Think about it. The soon-to-be president of the most powerful nation on Earth says that he is considering turning the economic screws on Canada until we surrender our sovereignty to him.

The reaction of the federal politicians was disappointing. The Prime Minister said “there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell Canada will become part of the United States.” Of course he’s right. We wouldn’t willingly surrender our sovereignty, but this is not an invitation to be absorbed into the United States.

In this bizarro world on the other side of the looking glass, a reporter asked Trump whether he would use military force to annex Canada. He said he hadn’t considered it. That would be reserved for Greenland and Panama.

In Canada’s case, he believes it would be sufficient to apply crushing economic measures that would bring about a collapse of the Canadian economy. No troops needed. He seems to believe that the captains of industry, provincial premiers and sufficient numbers of ordinary citizens would decide that joining the United States is the only road to salvation in the face of a collapsing economy.

Three quarters of the value of Canada’s exports go to the US while almost two thirds of our imports are sourced there. Given that, he thinks that applying crippling economic pressures to our country will lead to our eventual capitulation.

Trump and his billionaire cadre of advisors, no doubt would relish erasing the Canada-US border to provide easy access to Canadian oil and gas, strategic minerals, freshwater resources and the Arctic.

Will Trump make good on his threat to launch an all-out economic assault on our country? Maybe. The guy has publicly threatened to use the American military to take over Greenland. So, we need to be prepared.

First and foremost, we must not climb through the looking glass and succumb to his threats. We must come together as a country and stand strong in the face of Trump’s economic aggression. The Prime Minister should be prepared to establish an all-party cabinet to repel an all-out economic assault if it comes.

The persistent stream of anti-Canadian rhetoric spewing from Trump's mouth, and his incessant propaganda on the benefits of Canadians becoming Americans is designed to normalize the idea of a take-over of our country. The more he talks about it, the more it will seem like an achievable goal for his supporters in both the US and Canada.

When Germany annexed Austria in 1938, in clear violation of the Treaty of Versailles, the treaty signatories accepted the annexation in an act of appeasement that would have terrible consequences.

As the quote goes, “those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

The biggest mistake Canadians can make is to dismiss Trump’s threats. As with all bullies, we must stand up to Trump as a country and as a people. Doing so will take courage and undoubtedly some sacrifice. Appeasement is not an option.

• David Coon is the leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick and the member of the Legislative Assembly for Fredericton Lincoln