The weather in Chicago today was quite nice—sunny, temperature in the 70s, moderate humidity. Much better than it was last week. Last week we had recordbreakingly bad air quality, attributed to smoke from fires in Ontario. President Trump’s response reminded me of Maslow’s Hammer: “When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.” My own response would have been different. As my mother taught me, you catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar.
Still, Americans are bearing real costs due to smoke from Canada. When Canada had its own recordbreaking forest fires in Ontario in 2023, emergency rooms had large numbers of people with breathing problems and many people turned to their physicians for help. The editors of the Washington Post chide President Trump:
The United States and Canada share the world’s longest international border: 5,525 miles. While there has always been friction, the relationship is a model for how trade is mutually beneficial.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, opening next week, is named for a Canadian who spent 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. There is a tunnel between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, that cannot accommodate large trucks, and the privately owned Ambassador Bridge has long been subject to bottlenecks.
The opening of the new bridge to traffic was already delayed a month after Trump objected to the financial terms. Canada footed the full $4.7 billion construction cost and initially planned to share toll revenue with the U.S. after its initial investment was paid back. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says the two countries will now split the net revenue for the first 15 years after subtracting operating costs.
The Canadian wildfires introduced an unexpected wrinkle. On Sunday, Trump suggested Canada should be forced to “pay us damages” for “poisoning our air” with smoke. Canada is far from a model ally, but Trump’s approach clearly has backfired and boosted anti-American voices north of the border.
Just as the fog from the fires has lifted, so too can this spat. Trump and Carney spoke Tuesday by phone and agreed to intensify negotiations. Both countries will lose this fight if they can’t find a way out, regardless of who started it.
Whatever role climate change plays, it seems equally clear that forest management practices deserve renewed attention. Historically, Canada and the U. S. have cooperated on managing forests. Whatever our disagreements over trade or other issues, smoke recognizes no border. This might be an opportunity for our two nations to redouble our efforts. Rather than complaining about damages, the president could have proposed a joint review of forest management practices, wildfire prevention, and firefighting resources.
