Former U.S. ambassador to Canada gives 'tsunami warning' about Trump

CHICAGO -

A former United States ambassador to Canada is sounding the alarm that a second Donald Trump presidency would cause chaos for Canadians as he urged Americans abroad that their votes could prove crucial in the presidential election.

Bruce Heyman, who served as ambassador from 2014 to 2017, gave Canada a "tsunami warning."

"If Donald Trump is elected president, Canada is at great risk," he said.

• America Votes: Latest U.S. election news and analysis from a Canadian perspective

Heyman's warning came on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention, where thousands of party faithful have gathered to rally behind Kamala Harris and bask in the excitement building around the vice-president since she ascended to the top of the ticket.

The enthusiasm, while palpable in the halls of the convention, does not guarantee a win in November. Heyman said it is critical that Americans around the world ensure their vote counts.

He said there are at least 6.5 million eligible voters living in other countries, mainly in Canada and Mexico.

When President Joe Biden was elected in 2020, Heyman said votes from Americans abroad played a key role in clinching the White House.

Heyman said much of that support was shored up through a website and outreach efforts. As a result, the number of Americans who voted from outside the country in 2020 was up 73 per cent over the 2016 election, and half of those votes went to battleground states.

"Americans in Canada: you can be part of the decision of who wins the election," Heyman said.

Harris is set to officially accept the party's nomination on Thursday and deliver a speech that will formally introduce her as the Democrats' pick for president.

The four-day event has already seen speeches from former president Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton that praised Harris' character and made jokes about Trump.

There was a surprise appearance by Oprah Winfrey Wednesday night before Harris' running mate, Tim Walz, formally accepted his nomination in a sports-themed address to the crowd.

Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont., said there's unanimity behind Harris

"It's the kind of convention that was sort of unimaginable two months ago," Lebo said.

The final day's theme is "For our Future" and speakers are expected to lay out America's path forward.

The former ambassador to Canada said the election could prove critical for the future of Canadians, too. Heyman, who was appointed under Obama, became well-known for strengthening the relationship between Canada and the U.S. under both former prime minister Stephen Harper and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Heyman and his wife Vicki left as Trump took power but remained connected to Canada, even writing a book about their experiences with Canadian diplomacy. They have since supported Democratic campaigns.

The first Trump administration proved tumultuous for Canada, Heyman said, with the former president's policies affecting more than trade.

Thousands of people in the U.S. who were afraid of rumours of mass deportations started travelling into Canada outside of regular border crossings.

Trump has promised to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants if he gets a second term. Heyman said he believes that people, once again motivated by fear, would start to flee north in even higher numbers.

"I don't believe Canada is prepared for those kinds of numbers to come across the border," he said.

If bans against abortion expand further in the U.S., Heyman warned, people may look to Canada for help. If Trump claws back environmental policies, it could affect Canada's investment into green technologies, Heyman said.

And if a Trump administration removes support from NATO and other alliances, Canada's stature around the world would diminish alongside the U.S., Heyman said.

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He added that Canada would likely have to fast-track its NATO defence funding commitments to avoid Trump's wrath. Trudeau said last month that Canada expects to hit its target of spending two per cent of national gross domestic product on defence by 2032.

The Republican party's platform hints at further protectionist policies, and Trump has signalled plans for a 10 per cent tariff on imports.

"I think that for Canada, it's a high risk -- the Trump administration -- if he implements the policies he says he wants to implement," Heyman said.

"And the greatest risk for Canada is he does it all at once as a swarm tactic to attack Democrats."

Lebo said Trump and the policies he's bringing to the Republican Party bring instability.

The first Trump administration has shown the former president can make "enormous policy decisions on a whim based on which leaders he likes or what he thinks is best for him personally," Lebo added.

"Being next door to the world's biggest economic and military power and watching them slide away from democracy should raise alarm bells."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2024.