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 91裸聊视频� much as it did with Russian oligarchs after the invasion of Ukraine.
91裸聊视频淲e better have a report coming up on American interference,91裸聊视频� 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 he91裸聊视频檚 increasingly worried about meddling in Canadian domestic affairs by Musk, a social media mogul and the world91裸聊视频檚 richest man.
He added that 91裸聊视频渙ther owners of big digital platforms91裸聊视频� could undermine Canadian democracy.
91裸聊视频淭hey are going to try to affect our election,91裸聊视频� said Axworthy, who was foreign minister from 1996 to 2000.
Axworthy argued the federal government must 91裸聊视频渕ake sure that they don91裸聊视频檛 screw the thing up, and make sure that we aren91裸聊视频檛 denied our rightful place to make our own choices91裸聊视频� in the next election.
Musk has emerged as a close ally of Trump. He raised some $200 million US for Trump91裸聊视频檚 election campaign and attended the president91裸聊视频檚 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 Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 resignation and dismissed him online by echoing Trump91裸聊视频檚 talk of Canada becoming a U.S. state.
91裸聊视频淕irl, you91裸聊视频檙e not the governor of Canada anymore, so (it) doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter what you say,91裸聊视频� Musk posted on Jan. 8.
Musk has faced pushback elsewhere over allegations of meddling in democracy. For five weeks ending last October, Brazil91裸聊视频檚 supreme court had internet providers block X over a dispute that stemmed from the company91裸聊视频檚 refusal to ban far-right accounts affiliated with a 2023 attack on that country91裸聊视频檚 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 site91裸聊视频檚 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 Trump91裸聊视频檚 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 Musk91裸聊视频檚 satellite broadband company Starlink.
91裸聊视频淲e should treat Trump and members of his administration like Elon Musk as akin to Russian oligarchs,91裸聊视频� Macfarlane wrote. 91裸聊视频淲e need to impose meaningful costs on the U.S. for its economic aggression.91裸聊视频�
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 Trump91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淓very time they may make a move, there91裸聊视频檚 a counter-move,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淒o it nicely, do it quietly 91裸聊视频� but also let them know what91裸聊视频檚 happening.91裸聊视频�
NDP MP Charlie Angus said recently that he91裸聊视频檚 asked Elections Canada to join European efforts to investigate the algorithms used by X 91裸聊视频渢o see if (Musk) is trying to push content for extremist groups.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 do not believe we91裸聊视频檙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,91裸聊视频� he said.
He criticized those who seek to 91裸聊视频渁ppease the gangster class from Mar-a-Lago,91裸聊视频� referring to Trump91裸聊视频檚 private residence.
The Canadian Press has asked for Musk91裸聊视频檚 response to these criticisms through the media relations offices for X and Tesla.
Axworthy said Trump91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渢hreats91裸聊视频� to expand American territory 91裸聊视频� and make Canada part of the United States 91裸聊视频� should be met with a united front among the countries he is talking of absorbing.
91裸聊视频淚 would be more supportive if our foreign minister was visiting Greenland and Denmark and Panama and Colombia and Mexico to talk to them about, 91裸聊视频楬ow do we contain this a 91裸聊视频� hole?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said.
Axworthy argued Canada instead 91裸聊视频渁lmost threw Mexico under the bus91裸聊视频� 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 Trump91裸聊视频檚 concerns about fentanyl and migration.
91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e into a tough negotiation, it91裸聊视频檚 better to have three people91裸聊视频� on your side, Axworthy said.
Former prime minister Joe Clark told last Monday91裸聊视频檚 panel that Washington has become a 91裸聊视频渉ostile neighbour91裸聊视频� and Canada must manage the relationship without losing sight of its own interests and relations with other countries.
91裸聊视频淣o one knows when the barrage will stop,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e have a role of our own, a history of our own (and) interests of our own in the wider world.91裸聊视频�
