald Trump signed executive orders on the first day of the week to impose 25 per cent levies on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States, including Canadian products, starting March 12.
The imposition of new duties was announced one week after Donald Trump agreed to a month-long pause on his plan to slap Canada with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on imports, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy. As a pause was announced, five Prime Ministers, while cutting across their political affiliations, want all Canadians to fly the maple leaf on Saturday to stand up to Trump as this weekend marks 60 years since the flag was first raised on Parliament Hill. All of the country’s living former prime ministers are asking Canadians to fly the red maple leaf this weekend in a huge display of national pride as the country stares down U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to its economy and sovereignty.
Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper have jointly written an open letter, telling Canadians to “show the flag as never before” as the country contends with “threats and insults from Donald Trump.”
“Let’s fly our flag with pride. Let’s show the world that we are proud of our history and proud of our country,” the former first ministers write.
“We’ve had our share of battles in the past. But we all agree on one thing: Canada, the true north, strong and free, the best country in the world, is worth celebrating and fighting for.”
Canada observes Flag Day on February 15 every year to mark the raising of the red and white maple leaf flag on Parliament Hill in 1965 for the first time to replace the Canadian Red Ensign.
The five former prime ministers said in their joint message that they have “witnessed a surge of Canadian pride and patriotism” in the wake of Trump’s threats and they are heartened to see so many people “come together to express their love for our country and their determination to defend Canada’s values and our independence.”
Since his installation on January 20, Trump has repeatedly mocked Canada’s economy and military and has threatened to use “economic force” to somehow convince Canadians to join the U.S. as the 51st state. Polls show Canadians are overwhelmingly against the idea.
Just last weekend, Trump said Canada was “not viable as a country” without U.S. trade, and warned that the founding NATO member can no longer depend on the U.S. for military protection.
After brokering a trade war pause with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week, Trump announced Monday he is going ahead with punishing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum in March.
U.S. tariff threats and the possibility of a trade war are already having an impact on how some Canadians spend their money, with many saying they’re boycotting American products and buying Canadian.
Several social media groups have emerged urging Canadians to buy Canadian products besides urging them to boycott the American goods.
Feeling the people’s pulse, former Premiers Clark, Campbell, Chrétien, Martin and Harper have taken the lead in asking Canadians to put the country’s national symbols on display as a show of strength.
All six candidates in the run for the Liberal Party leadership – Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Ruby Dhalla, Karina Gould, Frank Baylis and Jaime Batiste – also issued a joint statement urging Canadians to fight the Tariff war unitedly.
Mark Carney welcomed the “show of unity and leadership” in the wake of Trump’s abuse, holding “Canada is so much bigger than our politics.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is planning a “Canada First” rally in Ottawa on Saturday where participants would be encouraged to wear red and white in honor of the nation’s flag.
In a letter of her own to Canadians, Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said it’s important “this year, more than ever” to celebrate the flag and “remind ourselves what it represents: our values, our resilience and our sovereignty.”
St-Onge said there will be a special ceremony in Ottawa on Friday where officials and youth will unfurl the flag along the historic Rideau Canal. “This national emblem represents the values we all cherish — generosity, openness, respect and equality. A flag that could not be mistaken for any other, it connects us to our national identity, to our Canadian pride and to each other,” she said.
St-Onge also encouraged people to cheer for Team Canada at Saturday’s much-anticipated Four Nations Face-Off hockey game. Flags will be on display as Canada, led by captain Sidney Crosby, plays the U.S. in Montreal.