Ephemeral or durable? Donald Trump’s impact on Canada–US issues in the Great Lakes heartland and northeast borderlands

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article assesses whether Donald Trump’s impact on Canada–US issues such as trade, energy and the environment, and border security could be ephemeral or durable. We answer this question by examining the extent to which Trump’s agenda on Canada–US relations has gained ground in the “Great Lakes heartland” bordering Ontario and the “northeastern borderlands” bordering Québec. To do this, we study the 2018 US midterm electoral debates on Canada–US relations in nine states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. We conclude that: (a) Trump has succeeded in placing Canada and key Canada–US issues at the forefront of political and electoral discussions in these states; and (b) Trump’s agenda and attitude towards Canada have been adopted by a myriad of local actors who had a more positive view of Canada before the 2016 presidential election.