Washington State Park workers put up a new American flag in front of a Canadian flag atop the Peace Arch in Peace Arch Historical State Park, in Blaine, Wash., on Nov. 8, 2021.The Canadian government is making a full-court press to prepare for a potential second Donald Trump presidency, aiming to avoid a repeat of 2016 when his victory caught Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet by surprise.
The goal of Ottawa’s strategy is to pre-empt any policies that could damage Canada after November’s election by reinforcing to Americans how much their economy relies on its northern neighbour. The Republican Mr. Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden are neck-and-neck in the polls. Daniel Ujczo, an Ohio trade lawyer who represents businesses on both sides of the border, pointed out that Mr. Trump’s campaign and allied think tanks are also working ahead. In an effort to avoid the disorganization that marked his first term, they are already drafting policy and vetting people for future White House jobs. “The one consistent theme from the folks in a potential second Trump administration is that they’re prepared this time,” he said.
To that end, Katie Telford and Brian Clow, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff and her deputy, attended the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last month, the source said. They spent the weekend at the event’s associated parties gathering information from people close to the presidential contenders.
The first official also described more formal sessions between Mr. Champagne and the Republican Governors of Georgia and Nebraska, Brian Kemp and Jim Pillen, in which the governors were surprised to learn how many jobs in their states were tied to Canadian trade. With Mr. Kemp, Mr. Champagne highlighted the role of Canadian critical minerals in supplying Georgia battery plants. With Mr. Pillen, he pointed to investments by Saskatchewan fertilizer giant Nutrien in Nebraska.