U.S. President Donald Trump’s second time period has threatened Canada with annexation and financial spoil and destabilized a lot of the worldwide order that has ruled the world for the reason that Second World Conflict, leaving many Canadians feeling anxious and anxious.
The barrage consists of feedback about Canada changing into the 51st state, warnings to not problem Trump, job insecurity due to the prevailing commerce struggle and threats of elevated tariffs.
“Any speak of assaulting my nation in any means, whether or not it is financial or territorially … I imply, I might cry proper now,” mentioned Lili Wexu, a French Canadian initially from Montreal who’s dwelling and dealing in Los Angeles as a bilingual voice actress.
“My Canadian coronary heart simply obtained ripped aside. I imply it was like any person is assaulting me personally.”
Wexu shouldn’t be the one one struggling. A Jan. 28 Angus Reid ballot discovered 4 out of 5 Canadians are feeling extra worry than hope concerning the Canada-U.S. relationship within the yr forward.
Canadians had been requested in the event that they felt Trump will pursue extra “regime change” operations, such because the one in Venezuela or in the event that they felt that was an remoted incident. Three-quarters say they count on the Trump administration to pursue extra regime operations.
“We’re in a world now the place the superpowers are simply attempting to get extra,” Wexu mentioned.
“Russia is invading Ukraine. The U.S. has their sight [set] on Canada and Greenland.… China’s going for Taiwan. We simply dwell in a world the place I feel none of us are going to be secure from that.”
‘It feels actually weak ’
These emotions of worry and anxiousness are legitimate and regular reactions that may be exacerbated if somebody has already skilled violation, disrespect and lack of consent, mentioned Carolyn Klassen, a therapist at Wired for Connection in Winnipeg.
Somewhat than ignore these emotions, Klassen suggests we honour them, regulate them and determine find out how to handle them.
“We really feel like we’re in a brand new territory and that is alarming as a result of it is unfamiliar and we do not fairly know what to do on this house.”
Klassen additionally famous we share a border with the US.
“They’re actually down the highway … and now it appears like the principles are altering and that’s unsure,” she mentioned.
“It feels actually weak.”
Winnipeg therapist Carolyn Klassen validates emotions of tension and worry some Canadians are experiencing amid financial and sovereignty threats from the Trump administration.
Retired environmental advisor Barry Lunseth agrees, pointing to American interventions that overthrew governments in Chile in 1973 and Iran in 1953.
“In case you have a look at historical past … the U.S. has gotten concerned in different nations over the previous 70 years. They’ve gotten concerned in Chile, they overthrew the federal government there, they obtained concerned in Iran and so they overthrown that democratic collective authorities there. So it isn’t the primary time,” the Calgary man mentioned.
“In order that’s why now we have to be very cautious, cautious and never overreact, however on the similar time, you recognize, stand on our personal two ft.”
For a lot of Inuit, Trump’s obsession with Greenland has additionally been an ongoing concern.
“Inuit tradition can be in jeopardy,” Kaujja Qumangaapik mentioned in Inuktitut, on the Iqaluit airport.
“Inuit in Canada can be impacted,” Titus Alooloo mentioned.
“In case you have a look at Alaska, it is an American state and if Greenland had been to change into an American state, Canada is true within the center and can be caught within the center, and it’s extremely unsure instances proper now.”
Klassen says it’s vital to remain knowledgeable and perceive how the threats and actual affect of job loss are affecting individuals, however she recommends managing information and social media consumption as a result of “being knowledgeable is completely different than being flooded.”
And as an alternative of hiding worry and concern, she additionally suggests discovering individuals or a neighborhood who can assist you.
“We’re wired for connection and we’d like one another like we’d like meals, water and oxygen,” Klassen mentioned. “Once we share our misery, we’re in a position to handle it higher. It is simply vital that we not do that alone.”
For Alooloo, that is a pure method.
“Inuit have to face collectively and assist one another,” he mentioned.
‘It’s too shut’
Discovering assist can be particularly vital if somebody is from a rustic the place they’ve already skilled what occurs when threats to sovereignty change into actuality, Klassen mentioned.
Yaroslav Zhovner, a Ukrainian, moved to Winnipeg from Poland in July 2022. His spouse and three youngsters joined him from Lviv three months later.
“When the struggle began, at the moment I used to be working in Poland, nevertheless it’s nonetheless too near Ukraine,” he mentioned. “We’ve to maneuver someplace else to remain secure and hold youngsters in a secure space.”
They selected Canada as a result of it was secure, he mentioned.
However now, he mentioned he’s listening to similarities between threats from the Trump administration and what Russian President Vladimir Putin was saying forward of the invasion and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and once more within the weeks and months main as much as the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“We had the identical scenario 2014 and 2022 … now we are able to see what’s occurred,” Zhovner mentioned.
“It’s too shut…. The chief’s phrases, however what everyone seems to be speaking, it is fairly shut and fairly the identical.”
Zhovner and his spouse nonetheless have relations and buddies in Ukraine so “when bombs hit town, it is horrible,” he mentioned.
“We name to our dad and mom day by day, test how they’re.”
His spouse feels a variety of anxiousness and his youngsters, aged 5, 9 and 13, typically have questions.
All he can do, he mentioned, is inform them they’re secure. “Simply hold working, hold dwelling and attempt to make our life simple and higher.”
A time for unity, not separation
Lili Wexu says she’s practising self-care — consuming effectively, doing yoga and limiting her display screen time.
Nonetheless, she mentioned she feels helpless and anxious for family members in Canada, particularly with Quebec and Alberta doubtlessly dealing with referendums on sovereignty.
“I am positively involved with individuals who need to separate from that proper now as a result of we have to come collectively as Canadians,” she mentioned.
“A variety of unhealthy issues can occur when a inhabitants is split. So this isn’t the time to be divided.… We’re so weak as a tender energy.”
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