A Message from the High Commissioner
Hello Everyone:
First things, first! There is a general election underway in Canada. Voting day is Monday, April 28th, and if you are a Canadian citizen (18 years of age) you are likely eligible to vote, even when you are overseas.
In case you haven’t done so already, go to the Elections Canada website at International Register of Electors to arrange to get your mail-in ballot.
The deadline to apply is April 22nd. Your return ballot has to arrive in Canada by voting day (April 28th). So don’t delay. Make sure your vote counts.
Secondly, welcome to spring. It took a while to get here, but we’re now in the midst of some warm sunny days in the UK. I hope you can get out and enjoy them.
Third, ever since the American election last November, the world has been thrown off kilter by the constant turbulence surrounding US President Donald Trump. That includes his shift in approach toward the long-suffering people of Ukraine, and mostly recently, an onslaught of massive American tariffs which have caused stock markets around the world to plummet by trillions of dollars, and have the global economy skidding toward a potential recession.
It’s a worrisome time – especially for Canada as the neighbour right next door. Over the past several weeks on several different pretexts (none of which hold any water), Mr. Trump has slapped tariffs on goods imported from Canada – steel, aluminum, autos, and a few other things. The announcements have been disconcerting, and in some cases, quickly rescinded, but the net result is an ongoing, totally unjustified and factually erroneous attack on Canada.
Canadians are surprised and angry, but still clear-eyed,focussed and resolute. The country is more determined and united in ourself-defence than probably ever before. We didn’t pick this fight, but we intend to stand our ground. The Canadian response includes six elements:
Government of Canada officials at the highest levels are in regular contact with their US counterparts to maintain an open flow of communications.
Canadians are making the key point that US tariffs are unilateral taxes on Americans. They increase costs and prices and undermine investment, growth and jobs in the United States. We are driving this message home to all levels of government in the United States, in both political parties, to business groups, unions and community organizations, in public advertising and in the news media.
We have implemented retaliatory counter-tariffs on about $60-billion worth of US exports headed for Canada – tailored to have maximum impact in the US and minimum impact in Canada. Our retaliation is significant because Canadians normally buy more products from the United States than do the British, the French, the Japanese and the Chinese combined.
The federal government and the provinces are implementing a series of measures to support Canadian workers and businesses through these tough times.
Efforts are underway to reduce internal trade barriers within Canada, smooth regulatory processes, stimulate more science, technology and innovation, accelerate the building of strategic infrastructure, provide tax and other incentives to drive investment, and diversify our global markets far beyond the US. All this to make the Canadian economy more prosperous and successful, regardless of what any foreign government might do.
The actions taken by federal and provincial governments must be demonstrably necessary, effective and fair in order to keep Canadians united and pulling together. Unity is critical to our ultimate success.
If you have any comments or questions, or need more information, please be in touch with the Canadian High Commission.
Finally, on to a happier topic – the celebration of Canada House on Trafalgar Square for 100 years!
It was June 29th, 1925 when King George V officially opened our freshly renovated premises at the southwest corner of the Square in a stately Greek Revival building that had been constructed another hundred years earlier as the Union Club. It made the perfect location for an embassy, visible and prestigious, right in the heart of London in an area known as “Little Canada”, close to Parliament, Whitehall, No.10 and Buckingham Palace.
In June of this year, we’ll mark our centennial, and in so doing, we will pay tribute to the hundreds of dedicated employees, both from Canada and locally engaged, who have worked so hard and so well over all these years to represent and serve Canada with great distinction. We thank them for their efforts. We will also celebrate a tremendous relationship with the United Kingdom and the British people. We are the most loyal of allies, the most reliable of partners and the best of friends. In the troubled world in which we live today, these are rare and precious qualities – treasured and highly valued on both sides.
Please watch for further information about our centennial, and about our upcoming Canada Day, 2025!
Best regards,
Ralph G.
High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom
