Canadians should hit back at renewed 51st state insults

Open this photo in gallery:

We recall last year when U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra said that annexation talk was over. “From my standpoint, from the President’s standpoint, 51st state’s not coming back,” he said. “It’s done.”

Yeah, sure. This week Donald Trump posted “51st State” on Truth Social. It came with a link to an article about the Canadian economy dipping into a recession, the slightest recession – a technical one, many called it – imaginable.

The taunt might not have received too much notice but Mr. Hoekstra, the anti-diplomat, ensured that it did, upping the ante by reposting it with a screenshot of Mr. Trump’s post.

He should be kicked out, expelled. Of course, Ottawa can’t do that because it would prompt the U.S. to respond in kind and all hell would break loose, a full-blown crisis just when critically important bilateral trade talks are underway.

At the official level, the response from Mark Carney was just right. He shrugged it off by responding to Mr. Trump with a there-he-goes-again type of nonchalance.

The President’s an “exceptionally active user of social media ...” the Prime Minister said “... and it’s only gone up in recent months. And we’re not gonna respond or react to everything that he posts.” He noted how he has no choice but to work with Washington and will do so. “We take the administration as it is.”

But while it’s smart that their government is remaining calm, Canadians themselves need not follow suit. They should show their anger, ramp up the opposition. More boycotts on travel to the U.S. More boycotts on purchasing American goods. As for Mr. Hoekstra, the worst American Ambassador Canada has ever hosted, a great opportunity is presenting itself to show how we feel.

It’s his annual Fourth of July bash, a highlight of the summer social season in the nation’s capital. Hundreds attend the celebration at the Ambassador’s palatial residence and grounds. This time they shouldn’t go. They should give it the big snub, leave the place deserted, leave him alone with his cake.

To do otherwise, to toast the stars and stripes with an envoy who advocates annexation would be hypocrisy on stilts. The Trump administration does not represent how most Americans feel about Canada. We should be doing more to get the point across to those Americans that their government, far from displaying the close friendship evinced by virtually every other administration, is doing the opposite.

Editorial Board: The mystery of Canadian ire, revealed

As the envoy, Mr. Hoekstra of course has to do his government’s bidding. So many might say, “let’s not take it out on him. He’s only doing his job.” But he knew Mr. Trump’s boorish attitude toward Canada on taking the post. He knew of the President’s hostility and obviously was prepared to be his point man in reflecting it once he got here.

As for the 51st state reposting, maybe Mr. Hoekstra was ordered to do so by the White House. Or maybe by Secretary of State Mark Rubio, who has been such a coward in his refusal to contest Mr. Trump on Canada. Still, he could have pushed back and there is no sign that he did.

Tensions had been easing somewhat on the bilateral front. A poll last month from Abacus Data shows Canadians’ fears about Mr. Trump and his trade wars had declined significantly. The concern was now more about what he was doing around the world.

While Mr. Carney reacted calmly to the latest offence, Ontario Premier Doug Ford did not. “Enough of the nonsense … rubbish, I should say, from President Trump,” he said at the legislature. “I get tired of that guy.”

Hopefully Mr. Trump won’t take note of the “rubbish” word. Mr. Ford’s intervention in the past, highlighting how president Ronald Reagan opposed tariffs, derailed trade talks with Ottawa. The talks are proceeding now but they are precarious because of course there is no telling how Mr. Trump’s position will change one day to the next.

He is not getting any mileage politically from his belligerent approach, from his war in Iran, from his harsh treatment of allies, from his tariff wars, from his threats against Greenland, against Cuba, against Canada. His popularity is down in the dumps. He could only wish his support numbers were anywhere near those of Mr. Carney’s.

Mr. Trump’s 51st state taunts will only help keep those numbers high. The more he goes after Canada the more he heightens our pride and the more he keeps the focus off Mr. Carney’s domestic problems. Mr. Hoekstra should tell the President to hold his tongue and he should shut up himself.