Scott Gurvey's Public Offerings

Fresh from his attempt to convince the American people that the election of 2020, yes, that one, was rigged, fearless leader was up early to attack another whipping boy, our neighbor to the north.

Donald Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canada, accusing the country’s government of “willful negligence” in its handling of massive wildfires that have wafted heavy smoke and worsened air quality in parts of the Midwest and East Coast.

“We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

Republican members of Congress have jumped on Trump’s coattails, as usual, publicly criticizing Canada for not doing enough to prevent wildfires in Ontario and Manitoba, which have sent smoke into the U.S. Four Republican members of Congress from Michigan wrote a sharply worded letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, the lawmakers warning that if Canada does not take further action, “the United States will look elsewhere, and act on our own, to protect our people.”

More than a dozen U.S. states are under air quality alerts as wildfires continue to burn across Canada and in northern Minnesota. A thick haze has officials urging residents in some major U.S. cities, such as Chicago and Washington, D.C., to stay indoors or wear masks due to potentially hazardous air pollution.

(Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)

Canadian officials and experts have pushed back against these accusations. Environment and Climate Change Canada climatologist David Phillips highlighted that wildfire smoke does not respect political boundaries and is carried by weather systems, meaning the problem is not solely Canada’s responsibility.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, a fire protection service based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, reported 897 active fires as of Friday, with Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories seeing the most activity. Fewer than 100 of those fires are considered “under control.”

Canadians have also noted that U.S. emissions contribute to wildfire conditions in Canada, emphasizing the global nature of climate-driven fire risks. The scientific consensus indicates that smoke drift is a natural consequence of weather and climate conditions, not a failure of Canadian policy alone. Both countries face increasing wildfire risks due to climate change, and cross-border cooperation is essential to manage air quality and fire mitigation effectively.

Canadians have been affected by Alaska fires, and by fires from California, Washington State, and Oregon. They all bring smoke into Canada. Canada also sends firefighting resources, including waterbombers, to help the U.S. A prime example of international cooperation which helps both countries deal with challenging weather conditions brought about by changes in the climate.

Science, cooperation, and climate change are all terms that Trump finds offensive. His response to these challanges, as to most other things, is to point fingers and theaten retribution.

“Canada has refused to engage in basic Forest Management and Debris Removal, knowing that such refusal will lead to exactly this result,” Trump posted. “This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying.”

And so it goes.

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