As U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk take aim at Canada, some high-level observers are calling on the federal government to consider sanctioning or even banning corporations owned by those close to Trump 香蕉视频直播� much as it did with Russian oligarchs after the invasion of Ukraine.
香蕉视频直播淲e better have a report coming up on American interference,香蕉视频直播� former foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy said at a recent panel discussion.
He told the Jan. 27 event held by the Canadian International Council that he香蕉视频直播檚 increasingly worried about meddling in Canadian domestic affairs by Musk, a social media mogul and the world香蕉视频直播檚 richest man.
He added that 香蕉视频直播渙ther owners of big digital platforms香蕉视频直播� could undermine Canadian democracy.
香蕉视频直播淭hey are going to try to affect our election,香蕉视频直播� said Axworthy, who was foreign minister from 1996 to 2000.
Axworthy argued the federal government must 香蕉视频直播渕ake sure that they don香蕉视频直播檛 screw the thing up, and make sure that we aren香蕉视频直播檛 denied our rightful place to make our own choices香蕉视频直播� in the next election.
Musk has emerged as a close ally of Trump. He raised some $200 million US for Trump香蕉视频直播檚 election campaign and attended the president香蕉视频直播檚 swearing-in ceremony. At an inauguration rally later that day, Musk made a gesture that many interpreted as a Nazi salute; he denied that was the case.
In recent weeks, Musk has promoted far-right groups and parties engaged in election campaigns in Germany and the U.K. He addressed supporters of the far-right Alternative f眉r Deutschland (AfD) in Halle, Germany on Jan. 25.
He has been accused of using his social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, to spread disinformation about European policies on public safety and online regulation.
Musk also has tweeted occasionally about Canadian politics. He praised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau香蕉视频直播檚 resignation and dismissed him online by echoing Trump香蕉视频直播檚 talk of Canada becoming a U.S. state.
香蕉视频直播淕irl, you香蕉视频直播檙e not the governor of Canada anymore, so (it) doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter what you say,香蕉视频直播� Musk posted on Jan. 8.
Musk has faced pushback elsewhere over allegations of meddling in democracy. For five weeks ending last October, Brazil香蕉视频直播檚 supreme court had internet providers block X over a dispute that stemmed from the company香蕉视频直播檚 refusal to ban far-right accounts affiliated with a 2023 attack on that country香蕉视频直播檚 Parliament.
X ultimately complied with those orders and paid millions of dollars in fines.
The European Commission is investigating whether X is breaching EU content-moderation rules. It has stepped up a probe launched in 2023 by seeking new information to determine whether the site香蕉视频直播檚 algorithms are boosting far-right views while limiting other perspectives.
Musk is also CEO of the automotive corporation Tesla. Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland recently called on Ottawa to impose a 100 per cent tariff on Tesla vehicles in retaliation for Trump香蕉视频直播檚 planned 25 per cent tariffs.
University of Waterloo political scientist Emmett Macfarlane has called on the federal government to go much further. In a Jan. 21 blog post, he argued that Ottawa should consider banning X, Tesla and Musk香蕉视频直播檚 satellite broadband company Starlink.
香蕉视频直播淲e should treat Trump and members of his administration like Elon Musk as akin to Russian oligarchs,香蕉视频直播� Macfarlane wrote. 香蕉视频直播淲e need to impose meaningful costs on the U.S. for its economic aggression.香蕉视频直播�
Both Freeland and Macfarlane cited concerns about tariffs, not political interference.
But Axworthy said both things should worry the federal government. He said Ottawa should apply measures to the U.S. and people in Trump香蕉视频直播檚 inner circle using the same logic of containment that Washington applied to the Soviet Union after the Second World War.
Axworthy described that policy as one of deploying sanctions and diplomatic measures that send a strong message without leading to direct conflict.
香蕉视频直播淓very time they may make a move, there香蕉视频直播檚 a counter-move,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淒o it nicely, do it quietly 香蕉视频直播� but also let them know what香蕉视频直播檚 happening.香蕉视频直播�
NDP MP Charlie Angus said recently that he香蕉视频直播檚 asked Elections Canada to join European efforts to investigate the algorithms used by X 香蕉视频直播渢o see if (Musk) is trying to push content for extremist groups.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚 do not believe we香蕉视频直播檙e prepared in any way for dealing, particularly, with the threat that is coming from Elon Musk, who has revealed himself to be dangerously anti-democratic,香蕉视频直播� he said.
He criticized those who seek to 香蕉视频直播渁ppease the gangster class from Mar-a-Lago,香蕉视频直播� referring to Trump香蕉视频直播檚 private residence.
The Canadian Press has asked for Musk香蕉视频直播檚 response to these criticisms through the media relations offices for X and Tesla.
Axworthy said Trump香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渢hreats香蕉视频直播� to expand American territory 香蕉视频直播� and make Canada part of the United States 香蕉视频直播� should be met with a united front among the countries he is talking of absorbing.
香蕉视频直播淚 would be more supportive if our foreign minister was visiting Greenland and Denmark and Panama and Colombia and Mexico to talk to them about, 香蕉视频直播楬ow do we contain this a 香蕉视频直播� hole?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 he said.
Axworthy argued Canada instead 香蕉视频直播渁lmost threw Mexico under the bus香蕉视频直播� when Trump started threatening tariffs. Some premiers suggested that Canada draft a trade deal with the U.S. separate from Mexico and blamed the country for driving Trump香蕉视频直播檚 concerns about fentanyl and migration.
香蕉视频直播淚f you香蕉视频直播檙e into a tough negotiation, it香蕉视频直播檚 better to have three people香蕉视频直播� on your side, Axworthy said.
Former prime minister Joe Clark told last Monday香蕉视频直播檚 panel that Washington has become a 香蕉视频直播渉ostile neighbour香蕉视频直播� and Canada must manage the relationship without losing sight of its own interests and relations with other countries.
香蕉视频直播淣o one knows when the barrage will stop,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e have a role of our own, a history of our own (and) interests of our own in the wider world.香蕉视频直播�
