The “liberation” promised by Trump is that of Canada from the United States.

For a long time, Canada has tied its destiny to that of the United States in an unequal partnership, writes this columnist in the newspaper “La Presse.” Ottawa is being left behind, and this may be a blessing in disguise. With his tariffs, Donald Trump may not have “liberated” his own country, but his closest ally.

And what if Donald Trump was, for once, right? April 2 is indeed a day of liberation. The liberation of Canada. For decades, the country of the maple leaf has been the common-law spouse of Uncle Sam.

There has never been a formal marriage contract, but a series of prenuptial agreements regarding trade, borders, defense, water management, intelligence, immigration, and more.

Each crisis our powerful neighbor has faced, whether it was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 or the September 11 attacks in 2001, has led us to accept a deeper integration of our armies and economies, often at the behest of the stronger partner in this union.

Keeping a smile on our faces

Canada has indeed benefited immensely from this incredibly close relationship. We Canadians live in a grand, beautiful house that we haven’t really had to defend, enjoying the military umbrella of our armed-to-the-teeth fiancé. And we haven’t had to work too hard on our economic partnerships. More than 60% of our trade has a single destination.

However, it must be admitted that this quasi-marriage is as unequal as the union that binds Donald Trump to Melania Knavs.

To remain in the good graces of the United States, Canada has had to swallow a lot of warm Budweiser while keeping a smile on its face. From a trade perspective, to solidify the relationship with the U.S. during the renegotiation of NAFTA, Canada agreed to give Washington something akin to a veto power over any free trade agreements we might conclude with China.

So “easy” for Washington

Over the years, we have accepted that the softwood lumber issue, which is very dear to us, is left unresolved because the United States refused to listen. We have also remained quite calm despite the fact that the U.S. refuses to acknowledge Canada’s sovereignty over the Northwest Passage, one of our key economic assets.

Politically, we have tiptoed around the Israeli-Palestinian issue for years to avoid upsetting our neighbor.

And it’s not just about the United States under Donald Trump. Canada has danced like a ballerina even during Democratic administrations, including that of Joe Biden. In 2021, the latter, in a moment of candidness, declared that his relationship with Canada was “the easiest,” while pushing forward protectionist policies. We had to swallow hard.

Less carefreeness, more independence

Since Donald Trump’s return, Canada has realized it is being left behind. And it’s a rather strange separation, marked by false accusations (about Canada’s role in the fentanyl trafficking!), punitive tariffs, and threats of forced marriage. Yes, Canada seems to have escaped the worst during Wednesday’s announcements. However, we must not forget the months of torment we have just endured, nor the further mistreatment that awaits us. The engagement is broken.

As with any breakup, especially in a partnership where one party is more dependent on the other, the shock is significant, but the final outcome is the same. We trade carefreeness for regained independence.

This independence is frightening, but it could be the necessary jolt for us to look in the mirror and take stock of our strengths and weaknesses. And Canada can say, “I’m good-looking, I’m capable.”

Many assets

Think about it! We have natural resources that abound. More than 20% of the world’s freshwater reserves, vast reserves of critical minerals, forests covering 40% of our territory, fertile land that feeds the world, one of the largest coastlines on the planet. We produce twice as much energy as we consume. We have an educated, diverse workforce and a university network where freedom of thought still reigns.

We also have a rule of law that no one disputes. Essentially, we are an excellent partner for international trade and investment.

The coming months, even years, will be tough, but we will be forced to do much more with the goldmine on which we collectively sit.

And once we are standing on our own two feet, we may eventually resume our eternal flirtation with the United States. But this time, we’ll be keeping our distance and holding on to the keys of our sovereignty.

Of course, we have flaws, but they are also opportunities. Our failing defense calls for us to invest and build our own military-industrial capacity. We now have all the motivation necessary to broaden our trade alliances. We know we must confront our productivity problem and double down on our efforts to innovate.