Former prime minister Stephen Harper told a crowd at the 2025 Midwestern Legislative Conference in Saskatoon that he advised the government to increase defence spending. He believes the U.S.'s current path may harm the free world more than support it. CBC
Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants Canada to stop relying so much on the United States for trade. On Monday, he told lawmakers from Canada and the U.S. that Canada should explore new trade partners.
Speaking at a big conference in Saskatoon, Harper said, “I think it’s fair to say I’m probably the most pro-American prime minister in Canadian history.” But he added that Canada must act now. “This really is a wake-up call for this country to truly diversify its trade export markets.”
Concern over U.S. dependence
Harper believes Canada is too tied to the U.S. just because of geography. “That geographic proximity does not justify the degree of dependence that we have on a single market,” he said. He also mentioned that he was asked by the Canadian government for advice on how to handle U.S. trade policy just two weeks ago.
Time for defence upgrade
Besides trade, Harper wants Canada to spend more on its military. “Let’s make sure we spend a lot more on defence so that we can be independently responsible for our own land, seas and skies, independent of the United States,” he told the crowd.
He believes that while Canada and the U.S. share a border, Canada needs to rely on itself more when it comes to security.
Changed opinion on trade
Harper said if someone had asked him last year, he would’ve supported deeper trade ties with the U.S. But now, things have changed. “When the government did actually ask me a few weeks ago, my advice was the opposite,” he said.
He pointed out that the U.S. is now using a failing trade strategy by pushing for growth through tariffs. Even so, America still needs good trade relationships, he said. “We just cannot be in a position in the future where we can be threatened in this way and not have that leverage.”
Canadians are upset
Harper said people across Canada are frustrated with the U.S. right now. “Canadians are a combination of just angry and bewildered by what is happening here,” he said. “And it is across the country, and it is across the political spectrum.”
He hopes that Americans soon understand that they cannot take their allies and partners for granted.
Concerns about China and Iran
Harper also spoke about China, saying it is misusing global trade rules. But he praised the Trans-Pacific trade deal for helping Canada build better trade ties with rule-following countries.
He warned about Iran too. Harper said he had told U.S. leaders during his time in office that the only way to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon would be through military action. “The single biggest threat of nuclear war was Iran ever getting a nuclear weapon,” he added.
