A bipartisan group of U.S. senators visiting Ottawa is urging Canada to restore close trade and tourism ties, calling for renewed cooperation despite rising tensions under President Donald Trump’s leadership. Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia led the group in meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney, pressing for a fresh start in U.S.-Canada relations. Cramer openly asked Canadians to “give us another chance,” citing long-standing mutual interests in trade, defence, and tourism. Kaine added that anxiety among Canadians about American attitudes pushed the senators to make this goodwill visit.
Carney, in meetings with the delegation, reiterated his goal to modernize the Canada-U.S. relationship, though he acknowledged that the era of “deep integration” has ended. The five senators, Kaine, Cramer, Jeanne Shaheen, Amy Klobuchar, and Peter Welch—said cooperation remains essential, especially as Canadian tourism to the U.S. continues to fall amid backlash to Trump’s policies and rhetoric. Several U.S. states have even launched campaigns to win back Canadian visitors, noting steep declines in bookings.
The senators expressed optimism about Carney’s approach, particularly regarding defence spending. Cramer highlighted Carney’s pledge to meet NATO’s 2% GDP target by 2030—two years earlier than promised by former Prime Minister Trudeau—as a sign of serious commitment. Cramer also discussed Canada’s potential role in the U.S. “Golden Dome” missile defence initiative and praised Carney’s $6-billion Arctic radar purchase from Australia as a signal of regional cooperation.
Although the senators welcomed defence collaboration, they criticized the ongoing U.S. trade war with Canada, which Trump has linked to fentanyl concerns. Both Kaine and Cramer downplayed Canada’s role in the opioid crisis, citing data showing most fentanyl comes from other countries. Kaine called Trump’s emergency declaration and related tariffs unnecessary, noting that the Senate recently passed a resolution to revoke them, which now awaits action in the House.
Ultimately, both senators concluded that renewed trust and progress would depend on direct cooperation between President Trump and Prime Minister Carney. Cramer summed up the visit by saying, “The ultimate deal-makers are Carney and Trump—and both of them know how to make a deal.”
