Former Green Candidate Floats Idea of Canada Joining BRICS Amid U.S. Trade Threats

With U.S. President Donald Trump ramping up threats of tariffs and annexation, former Green Party candidate Vince Fiorito is proposing a dramatic shift in Canada’s foreign policy: joining BRICS. Fiorito argues that aligning with the growing bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa could offer Canada an independent global trading system, free from American economic coercion.

A Response to U.S. Economic and Political Pressures

Fiorito frames his argument in the context of growing U.S. unpredictability. He suggests that “xenophobic Americans aren’t reliable trading partners,” pointing to Washington’s history of economic threats, sanctions, and aggressive foreign policy. With the United States using trade as a political weapon, Fiorito believes Canada should consider long-term alternatives that reduce dependence on American markets.

His proposal comes amid Trump’s talk of imposing massive tariffs on Canadian goods and even suggesting that Canada could be annexed under certain conditions. With U.S.-Canada relations under strain, Fiorito argues that BRICS could offer a counterbalance—allowing Canada to diversify its trade relationships and avoid being at the mercy of American political shifts.

Could Canada Be Welcomed in BRICS?

Fiorito acknowledges that Canada’s relationship with key BRICS nations—particularly China and Russia—has deteriorated in recent years. He cites several diplomatic missteps, including Canada’s detention of Chinese executive Meng Wanzhou and its longstanding support for Ukraine, which he claims has alienated Russian leadership.

However, he suggests that if Canada abandoned its role as “America’s yappy little Yorkshire Terrier” and instead embraced a neutral stance focused on peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, it could rebuild relationships with BRICS nations and eventually join the bloc.

Historically, Canada has maintained friendly ties with China, Fiorito notes, highlighting Dr. Norman Bethune’s contributions to the Chinese Revolution and Pierre Trudeau’s diplomatic relationship with Beijing in the 1970s. He believes a return to that era of diplomacy could open doors for Canada within BRICS.

A Radical Shift in Foreign Policy

The idea of Canada joining BRICS would mark a seismic shift in the country’s global positioning. Traditionally aligned with Western economic and military alliances like NATO and the G7, Canada has rarely entertained closer ties with China, Russia, and other BRICS members beyond trade agreements.

Fiorito insists he is “not anti-anyone” and still supports NAFTA and mutual defense treaties with the U.S. However, he believes that Canada should not allow American foreign policy to dictate its own interests.

His proposal raises questions: Could Canada realistically join BRICS while maintaining its economic and security ties with the U.S.? Would embracing BRICS nations alienate Canada’s traditional allies? And given Canada’s deep integration with Western institutions, would its political establishment ever seriously consider such a move?

With Trump’s aggressive stance toward Canada intensifying, the debate over Canada’s economic and diplomatic future is far from settled. Whether or not BRICS membership is realistic, Fiorito’s proposal signals a growing frustration with the country’s reliance on the U.S.—and a willingness to explore alternatives.