Canadian leader and ex-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's former ally Jagmeet Singh has warned Donald Trump about his threats related to making Canada the US's 51st state, saying there “will be a price to pay”.
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Singh said, “I have a message for Donald Trump. We're good neighbours. But, if you pick a fight with Canada - there will be a price to pay.” (sic)
Born on January 2, 1979, in Scarborough, Ontario, Singh is the son of Punjabi immigrant parents. He grew up in Windsor, Ontario.
Singh holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Western University and a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School. Before entering politics, Singh worked as a criminal defense lawyer in the Greater Toronto Area, advocating for marginalized communities.
In 2017, Singh made history by becoming the first visible minority leader of a major federal political party in Canada. Under his leadership, the NDP has championed progressive policies such as universal pharmacare, affordable housing, and climate action. Singh has also been a vocal advocate for tackling systemic racism and economic inequality.
In the weeks following his 2024 US election victory in November, Trump has threatened tariffs on various countries. He also joked multiple times about Canada becoming the US' 51st state and called then-PM as “Governor Trudeau”.
When asked about it Trump told reporters, “I called them Governor Trudeau because they should be the 51st state, really. It would make a great state. And the people of Canada like it. They pay lower taxes. They have virtually no military. They pay less than 1 percent. They're about the lowest payer in NATO.”
Trump argued that the US heavily subsidises Canada, claiming, “From the standpoint of the United States, we're subsidizing Canada. USD 200 and USD 250 billion a year. We have massive deficits. They've taken about 20 per cent of our car business. I'd rather do it here. We could put tariffs on them. We don't have tariffs on them yet, but that will happen.”
Singh’s NDP played a critical role in propping up Trudeau’s minority government by supporting key legislation. However, their cooperation agreement unraveled in September 2024, as Singh accused Trudeau of failing to address critical issues like affordable housing, healthcare, and the rising cost of living.
A long-time supporter of Justin Trudeau, early in January Singh again accused the ex-Canadian PM of failing Canadians, vowing to end the Liberal government’s reign and trigger fresh elections. The hubhub ended with Trudeau's teary resignation.
Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.