Canada and the 2000 United States presidential election
Encyclopedia
As with many American
elections, Canadians
and people from across the western world paid much attention to the 2000 presidential election
; however, Canada paid less attention than in previous years. The 2000 election in the United States was fought mainly over domestic policy; issues like Social Security
and education
were central to the campaign but of little interest to Canadians. Moreover, the end of the U.S. election was overshadowed by the Canadian federal election
held on November 27.
Canadians polled favoured Democratic
candidate Al Gore
over Republican
candidate George W. Bush
. An Environics poll conducted in the fall of 2000 found that 48% of Canadians would have voted for Gore if they were citizens of the United States, while 29% would have backed Bush. Every region of Canada supported Gore, particularly Ontario
, where 55% of the population backed Gore. Bush rated highest in Alberta
, a province with a tradition of supporting conservative political parties (the Conservative Party of Canada
, the Reform Party of Canada
and the Social Credit Party of Canada
all had their bases of support there), but he still trailed Gore 40% to 33%.
Canada was mentioned twice in the first of the 2000 presidential debates
. Al Gore made a reference to American seniors forced to travel to Canada to purchase prescription drugs, while George W. Bush called for a continental energy policy
including both Canada and Mexico
.
The Canadian government, following protocol
, took no side in the American election, but it was commonly perceived that the governing Liberals
implicitly supported Gore. Relations between Jean Chrétien
and Bill Clinton
had been friendly, and the two administrations had cooperated successfully for many years. Gore's foreign policy also matched that of the Canadian government, including joining the International Criminal Court
, support for the Kyoto Accord, and opposition to America's National Missile Defense
. During the campaign, Raymond Chrétien
, Canada's ambassador to the United States and Jean Chrétien's nephew, mentioned that Al Gore had been "a friend to Canada." These remarks caused some controversy in Canada as diplomatic protocol insists on neutrality of emissaries.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
elections, Canadians
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and people from across the western world paid much attention to the 2000 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
; however, Canada paid less attention than in previous years. The 2000 election in the United States was fought mainly over domestic policy; issues like Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
were central to the campaign but of little interest to Canadians. Moreover, the end of the U.S. election was overshadowed by the Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
held on November 27.
Canadians polled favoured Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
over Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. An Environics poll conducted in the fall of 2000 found that 48% of Canadians would have voted for Gore if they were citizens of the United States, while 29% would have backed Bush. Every region of Canada supported Gore, particularly Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, where 55% of the population backed Gore. Bush rated highest in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, a province with a tradition of supporting conservative political parties (the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
, the Reform Party of Canada
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
and the Social Credit Party of Canada
Social Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
all had their bases of support there), but he still trailed Gore 40% to 33%.
Canada was mentioned twice in the first of the 2000 presidential debates
United States presidential election debates
During presidential elections in the United States, it has become customary for the main candidates to engage in a debate...
. Al Gore made a reference to American seniors forced to travel to Canada to purchase prescription drugs, while George W. Bush called for a continental energy policy
Energy policy
Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption...
including both Canada and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The Canadian government, following protocol
Protocol (diplomacy)
In international politics, protocol is the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state.A protocol is a rule which guides how an activity should be performed, especially in the field of diplomacy. In diplomatic services and governmental fields of endeavor protocols are often unwritten guidelines...
, took no side in the American election, but it was commonly perceived that the governing Liberals
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
implicitly supported Gore. Relations between Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
and Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
had been friendly, and the two administrations had cooperated successfully for many years. Gore's foreign policy also matched that of the Canadian government, including joining the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
, support for the Kyoto Accord, and opposition to America's National Missile Defense
National Missile Defense
National missile defense is a generic term for a type of missile defense intended to shield an entire country against incoming missiles, such as intercontinental ballistic missile or other ballistic missiles. Interception might be by anti-ballistic missiles or directed-energy weapons such as lasers...
. During the campaign, Raymond Chrétien
Raymond Chrétien
Raymond Chrétien, OC is the nephew of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and was an ambassador from Canada:* France 2000–2003* United States 1994–2000* Belgium 1991–1994* Mexico 1985–1988* Congo 1978–1981...
, Canada's ambassador to the United States and Jean Chrétien's nephew, mentioned that Al Gore had been "a friend to Canada." These remarks caused some controversy in Canada as diplomatic protocol insists on neutrality of emissaries.