Since winning back the White House, Donald Trump has threatened Canada’s economy, questioned its sovereignty and even taken aim at the name of the lake Niagara-on-the-Lake sits on.
His administration has slapped tariffs on Canadian goods, including a new 50 per cent tariff on $27.6 billion worth of products in August. Canada responded with matching counter-tariffs.
Trump has repeatedly floated making Canada the 51st state. In January 2025, when asked whether he would use military force to make that happen, he said no — but said “economic force” was on the table.
Then, last month, he signed an executive order directing the U.S. government to call Lake Ontario “Lake America.” The change applies only to U.S. federal use and does not change the lake’s name in Canada.
For a border town where tourism, agriculture and relationships with Americans are woven into the local economy, what happens south of the border does not necessarily stay there.
So, The Lake Report asked NOTL’s municipal election candidates a blunt question: What do you think of Donald Trump?
Council candidate Nicholas Colaneri did not hesitate.
“I can’t stand the guy,” he said.
Colaneri said Trump does not respect Canadian sovereignty or Canadians themselves.
“To him, we are something to control and own, to use and abuse, and that is not something I can respect as a Canadian — or even as a human being.”
But he said anger at Trump should not become anger at Americans visiting NOTL.
“Doesn’t mean our doors are closed to you,” said Colaneri, before adding: “Canada first.”
Of the 14 candidates, 13 expressed opposition to Trump, some only after repeated follow-ups. Karen Taylor-Jones was the lone candidate who declined to give a personal opinion, later explaining her decision in a Facebook post.
Steve McGuinness called him “a bully” and his presidency “an example of democracy gone awry.”
He said Trump’s leadership style is the opposite of what he expects from a strong leader.
“A strong leader wants to hear dissenting viewpoints and takes counsel from experts,” McGuinness said.
Lord mayor candidate Erwin Wiens said he was deeply disappointed by what has happened to the Canada-U.S. relationship.
“I have no support for the president of the United States right now,” he said.
Wiens called Trump’s treatment of Canadians “utterly ridiculous,” while saying he remains confident Canada and the United States can repair their relationship as neighbouring nations.
Fellow lord mayor candidate Andrea Kaiser said politicians never know who they may eventually have to work with, but later made her position explicit and said she opposes Trump.
“In addition to attacking Canadian workers, the Canadian economy and our national sovereignty, Donald Trump is committing reckless acts of economic self-harm with these needless, lawless tariffs,” she said.
“We are not the 51st state, nor will we ever be.”
Lord mayor candidate Vaughn Goettler said he is “strongly opposed” to Trump because “he is trying to destroy our country.”
At the same time, Goettler said Trump should not define NOTL’s relationship with the Americans who visit the town.
“A lot of our tourists now come from the United States,” he said. “We welcome them.”
“They are our friends,” he added.
Goettler said he believes the longstanding closeness between Canadians and Americans will outlast the current political tensions.
“There’s a real closeness between our countries and anything that jeopardizes that will ultimately be short in duration,” he said.
Asked if he was a Trump fan, council candidate Rick Mills responded: “Of course I’m not. I wasn’t before he was president either.”
He said a friend suggested his spiritual affiliation — more than 25 years in pastoral ministry with Life Abundant Niagara — could lead people to assume he was a Trump supporter, an assumption he rejected.
“It actually saddens me,” Mills said, adding that his spiritual beliefs do not align with the current U.S. political climate, particularly the treatment of people and allied countries.
Adriana Cater-Vizzari said she “strongly oppose[s]” Trump and has “real concerns about the divisiveness Donald Trump has brought to the relationship between Canada and the United States.”
“Canadians need to stand together to protect our sovereignty, economy and communities,” she said.
Maria Mavridis gave a straightforward answer: “Opposed.” She did not elaborate further when asked.
Sandra O’Connor said she believes Americans “could do better” in choosing a leader and criticized Trump’s comments about Canada becoming the 51st state.
“I oppose Trump,” she said.
She also pointed to her motion directing the town to focus on buying Canadian where possible during the trade dispute, which council approved.
Andrew Niven said he opposes Trump and said his approach to Canada has created “unnecessary uncertainty,” particularly for a “community like Niagara-on-the-Lake where agriculture, tourism and cross-border relationships” are critical for the economy.
“Whatever happens south of the border, we need to make sure we’re doing our part here and putting NOTL first,” he said.
Weston Miller left little room for doubt.
“I’m strongly opposed. There’s no question,” he said, pointing specifically to Trump’s threats to Canadian sovereignty and the push to rename Lake Ontario.
Still, Miller said American visitors should not be treated differently because of their president.
“I don’t think that our reception to them should change,” he said, but added: “Now, if there was somebody walking down Queen Street with a Lake America sweatshirt on or something, you know, maybe I’d have something to say to that.”
Tim Balasiuk said he does not support U.S. tariffs that harm Canadians and is concerned by comments questioning Canada’s sovereignty.
Asked separately about Trump’s conduct, Balasiuk said personal attacks and belittling others are “not approaches to leadership that I would follow.”
Gary Burroughs said he was unsupportive of Trump.
“Support for Trump? I’m probably a two out of whatever the total is,” he said. “Very low.”
At the same time, Burroughs said NOTL should separate the U.S. government from the people living across the river.
“Our relationship is with the U.S. people, not the U.S. government,” he said.
That distinction ran through many of the answers: Trump is one thing. Americans are another.
Karen Taylor-Jones declined to give her personal opinion of Trump, saying municipal candidates should be judged on local issues and on U.S. decisions only when they directly affect NOTL.
In a Facebook post explaining her decision, she said refusing to answer should not be interpreted as support for Trump or as evidence of any particular political position.
Whatever they thought of Trump, most candidates agreed on one thing: NOTL’s relationship with Americans should outlast the person currently in charge of the U.S. government.
