Weeks before the United States ignited a trade war with its northern neighbour, Donald Trump’s head of Homeland Security parroted the president’s inflammatory remarks about Canada becoming a “51st state” during a visit near the Quebec-Vermont border.
Secretary Kristi Noem was visiting Vermont on Jan. 30 to meet with the family of Border Patrol Agent David Maland, who was killed in the line of duty near the Canadian border earlier that month.
While she was there, she also made a stop at the Haskell Library and Opera House, a building constructed in 1901 that symbolizes the longstanding relationship between Canada and the U.S. as it is — literally — on the border between the two countries.
A long piece of tape on the floor inside the ornate, Queen Anne Revival style stone building delineates the international border.
On one side is Stanstead, Que. and the opposite is Derby, VT.
According to Deborah Bishop, the library’s executive director, Noem stood on the American side and said “U.S.A. no. 1″ during the tour of the building.
“And then [she] crossed the line and said, ‘The 51st state.’ She did this on three occasions. There was no mention of Canada, just ‘The 51st state,’” she told CTV News, adding that the comments took everyone by surprise.
“I couldn’t believe she said it,” Bishop said. “We welcomed her with courtesy and respect, and I think she should have reacted in the same way. She was in Canada. I mean, when you step over that line, you are technically in Canada. So maybe be respectful towards the people in the room who are Canadian.”
‘It is not respectful’
The Homeland Security secretary’s remarks were first reported by the Boston Globe.
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The library was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1985 and was donated for the use of citizens in both countries in memory of American sawmill owner Carlos Haskell and his Canadian wife Martha Stewart Haskell by their family, according to Parks Canada.
The front entrance is on the American side, but Canadian visitors can enter by parking on the Canadian side of the building and following the sidewalk to the entrance.
It’s what makes the building so special, Bishop said, since they welcome everyone who comes in.
“When people come through that door, unless I’ve seen which side they’ve come from, I couldn’t tell you if they’re American or Canadian. And they’re all here for the same reason: to use the library services, maybe to see the Opera House. It’s a unique institution. It’s a beautiful institution. So no, I don’t know what inspired her to make that [statement],” she said.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.
Noem’s comments came as Trump readied to start a trade war against Canada with sweeping tariffs — a move perceived by many officials as a pretext for annexing the country.
Sylvie Boudreau, president of the library’s board of trustees, agreed that Noem’s comments were not welcome in a place that has historically been a place where Americans and Canadians can come inside and put politics aside.
“It is not respectful,” she said in an interview. “We will not become [part of] the United States. Canadians, I don’t think we want, anyway, I don’t want to be a 51st state. So, it was just like … you don’t do something like that. You appreciate the place, the uniqueness of the place.”
Jody Stone, the mayor of Stanstead, told CTV News that he did not witness the incident, but nonetheless found it to be insulting.
“It’s a little disappointing that an official like Kristi Noem mocked the Canadian people while making jokes about Canada becoming a 51st state when clearly Canadians want to remain a sovereign country,” he wrote in an email.
“It’s even more disrespectful when it is done in a historical site like here in Stanstead/Derby line’s beautiful Haskell Library and Opera House,” he added. “This site was designed to showcase our unique location and friendship with our neighbours to the south. The building is split between both countries, allowing Canadians and Americans to share a library and an Opera House. Books coming from both countries and in English and French. We continue to work closely with our neighbouring U.S. towns and will continue to do so as we have built our relationships over many years.”
“We are one community.”
