The self-professed most pro-American prime minister in Canada’s history, Stephen Harper, has criticized some of the recent statements made by President-elect Donald Trump. Harper also placed part of the blame for strained relations between the neighbouring countries on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In a recent interview with Gabe Groisman, Harper rebuked some of Trump’s statements.
“I must admit to being shocked by some of the things he said… I have a real problem with some of the things Donald Trump is saying,” said Harper. “Doesn’t sound to me like the pronouncements of somebody who’s a friend, a partner, and an ally — which is what I’ve always thought the United States is for our country.”
However, some of Trump’s concerns hold weight, according to Harper. He said that the southern border is “an enormous problem.”
While Harper described President Joe Biden as a personal friend, he criticized his administration’s “disgraceful” open border policies.
“It was a violation of his fundamental duties to the country,” said Harper.
Nonetheless, Harper said that the migrant flow from Canada to the United States is minor when compared to Mexico and that drugs, crime, and guns are flowing into Canada from the U.S. more than the other direction.
Harper said that Trump’s claims that the United States is subsidizing Canada, one of the reasons for his proposed tariffs, is actually the opposite when it comes to oil and gas. Canada sells oil and gas to the United States at a discounted price.
He seemed to align with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who recently proposed that Canada leverage its energy muscle to avoid the imminent tariffs.
The threats might have something to do with the animosity between Trudeau and Trump.
“Mr. Trudeau’s conduct with Mr. Trump on numerous occasions when they were in office together was not professional. And I can understand why there’s some animosity,” said Harper.
He added that he believes that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will be the prime minister by early May.
Harper said that Trudeau has gone out of his way to shut down Canada’s resource sectors like mining and energy – a policy Poilievre will reverse. The former prime minister added that Poilievre will also reverse Trudeau’s overbearing tax regime.
Trudeau’s government, which initially presented itself as centrist, shifted quickly to the far-left, and despite saying they’d only spend a little bit more and tax the rich slightly, they spent a lot more money and taxed Canadians a lot more, according to Harper.
He added that the strong economic position he left the country in has been “obliterated.”
Harper said that Trudeau’s and the Liberal Party of Canada’s downfall was due to poor results across the board: the economy faltering, anti-Canadian culture, and Canadian public services not functioning properly.
He added that for the Liberals to win an election following their leadership race would require a “miracle,” which he once again compared to the Biden administration, deeming this the “Kamala Harris problem.”
“This leader has to fight a leadership race. In the leadership race, (they) will have to come out saying how much they believe in the Liberal Party and the Liberal Party’s record and then almost immediately go into an election, where nobody wants that record to continue,” said Harper.
He added that he’s known Poilievre since he was a teenager and that even he was surprised by his newfound capacity to capture an audience. Harper said that Poilievre is more of a traditional conservative politician than Trump.
Harper said that Trudeau won three elections because he had a media conglomerate behind him that erased his every error while promoting his assets and misrepresenting his opposition.
“Just literally propaganda. That’s what he’s relied on,” said Harper. “That’s not going to be good enough anymore that those voices have lost their control of the public opinion landscape in Canada.”