U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s comment that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state was made in jest and should not be taken seriously, says Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
Before their cabinet meeting on Dec. 3, Liberal ministers were asked by reporters how they view Trump’s reported comment during the dinner, which was attended by Trudeau and LeBlanc last week.
LeBlanc was asked whether he thinks Trump made the comment because he considers Canada a “joke.”
“Not at all, not all, that was not the context at all,” LeBlanc responded, saying there’s a “warm, cordial relationship” between Trump and Trudeau.
The Epoch Times has not independently confirmed the comments were made. LeBlanc and other ministers did not dispute the comments.
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LeBlanc described the meeting with Trump as a social evening during the Americans’ Thanksgiving long weekend. “The conversation was going to be light hearted,” he said.
“The president was telling jokes, the president was teasing us. It was, of course, on that issue, in no way a serious comment,” he said.
LeBlanc also said in French that Trudeau “had responded” to the jokes but he didn’t elaborate.
Canadian officials have rushed to respond after Trump recently declared he would impose a broad tariff of 25 percent on goods from Canada and Mexico if the borders are not reinforced to stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
LeBlanc described the meeting with Trump as “positive” and “productive” but there were not specific announcements made afterwards.
Meanwhile, the federal government has reacted quickly to bolster security at the border with new equipment purchases, including helicopters with special sensors and drones. Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told reporters before the cabinet meeting the purchases are being fast-tracked by using special authorities in what is being considered a “national emergency.”
Asked about Trump’s joke, Duclos said he wasn’t at the meeting but he said it was a “very important” one.
“President Trump invited Mr. Trudeau to come to his residence in the United States. It was a sign of how important he finds that relationship with Canada,” said Duclos.
Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada also said she doesn’t think Trump made the joke because he doesn’t take Canada seriously, noting how Trudeau got invited.
“I think we’re going to have probably tough conversations, but I think they’re going to be good conversations,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
