Alberta aims to add two seats to legislature, bringing total to 89 for next election

WASHINGTON – Americans are anxiously watching the results of Tuesday’s election roll in as a chaotic presidential campaign reaches its peak in a deeply divided United States, where voters in only a handful of battleground states will choose the country’s path forward.

Many Americans remain caught between concern and excitement. Bars throughout the U.S. capital were packed with people watching the results come in.

Some windows on nearby businesses were boarded up and security fences were erected outside the White House, putting some visitors to the famous building on edge about violence on election day.

At Union Pub near Capitol Hill, election specials included the The Dirty Walz — with Mountain Dew, vodka and grenadine — and They’re Drinking The Cats — with whiskey and sour mix served with cat straws.

“Whatever happens in the election, I am confident in America,” said Randy Biard, who is from Tennessee, in Washington Tuesday afternoon.

Vice-President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have presented starkly different visions for America’s future, but as millions of Americans cast their ballots, polling suggested the two remained in a dead heat.

Trump was holding a watch party at Mar-a-Lago in Florida while Harris was gathering with party faithful at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington.

Howard students gathered in campus gymnasium for a watch party filled with music and dancing. As early results started to come in, spirits remained high despite the uncertain outcome.

“I’m very excited, nervous, but I think what’s meant to be will be,” said 20-year-old party attendee Tyette Manna.

A shared history and 8,891-kilometre border will not shield Canada from the election’s outcome. Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, said “any election in the U.S. is important and impactful for us.”

“They are central to our economic prosperity. They are a vital security partner.”

Hillman has been travelling across America meeting with key members of the Republican and Democrat teams to prepare for any outcome. On election night, after her embassy duties are finished, she planned to watch the results with her husband and friends.

Hillman is keenly aware of the immense stakes at play for Canada.

“Whoever is sitting in the Oval Office and populating Congress is making decisions that may affect Canada, either decisions that provide us with opportunities or decisions that pose challenges for us,” Hillman said. “The job is to be ready for both.”

Both candidates have proposed protectionist policies, but experts warn if the Republican leader prevails the relationship between the neighbours could be much more difficult.

“Trump and some of the key people around him, including (former trade representative) Robert Lighthizer, really want to stick it to Canada,” said Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Trump’s first administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada is to America’s whims when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Negotiating its successor, the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, was a key test for Ottawa after Trump’s victory. Whoever takes over the White House this time will be in charge during the agreement’s review in 2026.

A cause for concern in Canada and around the world is Trump’s proposed 10 per cent across-the-board tariff. A Canadian Chamber of Commerce report suggests those tariffs would shrink the Canadian economy, resulting in around $30 billion per year in economic costs.

American economists warned Trump’s plan could cause inflation, and possibly a recession, which would almost certainly have ripple effects in Canada. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S and trade comprises 60 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product.

“When the American economy is growing, it’s generally good for us,” Hampson said. “If they take a deep dive under Trump … that will have a knock-on effect on us, on top of tariffs.”

The election outcome could also redefine America’s role in the world. Trump is critical of giving aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, has attacked the United Nations and repeatedly claimed he would not defend NATO members that don’t meet defence spending targets — something Canada is not doing, and won’t do for years.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to meet the target of spending the equivalent of two per cent of GDP on defence by 2032.

Trump’s first tenure also saw the Republican leader withdraw from the Paris Agreement, an international treaty to cut greenhouse gases.

Hampson said the Republicans’ push against international institutions and treaties will have “a profound impact” on Canada, but also key allies and the world order itself.

If Harris wins, it’s widely expected that there will be more normal relations based on established patterns and rules, but it does not necessarily mean smooth sailing for Canada.

It’s expected the vice-president would follow the path laid by President Joe Biden on foreign policy and trade with Canada.

Biden signed an executive order to revoke the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have transferred oil from Alberta to Nebraska. The administration’s Buy America procurement rules also caused concern in Canada.

Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U.S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said she expects a Harris administration would continue nationalist and protectionist policies.

Harris has spoken on the campaign trail about the fact that she voted against the trilateral trade agreement and said she will return manufacturing jobs to the U.S.

It’s a great slogan and bumper sticker, Dawson said, “but it’s terrible if you are Canada.”

