Vote on U.S. election hot topics: Do you believe a Trump presidency will help or hurt Canada?
As Trump defeats Harris to become 47th president of United States, we ask Canadians to weigh in on the issues that matter the most
Former President Donald Trump has clinched victory against Vice President Kamala Harris in the race for the presidency. The Associated Press called the race for Trump Wednesday morning, making him the 47th president of the United States.
Effects of Trump’s election victory is set to ripple across the border into Canada, with plans for broad tariffs, mass deportations, and heightened pressure on countries to increase their own defence spending.
VOTE: Do you believe a Trump presidency will help or hurt Canada?
READ MORE: 2024 election live updates: Voters head to the polls as Trump, Harris make final appeal to Americans
Trump presidency comes with warning for Canada
In an effort to set a positive tone on Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Trump on his victory and called the friendship between Canada the U.S. the envy of the world.
Congratulations to Donald Trump on being elected President of the United States.
The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations. pic.twitter.com/yEnL6gxyzO— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 6, 2024
Canada does not stand to benefit from another Donald Trump term in the Oval Office if the former U.S. president is re-elected against Kamala Harris for a “myriad of reasons,” ranging from economy, foreign policy and immigration to climate change, according to multiple international relations and political science experts.
“If Trump wins, the consequences will be potentially seismic and not just for Canada but globally. It is not just the tariffs that he says he will impose of U.S. trading partners—10-20 percent—and China—60 percent or higher. If we are not exempt from those tariffs, it would likely throw the Canadian economy into a recession,” Fen Hampson, a co-chair on the Expert Group on Canada-U.S. relations at The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, told Yahoo News Canada.
VOTE: Would you vote to elect a leader with a criminal history?
Trump has just made history and will become the first sitting president with a felony conviction.
In May, he was convicted in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He also faces charges related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election in two separate indictments—one in Georgia and another in federal court.
An additional federal indictment regarding his handling of classified documents was dismissed by a judge appointed by Trump, a decision prosecutors have since appealed.
U.S. Justice Department officials are assessing how to wind down Special Counsel Jack Smith's two criminal cases against Trump due to a policy that forbids prosecuting a sitting president, making it unlikely he will face legal consequences during his term in office, according to a report published by Reuters.
VOTE: What about a politician matters to you the MOST before casting a vote?
VOTE: Should the U.S. replace the Electoral College with the popular vote?
Electoral college voting method
The U.S. uses the electoral college voting system. The electoral college can lead to several scenarios.
First, a candidate can win the electoral college while losing the popular vote and still become president, as happened in 2000 with George W. Bush and in 2016 with Donald Trump.
Second, the system allows for the possibility that neither candidate wins a majority of electoral votes. If there is a 269-269 tie, a “contingent election” is held. In this case, members of the new House of Representatives would choose the next president in January.
VOTE: As a Canadian, who did you want to see as president of the U.S.?
Before the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, 69 per cent of Canadian poll respondents said they would like to see Kamala Harris in the White House, while 25 per cent said they hoped Donald Trump would secure the presidency.
As Canadians woke up Nov. 6 to news of Trump clinching the election, many took to social media to share their thoughts — some expressing support, while others voicing concerns.
VOTE: Do you believe the U.S. election is the most important in recent history?
'Historic' election
The term historic has been frequently used to describe the U.S. election this year, and here's why.
Harris could become the first woman U.S. President and the first President of South Asian descent, while Trump could be only the second to win non-consecutive terms and the first elected after a criminal conviction.
Another historic first if Harris wins, Doug Emhoff could become the country’s first “First Gentleman” and the first Jewish spouse of a president, according to a report published by ABC News.
This year’s U.S. election could also result in several historic firsts in the Senate and House of Representatives, particularly in areas of equality and 2SLGBTQ+ rights.
VOTE: Will the result of the U.S. election impact how you vote in Canada?
The divisive U.S. election race has given the spotlight to two candidates on opposite ends of the spectrum, whose political views could impact the future of Canada.
Experts speaking to Yahoo Canada expect another Trump presidency to spark "potentially seismic" shifts in the relationship between the countries, impacting the collective social fabric of Canada’s policy, as well as potentially sparking a recession.
A potential Harris presidency isn’t expected to inspire the same tumult, though experts believe it won’t be a "free ride," with pushback in Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) negotiations, as well as an urgency to improve defence spending.
A Harris win could also put pressure on Canada’s Liberals to freshen their image, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s popularity sinks.
VOTE: Does gender play a role in how you vote for prospective leaders?
Canada’s shared history and 8,891-kilometre border with the U.S. won’t shield it from the election’s impact. While both candidates have proposed protectionist policies, experts warn that if the Republican leader wins, relations between the neighbouring countries could become significantly more challenging.
