Stephen Harper Urges Canada to Make “Any Sacrifice Necessary” to Defend Independence Amid U.S. Pressure.
A former prime minister breaks protocol—and delivers a warning meant for history.
OTTAWA — Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned Tuesday that Canada must be prepared to make “any sacrifice necessary” to preserve its independence, as political tensions with the United States intensify under President Donald Trump.
Harper, who led Canada from 2006 to 2015, delivered the remarks during the unveiling of his official portrait, striking a somber tone as he described the current moment as uniquely perilous. Without naming Trump directly, Harper alluded to repeated U.S. threats, including talk of turning Canada into the “51st state” and the imposition of punitive tariffs.
“We must make any sacrifice necessary to preserve the independence and the unity of this blessed land,” Harper said, urging Canada’s two main political parties—the Conservatives and the Liberals—to close ranks against external pressure.
Trump’s rhetoric has unsettled Ottawa, particularly as it coincides with broader strains within NATO following U.S. efforts to assert control over Greenland—an Arctic flashpoint of strategic concern for Canada, which shares a long maritime boundary in the region.
Harper also cautioned that threats to Canadian unity are not only external. He pointed to rising separatist sentiment in Alberta, where Premier Danielle Smith has acknowledged support for independence at roughly 30 percent—enough to trigger a referendum if momentum grows. Smith has pressed federal authorities and British Columbia to approve new oil pipeline access to the Pacific, framing the issue as economic survival.
Current Prime Minister Mark Carney, who attended the ceremony, echoed Harper’s concerns, thanking him for publicly denouncing challenges to Canada’s sovereignty. Carney said Harper’s call to reduce reliance on the United States was especially timely amid what he described as “unprecedented attacks and trade pressures.”
Carney also praised Harper’s economic stewardship during the 2008 financial crisis, noting that despite a reputation for fiscal conservatism, Harper authorized years of deficit spending to stabilize the economy. “He understood that you build up strength in good times to have the capacity to act in bad times,” Carney said.
Harper closed by expressing hope that his portrait would hang alongside those of prime ministers from all parties for generations—provided Canada successfully navigates what he called a defining test of its sovereignty and unity.
