Former N.B. premier Frank McKenna says Canada will persevere through tariff, annexation threats

As a former premier of New Brunswick and Canadian ambassador to the United States, Frank McKenna has been through two free trade negotiations and countless tense moments.

But McKenna, now a business leader, said he's never seen this level of distrust of the United States government among Canadians.

"I think Canadians feel hurt, they feel betrayed by a best friend, perhaps I could put it that way, and they feel vulnerable and worried and all of the above," he said.

"Americans are still our friends, our allies, our neighbours, our cousins, and it's not Americans that we have an issue with here.

"But the government of the United States right now is betraying a relationship that has been a model for the world for the last 100 years."

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on imports of Canadian goods.

And while that threat is currently on pause until March, a separate 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports is scheduled to come into effect March 12.

Last week, Canada's 13 premiers were in Washington D.C. to talk to U.S. officials about the ongoing tariff threat.

McKenna said the delegation was powerful, with 13 premiers all representing different perspectives coming together in solidarity. 

Trump has also continued to repeat his call for Canada to be the United States's "51st state." He has also repeatedly referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "Governor Trudeau."

McKenna said the threat of annexation has to be taken seriously because it continues to be repeated by a serious elected official, the president, but he said it shouldn't be taken literally.

"I think it's not going to be a military threat that we need to fear, I think he feels that he can roll over us economically, and that's not going to happen," said McKenna.

"I think he knows that Canada is going through a political transition period now, so he sees us as being a bit vulnerable.

"What he doesn't realize is the extraordinary fight that we have in our country, the pride that we have in our country, and the ability that we have in the country to come together."