On the campaign trail in Gander after calling a snap election, the Canadian prime minister lamented the countries’ broken bonds.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has reflected on the deteriorating relationship with Washington during a visit to a Newfoundland town that welcomed thousands of stranded US travellers in the wake of 9/11.
The Liberal party leader’s visit to the town of Gander took place on the second day of the national election campaign after Carney called a snap vote. It comes as Canada remains locked in a trade war with its increasingly belligerent southern neighbour, whose president has appeared to threaten it with annexation.
Carney laid the blame for the changed relationship between the countries squarely with US President Donald Trump, saying: “In this crisis caused by the US president and those who are enabling him, we lament a friendship lost.”
“In Gander, Canadians did extraordinary things for Americans when they needed it. Now, we need to do extraordinary things for ourselves,” Carney added.
The town, which was home to 10,000 in 2001, sheltered nearly 6,600 passengers who became stuck after the US government closed its airspace after the 9/11 attacks on New York City and Washington.
As flights were diverted to neighbouring airports, the town received 38 planeloads of travellers, with Gander’s locals opening their homes to passengers and providing them with hot meals. More than 200 flights were diverted to Canada.
Hotels were quickly overwhelmed, and passengers also stayed in schools, fire stations and churches, while the local business community chipped in to offer blankets and other goods. Residents donated food, clothes and toys to the passengers and welcomed them in their homes to use their phones and showers.
Carney said that day had become legendary for its display of community spirit – a moment of coming together that inspired the Canadian-made Broadway hit musical “Come from Away.”
“It became yet another example of the unbreakable bond between Canadians and Americans. Because when Americans are in need, Canadians have always shown up,” he said.
But despite calling it “unbreakable”, the prime minister went on to note that the relationship had soured.
“But that’s changed. And it wasn’t us who did the changing. Unfortunately, President Trump’s actions have put that kinship under greater strain today than at any point in our storied history,” Carney said.
Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada’s steel and aluminium earlier in March, triggering countermeasures from Ottawa affecting products made from the two, as well as goods including computers, sports equipment and water heaters.
“We will not stand idly by while our iconic steel and aluminium industries are being unfairly targeted,” Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said at the time. Trump has threatened to expand his trade war and hit all Canadian goods with tariffs on 2 April.
As well as triggering an escalating trade war, which caused US stock markets to plummet in March amid the volatility, Trump has repeatedly called for Canada to become “the 51st state”.
The US leader’s repeated comments about the country’s sovereignty have infuriated Canadians, and their country’s relationship with the US has become the cornerstone of the upcoming election.
The vote – effectively a two-horse race for leadership between the Liberals and the Conservatives – is set for 28 April.
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