U.S. President Donald Trump has a callous heart and he should be ashamed of himself for threatening what would be an illegal trade war with Canada.
That’s what some NWT political leaders had to say on Denendeh Sunrise on Wednesday about Trump’s tariff threats, which are in limbo until the 30-day pause runs out at the end of this month.
“We gotta tell the two leaders of both countries, ‘If you have a heart, you will learn how to work with people, not against people,” said Dene National Chief George Mackenzie, in conversation with show host Roy Dahl.
MLA Kieron Testart on CKLB with Denendeh Sunrise host Roy Dahl on Wednesday. CKLB reporter James O’Connor is in background. (Photo courtesy of Facebook livestream)
“Donald Trump … how can he be the strongest leader of the world, but not have a heart that’s not good for the world. Every chance (we have) we’ll give a message that the Northwest Territories, the Dene land, the water, is not for sale. That’s the message we’ll give to them.”
Mackenzie said until we know more of what will happen, people in the North could take to the land to harvest and store food in case supply chains are disrupted. Doing so will also be a chance to keep the hunting, fishing, trapping culture strong.
President Trump has threatened stiff tariffs on Canadian goods and enjoys saying that Canada should become the 51st US state, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau being its governor.
Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart said it would be “totally unjust and unfair” if Indigenous people, small communities, and working people, would be forced to pay a higher price to survive in the North.
“We have free-trade treaties, we have military treaties, we have diplomatic treaties. And this is a betrayal of those treaties by an unhinged U.S. president who is forgetting who his friends are and make and turning them into enemies,” said Testart.
“And that’s very dangerous. We should be working shoulder to shoulder to fight against our mutual adversaries, China and Russia. And those are direct competitors in the Arctic. The U.S. should be bolstering our efforts, and instead, they’re pulling us down. “So, there’s a lot of uncertainty right now. I personally think Donald Trump should be ashamed of himself.”
NWT’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Jay Macdonald said the national message through the Team Canada approach has been very clear that, “we’re united, and I think across the Northwest Territories, we have a very similar message in that we’re united with the Indigenous governments.”
Premier R.J. Simpson, centre, and the two other Canadian Indigenous premiers — Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, left, and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok — in Washington February 12th with Team Canada against tariffs. Premier Simpson is of Métis heritage. (Photo courtesy of Premier’s office/Facebook)
Macdonald acknowledged the NWT has a limited ability to impact the big picture, but within Canada, we need to ensure that we are protecting our territorial economy and our residents.
NWT Premier R.J. Simpson just visited Washington, D.C. with his Team Canada territorial and provincial counterparts and met with various Republicans and Democrats in congress, along with some White House officials and business leaders.
Simpson told Cabin Radio on Tuesday: “Now we have a clearer picture of where the Americans are coming from. In the end, though, it all comes down to what President Trump wants to do.
On the topic of critical minerals in the North, Simpson told Cabin that he spoke with US officials about the NWT’s geography and critical minerals, making it clear that the territory is “not trying to hand those things over” but is open to a strong economic relationship with the United States.
Testart said while the Team Canada of politicians approach is good, we need to find ways to lower the cost of living for Northerners, which could mean tax cuts, and increasing the NWT Child Tax Credit.
“And I should add too, there’s a big push right now to eliminate internal trade barriers, which is great in principle, but the business incentive program, the BIP program, that protects northern interests, that would have to go away if we eliminate trade barriers
“So just because we’re doing the Team Canada stuff doesn’t mean it’s always going to work for the North. We can’t wait another two or three years, right? Or even 30 days.”
