Alaska has risked Donald Trump‘s wrath by staking its support for Canada amid the president’s plans to turn it into the 51st state.
The deeply Republican region asserted its stance against his proposal after State Rep. Chuck Kopp announced they ‘can’t imagine Alaska without Canada.’
Kopp and around a dozen other lawmakers have sponsored a resolution which suggests ‘recognizing and honoring’ their relationship as it currently stands.
The Senate Resources Committee considered the resolution on Monday to include public testimony after a formal passage was given in the House earlier this month.
‘This resolution, more than anything, is to present a unified voice of restoration and reconciliation among old allies and friends at the same time when trade restrictions have jeopardized and challenged that relationship,’ Kopp said in testimony this week before the committee.
‘The trust and affection that we hold for our Canadian neighbors extends to their identity as citizens of the sovereign nation of Canada… we have a history that’s woven together. We can’t imagine Alaska without Canada,’ he continued.
The resolution passed in the house and was set to be heard again before the senate, The Globe and Mail reported.
It furthers that a copy of the resolution be sent to several officials, including Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Alaska took a stance against Donald Trump’s tariff war with Canada as well as his hopes to turn the country into a US state after a resolution between the state and the country highlighted their long relationship and continued support
‘Keeping our relationship with Canada isn’t just a good policy. It’s really who Alaskans are, and we recognize it’s essential to our way of life,’ State Rep Chuck Kopp said, pointing out that 20,000 Alaskan jobs reply on the state’s relationship with Canada.
Kopp (pictured) announced they ‘can’t imagine Alaska without Canada.’ Kopp sponsored House Joint Resolution 11 which proposes ‘recognizing and honoring’ the relationship between Alaska and Canada and affirming that the two ‘must continue to work together’
‘I think it represents the alignment of Artic people, Canadian and US, which, sometimes, is disconnected from the East Coast of our two countries,’ Committee Chair Senator Cathy Giessel said.
The resolution proposes that their continued collaboration would work to ‘make our citizens’ lives better, safer, more prosperous, and more affordable.’
It furthers that the Legislature ‘opposes restrictive trade measures or tolls that would harm the unique relationship between Canada and Alaska or negatively affect our integrated communities.’
Alaska and Canada’s long relationship began long before the border between the two was established, as Indigenous people were able to move freely between the two.
Kopp referenced the collaborative work during World War II to build the Alaska Highway.
‘What started as a wartime necessity became a permanent economic artery between Alaska and Canada,’ Kopp said.
‘Our grocery stores are literally filled with fresh vegetables, dairy, and packaged goods that arrive through Canadian supply chains.’
‘Keeping our relationship with Canada isn’t just a good policy. It’s really who Alaskans are, and we recognize it’s essential to our way of life,’ he added, pointing out that 20,000 Alaskan jobs reply on the state’s relationship with Canada.
Ranj Pillai, the Premier of Yukon which shares a border with Alaska, appeared before the committee on Monday and said: ‘Like all good neighbors, when times are tough, Alaskans and Yukoners are there for each other’
‘I think it represents the alignment of Artic people, Canadian and US, which, sometimes, is disconnected from the East Coast of our two countries,’ Committee Chair Senator Cathy Giessel said
Ranj Pillai, the Premier of Yukon which shares a border with Alaska, appeared before the committee on Monday and bolstered the idea that the relationship between the country and state was imperative to preserve.
‘We must continue to work together to protect the livelihood of our citizens and our economies,’ Pillai said.
‘Like all good neighbors, when times are tough, Alaskans and Yukoners are there for each other,’ he continued.
Pillai then clarified that despite the country’s response to Trump’s tariffs with the promise of retaliatory tariffs, the ‘efforts to protect our economy and sovereignty are not a reflection of our feelings toward the American people.’
‘We remain your greatest friends and your closest allies. We want to keep working together, just like we’ve done for the past 150 years,’ he concluded.
‘The Alaska State Legislature honors Alaska’s alliance with Canada and looks forward to many more years of cooperation, friendship, trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and good will,’ the resolution states.
Tensions between the United States and Canada, however, have increased as Trump threatens what many are concerned will morph into a trade war.
Last week saw Canadian Prime Minister Carney promising retaliation with tariffs of its own should the Trump administration go forward with plans to tax and tariff the country.
‘Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer. We don’t need your Cars, we don’t need your Lumber, we don’t your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out,’ Trump threatened in March
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs last week as fears of a trade war loom
Ontario Premier Doug Ford hit back at Trump’s tariff threats with the promise that ‘if the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely’
‘Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer. We don’t need your Cars, we don’t need your Lumber, we don’t your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out,’ Trump threatened in March.
Trump’s newest tariffs are expected to go into effect April 2.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford hit back with the promise that ‘if the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely.’
‘Believe me when I say I do not want to do this, I feel terrible for the American people, because it’s not the American people who started this trade war. It’s one person who’s responsible. That’s President Trump,’ he added.
Ford later told Fox Business that he would consider relenting on the reciprocal tariffs once Trump stopped threatening his allies.
‘Canadians love Americans. I love Americans. It’s been 20 years of my life. But in saying that, no, we’re going to put a 25 percent tariff on electricity coming from Ontario to Michigan, New York and Minnesota,’ he said.
‘Isn’t this a shame. It’s an absolute mess… he’s created chaos.’
