TORONTO (TIP): Continuous mocking by US President-Elect Donald Trump of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has set in motion an animated debate over the future of US-Canada relations.

Since the last week of November when Donald Trump joked for the first time to suggest in a lighter vein at a dinner meeting he held with Justin Trudeau that why not Canada become the 51st State, he has repeated his joke several times, the last of which was revealed through his December 10 on his Truth Social Platform.

Politicians and social scientists are wondering at the intent of his continuous “mocking”.

“It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” said Donald Trump in his December 10 post on his Truth Social platform. He went on to add that “he is looking forward to seeing the ‘Governor’ again to continue their in-depth discussion about tariffs and trade. “The results of which will be truly spectacular for all!” added the U.S. President-elect.

Donald Trump had in a subsequent Meet the Press programme organised by a major media channel on December 8 said “If we’re going to subsidize them, let them become a state [of the U.S.],” while jokingly threatening that the U.S. should stop “subsidizing” Canada. His repeated comments have evoked mixed reactions from Canadian politicians and social scientists.

The latest post describing Justin Trudeau as a “governor” went public hours after Justin Trudeau spoke at a Halifax Chamber of Commerce event. Justin Trudeau was quoted as saying that Canada would retaliate against the 25 per cent tariffs threatened by Trump.

It was Donald Trump who set the ball rolling with his Truth Social post on November 25 declaring his intent to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico if they refuse to tighten their border security. Donald Trump was referring to large-scale infiltration into the US of “illegal aliens” from both Canada and Mexico besides the smuggling of drugs, including Fentanyl. Though the Canadian Prime Minister maintained that smuggling of both illegal immigrants and Fentanyl from Canada was inconsequential compared to the figures of Mexico and promised to strengthen the borders to effectively control the smuggling, the US President-elect mocked him.

After his November 25 announcement threatening to impose a 25 per cent duty on all imports from Canada and Mexico, Justin Trudeau accompanied by a delegation, including a member of his Cabinet, flew to Florida to meet him at his private Mar-a-Lago club to discuss trade and border security. This is when Trump reportedly joked for the first time about Trudeau becoming the governor of a 51st U.S. state if the Canadian economy cannot survive despite its trade surplus with the United States.

“Let us not kid ourselves in any way, shape or form: 25% tariffs on everything going to the United States would be devastating for the Canadian economy,” Trudeau said. He added that Canada will “respond to unfair tariffs in several ways, and we’re still looking at the right ways to respond, but our responses to the unfair steel and aluminium tariffs were what ended up lifting those tariffs last time.”

After the recent post, some members of the Liberal caucus, including Cabinet ministers, were questioned by the media about the continuous tirade, though jokingly, launched by Donald Trump.

“I am so proud of our country. I am so proud of the true north, strong and free,” said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland during a press conference in Ottawa. “I also want to say to Canadians that our government is determined to defend the national interest.”

Freeland would not comment on whether she takes Trump seriously on comments of making Canada a U.S. state. “That is a question really for the president-elect,” she said.

Another Cabinet Minister to comment on the recent developments was Transport Minister and President of the Treasury Board, Anita Anand.

While talking to media persons, she said “We have to continue to remember that Canada is a sovereign country.” Truth Social should not be used as a source for public policy, remarked Immigration Minister, Marc Miller.

Health Minister Mark Holland said, “We cannot react to everything, we need to focus on being mature as a country and taking responsibility for the things for which we have control.”
(Prabhjot Singh is a Toronto, Canada-based senior journalist. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)