This Alaskan apologizes to any Canadians still willing to listen to an American. I am heartbroken and angry about how the Trump/Vance/Musk administration has mistreated Canada, our northern neighbour, Mexico our southern neighbour, and our allies in Europe. Many US citizens are similarly agonized and at a loss as to what to do other than apologize and work toward political change in the mid-term elections of 2026. We watch as our nation sinks into an oligarchy that seems to me is testing the boundaries of domestic law and casting aside long-standing international order. We write letters to Congressional politicians who are supposed to represent the interests of citizens. However, with Congress so far unwilling to provide constitutional checks and balances, street corner protests are starting to increase, even in Alaska. I know that is little comfort to Canadians threatened with loss of their jobs, economy, or even national sovereignty.
Mr. Trump claims his election was a “landslide.” He touts a “mandate,” implying most of the US supports these drastic and threatening changes. Not true. In the popular vote, Trump beat Kamala Harris by 1.5 per cent, a margin that is small by historical standards — the fifth smallest margin since 1900. More people voted for someone not named Trump than voted for him in 2024, once votes for other candidates in minor parties are included. Mr. Trump has a plurality, but not a majority. Many people sat out the election, dissatisfied with all choices. Electoral margin aside, more than half of U.S. citizens do not agree with tariff bullying tactics: “Americans are more likely to oppose than support most of Trump's recent tariffs and tariff proposals.” Most Americans are rightly concerned about the potential for tariff-caused inflation. But again, this must be little comfort for Canadians.
The way Trump has treated Canada disturbs me to the core. In 1948 Canada welcomed my late mother as a WWII refugee from Lithuania, having escaped the Nazis, and then the Soviets. Once married, she moved to the US; otherwise, I might have ended up a Canadian. As a child, my family visited our Canadian relatives in Toronto and Montreal several times a year.
I spent all my adult life in Alaska with a job that included monitoring migratory birds in northern nesting grounds and wintering areas as far south as Mexico. I supported some university graduate students in Canada and Mexico who gathered data needed to conserve our white-fronted geese, a truly international resource. Part of this work brought me to Canada about once or twice a year. I relished those trips and the Canadian hospitality. And, l fondly remember when our three countries got along well enough that we could cross borders by car or airplane using just our driver’s license for ID, with no passport required until the 1990s.
Now retired, I’ve been volunteering for a conservation partnership that includes Yukon, NWT, and Alaska, and I still go to Canada once or twice a year. I recognize that we northerners often have more in common with each other than with our southern counterparts. I've worked to strengthen those relationships. I hope our international cooperation bridging the great boreal forests can continue, despite what our national leadership does.
I struggle to think of ways we can soon end this madness – especially the tariff threats and diplomatic insults to your nation. Please know that a good portion of Americans are voicing concerns, but that too must be little comfort. I’ve even heard some suggest that perhaps Canada should threaten to annex Alaska as a province or territory!
Mike Spindler
Fairbanks, Alaska