Dawson warned Trudeau’s team during a cabinet retreat in August that no matter who is the next president, Canada will have to work harder to maintain existing benefits of integrated trade and travel.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

OTTAWA – MPs, diplomats and political staff gathered around the parliamentary precinct to anxiously take in preliminary results of a U.S. presidential election that they all agreed would have an enormous impact on Canada and the world.

“There’s a lot of nervous energy in the room tonight,” said Gary Keller, who was chief of staff to John Baird, the former Conservative foreign minister.

“This one has so much potential impact on our economy, our society.”

U.S. voters cast their ballots Tuesday in a race between starkly different visions for their country’s future, with either former president Donald Trump or Vice-President Kamala Harris. The two have proposed policies that could disrupt commerce with Ottawa’s closest trading partner, and have deep repercussions for Canada’s defence.

As results streamed in on large screens, Keller said he was anxious about the “knife-edge” election.

“Canadian businesses just have to be prepared for some challenges over the next four years, no matter who wins,” said Keller, a vice-president with government relations firm StrategyCorp.

He noted that Trump and Harris have both campaigned on protectionist policies, which could pose a significant threat to Canada’s economy.

Trump has pledged to bring in a 10 per cent across-the-board tariff — something the Canadian Chamber of Commerce believes could cost the Canadian economy around $30 billion per year.

In 2020, Harris was one of just 10 senators who voted against the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement. She recently said the CUSMA deal doesn’t adequately protect American jobs.

Before result-watching parties kicked off in the bars surrounding Parliament Hill, the federal Liberals told reporters they’ve spent months laying the groundwork for Ottawa to be in a better position to manage trade negotiations with the next American president than during Trump’s first term.

At that point, the Liberals undertook a “Team Canada” approach of having premiers, mayors, unions and business leaders engage with their American counterparts, as Trump called for an end to the NAFTA trade deal.

The push resulted in Canada keeping much of its key access under CUSMA. Whoever takes over the White House will oversee the scheduled review of that deal in 2026.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said the government will use its Team Canada approach to defend Canadian interests, and that she has also been in touch with other foreign ministers and world leaders about how to work with the next president.

“We have the strongest and, I think, most important relationship as a country with the U.S.,” Joly said.

Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the goal over the last several months has been to define Canada as a critical and strategic partner, and not just a friendly neighbour to the north.

“The focus of our friends in the United States is national security. National security and economic security are one. I think there is a better understanding today that the strategic relationship that we have is serving North America’s national security,” Champagne said.

Yet the head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, Rick Tachuk, said various irritants in the bilateral relationship could cause Washington to restrict trade, such as energy, defence and digital-services regulation.

“There’s a whole host of issues that are critical, that we need to resolve in part before we get to the CUSMA review in 2026,” he said. adding that the composition of the House of Representatives will also greatly shape American economic policies toward Canada.

Iceland’s ambassador to Canada, Hlynur Gudjonsson, said his country was impressed at Ottawa’s ability to keep strong trade ties during Trump’s first term.

While he expected a good relationship with Trump or Harris, he said his country wonders how a Trump presidency will approach the NATO military alliance.

Trump has been highly critical of NATO allies — particularly those, like Canada, that are not meeting the agreed-upon spending target — accusing them of failing to pull their weight and calling the alliance “obsolete.”

Canada does not plan to reach the target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence until at least 2032.

Harris has said her administration would uphold mutual defence pacts and continue steadfast support for Ukraine.

Defence Minister Bill Blair said he believes either administration will recognize the work Canada is doing to boost defence spending.

“It takes time to build new battleships, it takes time to build the new submarines we’re going to require, and deliver the airplanes we need,” Blair said.

Gudjonsson said concerns about NATO likely added to a European tendency to be more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

“Kamala Harris would be very happy if the Icelanders were voting for her,” he said. “That’s the case in Europe I think in general.”

A handful of European diplomats declined to comment on the race, peering anxiously at vote tallies between swigs of beer and cocktails.

Liberal MP Jean Yip said she was nervous about the results.

“I hope for the best; we keep our fingers crossed that it will be all right,” the Toronto MP said.

“We just want the best president possible, for Americans and for Canadians,” she said, without specifying who that would be.

Earlier, Joly noted that her government worked with three different U.S. administrations over the last decade, and built relationships with both Republicans and Democrats.

