WATCH: Donald Trump repeats ‘ridiculous’ pitch for Canada to turn into 51st state

A current visitor on our ‘Contained in the Village’ podcast, former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has some ideas on the brand new U.S. president’s obsession with absorbing his neighbour to the north

Donald Trump is at it once more, telling reporters on Friday he “would like to see Canada be the 51st state.”

The newly inaugurated U.S. president assured Canadians they’d reap the advantages — together with “an incredible tax reduce” and “a lot better well being protection.” (Trump additionally repeated his perception that Canada has been “very nasty” to the U.S. on commerce, costing his nation $200-billion a 12 months.)

Does he actually imagine Canada may turn into an American state? Or this simply one other instance of Trump being Trump?

We requested former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne that query throughout a current interview on our Contained in the Village podcast.

“There is a component of delusion right here that runs fairly deep,” Wynne stated. “However the harmful strategic half is that if he talks sufficient concerning the 51st state — and if he may get us to take the bait and fear about it and be troubled about it — that implies that we take our eyes off the ball by way of tariffs and by way of the commerce relationship.”

Wynne stated it is necessary for Canada to push again on the true risk — Trump’s looming 25 per cent tariff on all items exported to the U.S. — whereas additionally countering the suggestion that we’d turn into a part of America.

“We have to walk and chew gum at the same time,” she said. “We have to be able to counter these ridiculous assertions about the 51st state because it is ridiculous to think that such a thing could happen.”

You possibly can watch our full interview with Wynne HERE.

​Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Contained in the Village is a information and present affairs podcast that gives a weekly window into a few of the finest native journalism from throughout our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, this system additionally explores bigger-picture points that affect individuals throughout the province.

Each episode might be discovered HERE. In the event you want the audio model, it’s out there wherever you discover your favorite podcasts.

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