Carleton University students are concerned and uncertain ahead of an upcoming April 28 federal election, fearing U.S. President Donald Trump’s attacks on marginalized communities will bleed into the Canadian sphere.
Following his inauguration on Jan. 20, Trump has signed a slew of executive orders targeting vulnerable communities, such as one preventing transgender women from participating in women’s sports. His words and actions not only harm Americans, but according to Aaron Ettinger, a Carleton political science professor, they also put Canadians north of the border at risk, too.
Ettinger, who focuses on international relations and U.S. foreign policy, said Trump’s attacks on 2SLGBTQ+ and racialized communities, are “insulting … and will be felt among Canadian counterparts.”
The “permission effect of Trumpism” has enabled Trump’s words and executive orders to influence Canadian politics, Ettinger said, by offering permission for people to voice internalized prejudices toward marginalized groups and“to behave in cruel, dismissing and insulting ways.”
Ettinger pointed to the way in which Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre vocalized his views on gender shortly after Trump did so in his inaugural address. Both politicians said they only recognize two genders.
“What starts in the United States eventually comes to Canada,” Ettinger said. “It’s not the exact same, but that two-gender discourse is pure Trumpism — and only took a couple weeks to make its way into the mouth of Poilievre.”
With Trump’s tariff threats pointing to an increase in consumer prices in Canada, Ettinger said marginalized communities and young people will be the most vulnerable.
“There’s already a cost-of-living crisis in this country. Young people tend to make less money … It’s going to be the lower-income people that suffer the most,” Ettinger said.
Tariff threats, harmful executive orders and hate speech have made Jeki Betote, a first-year psychology student at Carleton, feel stressed and concerned.
“It feels like we’re going backwards in time in the worst way possible,” Betote said.
Trump administration executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) — such as one titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” — are “insanely concerning” for Betote, who identifies as a Black man.
“That was a massive progression in society, and it was something that was fought over for a very long time,” he said. “It’s crazy how so many people in Congress just agreed to get rid of all this progress.”
Betote said he is concerned about the effects on Canada, but believes Canada’scultural diversity will prevent American politics from completely crossing over the border.
“It’s scary to see how society as a whole has allowed someone like Trump to be in such a massive position of power,” he said.
Hanan Omar, a second-year English student at Carleton, said she has similar feelings of worry following Trump’s inauguration.
“I’m concerned for myself, and concerned for any visible minorities being targeted,” Omar said. “If the wrong person sees you and they’re having a bad day, you never know what they’re willing to do to you.”
Omar’s concerns stem from the power of online connectedness, and the ways in which U.S. citizens can use social media to influence Canadians’ behaviours from afar.
Omar said society is on a “slow march towards being more and more divided.”
“Will there be a revolution? What will happen in the next couple of years?”
Artur Estrela da Silva, vice-president (student issues) for the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA), said he believes students have the right to feel distress and encouraged them to seek CUSA’s available resources.
“Worry will always be part of our experience … One cannot help but feel anxious or overwhelmed by what’s changing in the world. [CUSA is] here to support [students], to support marginalized voices and try to uplift them,” he said.
Estrela da Silva said DEI policies are a top priority for CUSA this year. He assured CUSA will maintain and advocate for DEI on Carleton’s campus through conversations with the university and the Canadian government.
He also said that Trump’s words will not be heard in the mouths of CUSA or Carleton leadership.
“We have policies that ensure that the people in executive positions at CUSA are advocating for priorities for students.”
Featured graphic by Alisha Velji/the Charlatan.