Yet it’s not a given that a Justin Trudeau-led government will represent Canada in trade talks. There is a possibility that a precarious Parliament could trigger a snap election before the negotiations start in earnest.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on social media Tuesday a Conservative government would “drive a hard bargain” with Washington on softwood lumber and buy-American policies.

In question period, Poilievre attacked the Liberals for failing to get a deal with the U.S. to end softwood lumber tariffs, and accused the government of capitulating to the Americans during the last round of trade negotiations.

Trudeau responded in French that “it was the Conservatives, including Stephen Harper, who were encouraging us to back down and not offend the Americans” during the CUSMA negotiations.

“On the contrary, we stood up for ourselves we protected supply management, protected steel and aluminum workers, we protected jobs right across this country,” the prime minister said.

David Cohen, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, said in an interview that he sees the trade relationship continuing with little disruption no matter who wins the election.

“I’ve not heard any president in my lifetime, and I’ve certainly not heard either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris say, we want to blow up this $3.4-billion-a-day trade relationship that exists between the United States and Canada,” Cohen said.

“So, the Team Canada approach that Canada’s been using — I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again — is a powerful outreach mechanism which is useful to doing outreach and communication with a variety of stakeholders and constituents who all have a role to play in nurturing and growing the U.S.-Canada relationship, independent of the presidential election.”

Cohen added that Canada is the biggest trading partner for 36 states and he doubts any administration would want to jeopardize the millions of jobs tied to that cross-border trade.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

— With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone

EDMONTON – Alberta’s health minister says her department is working to recruit physicians specialized in transgender health care, but critics say new government policies will push them away.

Earlier this year, Premier Danielle Smith said her government would start working to attract specialists for genital reconstruction surgeries so Albertans wouldn’t have to travel to Quebec for care.

At an unrelated news conference Tuesday, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the government was in talks with at least two such specialists. Officials confirmed in an email that no jobs have been offered and discussions are ongoing.

The Alberta government introduced legislation last week that would prohibit doctors from treating those under 16 seeking gender-affirming surgeries. Youth also wouldn’t be prescribed puberty blockers or undergo hormone treatments.

Members of Smith’s United Conservative Party took the issue a step further last weekend. They voted to urge the government to classify “sex alteration practices,” also known as gender-affirming care, as elective cosmetic procedures.

Gender-affirming care is currently covered by the provincial health plan, and LaGrange said no change is planned.

“I have not heard any concerns (about the procedures),” LaGrange told reporters. “We have made a commitment to continue with the adult programs that we currently have available.”

The bill was up for debate in second reading in the legislature Tuesday. Prior to debate, the Opposition NDP tabled letters and petitions from medical professionals, social workers and citizens expressing concerns.

Rakhi Pancholi, the NDP children’s services critic, accused the premier of “stoking fear,” denying health care to transgender children and undermining health professionals with “harmful, ideological legislation.”

“She’s putting kids at risk, violating their rights and their parents’ rights, all to pander to a fringe base,” Pancholi told the house.

Smith, during debate, said the legislation is designed to make sure children don’t make serious, potentially permanent changes that they later regret. She said the government is listening to experts and is committed to lifting up transgender children.

“That concern and compassion does not end with this legislation,” Smith said.“We want to support them in whichever path they end up taking, as long as we make sure that they’re not making life-changing decisions that are irreversible as adults.”

Dr. Sam Wong, president of pediatrics for the Alberta Medical Association, said in an interview that minors seeking gender-affirming care aren’t acting on their own accord. Parents have to approve those decisions, he said.

“It’s the parents that are making the decisions, not the child themselves,” he said.

Wong said the legislation could have a chilling effect on physicians who feel like they’re being punished for practising medicine.

Asked about the province’s commitment to recruit transgender health-care specialists, he said the policies won’t help.

“If you are a specialist that does surgery in this area … then you see a government that’s trying to recruit you, who has legislated against transgender individuals, how willing are you to come here?” he said.

Dr. Jake Donaldson, a Calgary-based physician who works with transgender people, also said he’s skeptical about the province’s commitment to recruiting specialists given its track record with the gender-diverse community.

He also said much of the research used by the province to justify the policies is pseudo-science.

Research from the United States suggests places that have passed similar legislation typically see increased rates of suicide and depression among gender-diverse people, Donaldson said.

“Politicians who are passing and pushing bills like this will indeed have blood on their hands,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.