As the U.S. presidential election loomed, Canadian officials envisioned new opportunities for co-operation with their southern neighbour on nuclear energy, supply chain security and carbon capture technologies B次元官网网址� no matter who won the contest, newly released government memos show.

Several months before Americans headed to the polls, one internal Global Affairs Canada memo flagged the goal of ensuring CanadaB次元官网网址檚 relationship with the United States B次元官网网址渨ill be not only sustained, but broadened and deepened over the years to come, whatever the result of the elections later this year.B次元官网网址�

The memos, obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act, provide insight into the federal strategy to not only weather, but also capitalize on, what promised to be a turning point for its closest ally.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in January that Industry Minister Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne and Trade Minister Mary Ng would work with Kirsten Hillman, ambassador to Washington, to implement a B次元官网网址淭eam CanadaB次元官网网址� approach to promote and defend the countryB次元官网网址檚 interests with the U.S.

B次元官网网址淲e have an interest in locking in progress made since 2020 and we are preparing for all possible outcomes,B次元官网网址� said a briefing note prepared in late January.

It said CanadaB次元官网网址檚 preparation process would support engagement by ministers at the federal and state level to establish a broad network of contacts in the U.S. to ensure B次元官网网址渂etter insight and influence.B次元官网网址� The tactics would also include advocating B次元官网网址渁cross the aisleB次元官网网址� on Canadian priorities to raise awareness.

Indeed, Hillman said in late August that she, Champagne and Ng had visited dozens of governors, as well as mayors, senators, trade officials, business executives and labour groups.

At the time, the U.S. election outcome was far from certain.

Since becoming president-elect in November, Donald Trump has rattled the Canadian political cage with a threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods entering the U.S. unless Canada does more to shore up the border.

The internal memos show officials at CanadaB次元官网网址檚 foreign ministry were quietly laying international groundwork early this year to help manage a possible Trump victory.

B次元官网网址淲e must remain vigilant and ready to respond quickly if the policies of a new administration impact our interests,B次元官网网址� said notes prepared by the department for a late March meeting on Canada-U.S. relations with GermanyB次元官网网址檚 ambassador to Canada.

The memo said officials were monitoring areas where there might be a policy change, including the U.S. approach toward multilateral organizations, such as NATO and the G7.

B次元官网网址淭hrough high-level interactions and through our mission network, we are engaged in advocacy across the political spectrum in the United States to build support for these shared interests.B次元官网网址�

The notes also raised the notion of whether Germany and France, which co-created an alliance for multilateralism in support of the rules-based system during the first Trump presidency, would pursue something similar in the future.

A memo drafted in advance of a May working lunch between Canadian and European Union officials noted interest in working together on issues that might arise under a new U.S. administration, including climate change, NATO, Ukraine and industrial and trade policies.

B次元官网网址淲e believe in the importance of a strong, united, and engaged United States in the global system,B次元官网网址� the memo said.

Global Affairs officials also came up with questions for Derek Burney, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 ambassador to the U.S. from 1989 to 1993, before a planned May speech to staff.

Among them: How can Canada strengthen its value as a key ally? What should be the next big policy direction for bilateral relations? Where is there room for improvement in the trade agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico?

Another internal note pointed out the U.S. election was taking place B次元官网网址渋n a context of unprecedented polarization,B次元官网网址� given the starkly different visions of America held by Republicans and Democrats on a variety of issues.

B次元官网网址淐anada is taking a deliberate and proactive path to prepare for the range of potential election outcomes in the United States,B次元官网网址� the undated memo said.

B次元官网网址淩egardless of the outcome, the election could also yield new opportunities for Canada in the United States. This includes co-operation on nuclear energy, supply chain security, and carbon capture technologies amongst others.B次元官网网址�

Canadian officials were also combing through American media to catalogue expected actions from a B次元官网网址淭rump 2.0 administrationB次元官网网址� on immigration B次元官网网址� from suspending the U.S. refugee program to building detention facilities to speed up the pace and volume of deportations.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press