The Honorable Jean Chrétien is a Canadian politician, statesman, and lawyer who served as prime minister from 1993 to 2003. Last Saturday was his 91st birthday. Chrétien became prime minister when Canada was on the brink of a debt crisis. However, he led the country to its first budget surplus in nearly 30 years, and then he could repay the government’s debts.

For his birthday,  instead of meeting his family, Chrétien wrote an open letter, published in La Presse, to respond to Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Canada if it does not become part of the USA.

“To Donald Trump, from one old guy to another, give your head a shake!” Chrétien said. “What could make you think that Canadians would ever give up the best country in the world — and make no mistake, that is what we are — to join the United States? “If you think that threatening and insulting us is going to win us over, you really don’t know a thing about us,” Chrétien wrote in the letter. “We may look easy-going, mild-mannered. But make no mistake, we have spine and toughness.”

Chrétien also mentioned that Canadians built a nation on the most rugged and challenging territory imaginable and that threats from Trump aren’t going to kill them.

Thanks to Trump, Chrétien said Canada hasn’t been this unified in a long time. “All the leaders of our country are united in their determination to defend Canadian interests,” Chrétien affirmed. He also stated that Canada’s leaders should start showing their determination and leadership to put the citizens at ease.

Chrétien recalled that Canada is not the only country being threatened by Trump. He proposed that Canada should organize meetings with Panama, Mexico, Denmark, and other countries to find a plan to respond to the president-elect and his threats.“Every time Mr. Trump opens his mouth, he creates new allies for all of us,” Chrétien mentioned.

Chrétien is also concerned about illegal weapons coming from the U.S. “Let’s tell Trump that we also have problems with the border with the United States. Canada has strict gun-control laws, but illegal weapons are pouring in from the U.S.”