Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with US President Donald Trump for the first time today and bilateral trade and job creation will no doubt top the agenda. But given the chaos and uncertainties of Trump’s first weeks in office, Trudeau should also raise a fundamental issue he is well placed to speak to – the risk of alienating millions of peaceful and law-abiding Muslims globally by conflating Islam with violent extremism.
The Prime Minister has said that “Muslim Canadians are an essential part of the success of our country today and into the future.” President Trump needs to hear this message loud and clear. In the wake of the Quebec mosque attack by a far right white extremist in January, the Prime Minister should be clear that any US policy rooted in prejudice against Islam – like Trump’s embattled immigration ban or his administration’s proposals to refocus programs countering violent extremism narrowly on Muslim extremists – is misguided and wrong. Such actions send a dangerous message that Muslims are not welcome, and suggest the Trump administration is blind to the true range of extremist threats facing the continent.
Trudeau should also raise the serious humanitarian and security risks posed by Trump’s suspension of the U.S. refugee resettlement program. Refugee resettlement not only saves lives, but increases global security by helping countries at the forefront of the global refugee crisis keep their doors open and cope with far larger numbers of refugees than ever make it to North America.
On counterterrorism, Trudeau should make clear Canada will not repeat the mistakes of his predecessor that led to the rendition and torture of Canadian Maher Arar based on misinformation shared between Canada and the US. Trudeau should tell Trump that if his administration reintroduces torture or resumes the CIA’s secret detention program, Canada will stop sharing intelligence that could put people at risk.
Reports suggesting the Trump administration may designate the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization will play directly into the hands of Egyptian President Sisi, who has violently cracked down on opposition groups for political gain. Given the Canadian government’s tireless efforts to secure the release of Khaled Al-Qazzaz, a Canadian permanent resident affiliated with the Brotherhood, Trudeau should emphasize that non-violent Islamic social and political movements like these should not be labeled terrorists.
Yes, the United States is Canada’s biggest trading partner. But President Trump’s most ominous foreign policy ideas could destabilize far more than Canada’s economy.
