CALGARY \u2013 <\/p>\n
Canada’s close ties to the United States were once \u2060a strength but have become a weakness, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday, in a video message to his country in which he also praised the heroism of military leaders who fought against U.S. invasion more \u200bthan two centuries ago.<\/p>\n
Holding up a small toy soldier depiction \u200cof Gen. \u200cIsaac Brock, the British military leader who died \u200bdefending what is now Canada from a U.S. invasion in the War of 1812, Carney said Canada can’t control the disruption coming from \u2060its U.S. neighbors\u00a0and can’t bet its future on the hope that it will suddenly \u2060stop.<\/p>\n
“The situation today feels unique, but we’ve faced down threats like this before,” Carney said, referencing Brock and several \u200bother Canadian historical figures, including \u2060Chief Tecumseh, who united Indigenous Nations across the Great Lakes to resist U.S. expansion in 1812.<\/p>\n
Carney, who \u2060secured a parliamentary \u200bmajority for his Liberal government last week, has said \u200bhis electoral win will help him deal more effectively in \u200bthe \u200ctrade war started by U.S. President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick slammed Canada as a difficult trading partner last week.<\/p>\n
Canada, which sends almost 70% of its exports to the United States, \u200cis this year due to review the trilateral U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade treaty. U.S. officials have suggested they want major changes to the pact.<\/p>\n