Can we still be friends: Alaska town sends love letter to neighbours in Yukon

Things have gotten a little weird lately with the U.S. and Canada, but one small-town mayor in Alaska hopes his town can still be Valentines with its neighbours across the border in the Yukon.

Mayor Tom Morphet of Haines, Alaska, penned a love letter of sorts this week and sent off a copy to his counterparts in nearby Haines Junction, Yukon and Whitehorse on Wednesday.

It says the Haines Borough wants to “reaffirm a relationship of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance” with those Yukon communities.

“We recognize that as northerners, we sometimes have as much in common with our Canadian neighbors [sic] as we do with our own countrymen in the southern latitudes.”

The only road into the scenic coastal town is from Haines Junction, about a three-hour drive away. Whitehorse — much larger than both those communities — is about five hours away.

The letter describes a centuries-old history of “familial, cultural, social, economic and political” bonds between the communities, and expresses gratitude for the goodwill Yukoners have shown toward Haines over the years.

“We are grateful for the many services and opportunities that our proximity to Canada affords us, including emergency hospital services, veterinary service, RCMP coverage, parks, shopping and social events held in your city,” it reads.

Speaking to CBC News, Morphet said it felt important to reach out right now. 

“You know, there’s been some statements out of Washington that I think have, you know, kind of taken some shots there at Canada,” Morphet told CBC News on Friday morning.

“And we just wanted the folks up there to know that they don’t necessarily represent the views of the folks in our town.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has been threatening to impose devastating tariffs on Canadian goods, saying Canada has been treating the U.S. unfairly. He has also repeatedly suggested that Canada should be annexed by the States, to the revulsion of the vast majority of Canadians. 

Morphet said he finds the whole situation “a bit upsetting to me, personally.”

“I’ve got good friends in Whitehorse and the Junction,” he said. “Some places in the world, you know, Yanks aren’t welcome, but we’ve always felt welcome going up to the Yukon. We’d just love that to continue.”

Haines also counts on Canadians for business — something Morphet is all too aware of.

Tourism is a major industry in Haines, and the town has long been a popular getaway for Yukoners. An annual bike relay race between Haines Junction and Haines — with mostly Yukoners competing — is also the biggest event of the year in Haines, he said.

There are “a lot of loonies and toonies in our cash registers,” Morphet said. “Canadian visitation is critical to our economy — so we want to maintain that.” 

Whitehorse ‘deeply concerned’ about trade war, mayor says

Diane Strand, the mayor of Haines Junction, said on Friday she hadn’t yet had time to talk to her fellow council members about Morphet’s letter but expected to next week.

Whitehorse Mayor Kirk Cameron penned a response to Haines on behalf of his city and sent it off on Friday. It also spoke of the long history of friendship and cooperation between Yukon and Alaska, and how the Yukon capital enjoys a “close, active relationship,” with Haines, as well as Skagway, Alaska, and the state capital Juneau — a sister city to Whitehorse.

“We value these close ties and appreciate how they have enriched the lives of our residents,” Cameron wrote.

However, Cameron also said there was more than just friendship at stake right now.

“Whitehorse City Council is deeply concerned about the impacts on our local businesses and workers and is engaging with partners to ensure a coordinated response to the ongoing threat of an American trade war,” Cameron wrote.

“As you can imagine, we stand united with our Canadian family during this challenging time.”

Cameron also encouraged Morphet to join the Border Mayors Alliance, made up of municipal leaders from Canada and U.S. advocating for their communities in the face of a looming trade war. 

“By joining forces, we can prevent the adverse effects of an unnecessary trade war and work towards solutions that benefit both nations,” Cameron wrote.