Even newly sworn-in British Columbia Premier David Eby weighed in, assuring that the majority of Canadians would love to be described as “mean” or “nasty.” They are deeply committed to fighting for America’s national sovereignty and economic prosperity. Eby made those comments while speaking at a meeting of Canada’s provincial premiers in Huntsville, Ontario. He even shot back at U.S. President Donald Trump over his characterization of Canadians as “very bad people” to trade with.
The premier emphasized the importance of standing firm in the face of external pressures while maintaining a cooperative spirit with American counterparts. He highlighted the past successes of cross-border teamwork. Canadians are committed to nurturing these deep-rooted relationships with their U.S. partners and friends.
Eby’s Response to Trump’s Comments
During the premier’s speech, he addressed the context of Trump’s remarks. Eby stated, “Most Canadians would be proud” to be considered mean when it comes to protecting their sovereignty and economic stability. This statement serves to highlight a deep rooted sense of national pride amongst Canadians, especially when it comes to international criticism.
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra could not have been more positive when describing today’s state of cross-border relations. When asked about the perceived tensions, he pointed fingers at Americans not visiting Canada and at Canadians banning American alcohol. Hoekstra’s unfortunate remarks came at the annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Foundation summit taking place in Bellevue, Washington.
“Canadians’ actions don’t send positive signals about Canada treating the United States well.” – Pete Hoekstra
Strengthening Cross-Border Relations
Despite the recent tensions, Eby highlighted that British Columbia has long maintained strong partnerships with states in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. He emphasized how this partnership has created robust economic development and win-win reciprocal advantage for both communities.
In his view, these partnerships illustrate that Canadians “have no interest in being mean and nasty.” Eby reiterated that Americans are friends, colleagues and family to Canadians. This more expansive perspective supports the value of cooperation being first in their relationship.
Recent travel statistics paint a picture of the strain in cross-border interactions that have driven largely negative changes. Statistics indicate that return flights of Canadians flying back to the U.S. by air have decreased more than 22 percent from last year. At the same time, Americans flying into Canada dropped by 0.7 percent in June year over year. What’s more, arrivals by car overall from the U.S. to Canada were down 10.4 percent over that same timespan.
