Bessma Momani and Jillian Stirk: A Message to Trump from Norway

Like Canada, Norway faces an aging population; like Canada, Norway could benefit from more immigration and diversity; like Canada, Norway seeks to maintain its social security system in the face of these demographic challenges. In an opinion article for The Globe and Mail on 3 February 2018, Bessma Momani and Jillian Stirk suggested ways that Canada and Norway could make the most of each others’ strengths. The authors noted that despite President Trump’s suggestions on 11 January 2018, Norwegians may not be interested in outward migration to the United States or anywhere else, but they could still do well to learn from an immigration system like Canada’s that gives immigrants a path to citizenship. Canada, for its part, could learn from Norway’s successes with gender equality.

Bessma Momani is a 2015 Trudeau fellow and a professor in the department of political science and the Balsillie School of International Affairs of the University of Waterloo. Jillian Stirk is a 2015 Trudeau mentor and a former ambassador of Canada to Norway. Read their article here.