TORONTO (AP) – Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday that the country must make “any sacrifice necessary” to preserve the country’s independence in the face of threats from US President Donald Trump.
Harper, Conservative Prime Minister for nearly a decade from 2006 to 2015, made the remarks in a speech at the unveiling of his official portrait.
Harper described the times as dangerous and thanked current Prime Minister Mark Carney for attending the unveiling “at a time when the challenges are unprecedented in our lifetime.”
Trump talked about Canada becoming the 51st state and threatened the country with tariffs.
The Republican president’s push to acquire Greenland has strained the NATO alliance, alarming Canada, which shares a 3,000-kilometer (1,864-mile) maritime border with Greenland in the Arctic.
Harper did not mention Trump by name but urged Canada’s two main parties, the Liberals and Conservatives, to unite in the face of threats to the country’s sovereignty.
“We must make every sacrifice necessary to preserve the independence and unity of this blessed land,” Harper said.
Harper said he hopes his portrait is just one of many portraits of Prime Ministers of both parties that will continue to be exhibited for decades and centuries to come.
“But this would require that in these dangerous times the two parties, whatever their other differences, join together against external forces that threaten our independence,” he said.
Harper also warned against “domestic politics that threaten our unity.” A separatist movement in Alberta could garner enough votes this spring to trigger a referendum on independence from Canada.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said separatist support is around 30%. Smith is pressuring the federal government and the provincial government of British Columbia on the Pacific coast to approve a new oil pipeline to the Pacific.
Harper approved Carney’s continuation when Carney applied to be head of Canada’s central bank during Harper’s time as prime minister. He joked that the young man of that time “apparently went on to enjoy some success.”
Carney later became the head of the Bank of England in 2013 and prime minister of Canada last year.
Carney thanked Harper for denouncing those who are threatening Canada’s sovereignty as Canada was faced with unprecedented attacks and trade pressures.
“He asked us to build a stronger Canada less dependent on the United States,” Carney said. “He also took the time to give me advice which I really appreciated.”
Carney also praised Harper for his economic stewardship during the 2008 financial crisis.
“He came to Ottawa as a balanced budget conservative. He rightly believes that governments should live within their means. However, when the financial crisis hit, he did not let ideology prevent him from doing what was necessary, running deficits for five years to support the Canadian economy through the worst global slowdown in generations.”, said Carney.
“Mr. Harper understood that you build strength in good times to have the ability to act in bad times.”