Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed on Friday that President Donald Trump has mentioned the possibility of making Canada the 51st U.S. state, linking this idea to Canada’s vast natural resources, according to local media reports.
Trudeau made these comments during a closed meeting with business and labor leaders, but the conversation was inadvertently broadcasted due to a live microphone, as reported by CBC. He stated that Trump has considered the idea of absorbing Canada as a U.S. state. “They are very aware of our resources and what we have, and they want to benefit from them,” Trudeau reportedly said.
Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labor, confirmed Trudeau’s statement on the social platform X. He added, “Trudeau’s assessment is that Trump’s real interest isn’t focused on issues like fentanyl, immigration, or the trade deficit, but rather in either dominating or outright taking over Canada.”
Trump has previously suggested that Canada would fare better if it were part of the U.S. In public remarks on Friday, Trudeau emphasized the need for Canada to think both “strategically and tactically” when addressing Trump’s threats to impose significant tariffs on Canadian goods. He stated that Canada should work closely with the U.S. to avoid these tariffs, address internal trade barriers, and expand trade relationships globally.
“This is a crucial moment in our country’s history,” Trudeau said. Trump had agreed on Monday to a 30-day pause on the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 10 percent tariff on Canadian oil, natural gas, and electricity.
The U.S. president had threatened these tariffs to push for greater cooperation from both countries on issues such as illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling. At the same time, he has indicated that tariffs could be used to promote domestic manufacturing and generate government revenue.
Trudeau explained that Canada would use the 30-day extension to show the U.S. its increased investments in border security, including a $1.3 billion Canadian dollar ($900 million USD) plan featuring drones, helicopters, more border guards, and a joint task force.
Additionally, Trudeau promised to appoint a new “fentanyl czar,” who would serve as the main liaison between Canada and the U.S. This comes despite the fact that less than 1 percent of the fentanyl and illegal immigrants entering the U.S. come from Canada.
Trudeau further stated that Canada needs to remain proactive and be ready to respond robustly if Trump decides to implement the tariffs after the 30-day period. He noted that Canada had planned retaliatory tariffs of 25 percent on $155 billion Canadian dollars ($109 billion USD) worth of U.S. goods.
In addition to addressing the tariffs, Trudeau expressed that Canada must move towards genuine free trade internally while enhancing trade ties with other nations. Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, expressed her approval of the meeting’s focus on internal trade and diversification in the face of U.S. tariffs.
“We must go beyond minor adjustments,” she said. “We need bold actions to help businesses and communities become more resilient and less dependent on U.S. market conditions.”