These were also issues for the Biden administration, previous Trump administration and Pres Obama. How long do we expect our neighbors and the rest of the 5 eyes(who no longer trust us, nei hao ma Beijing )to put up with our juvenile behaviour? Yes, President Trump is over the top. Canada is the 40 year old in dad’s attic. Pays no bills, risks a house fire by leaving the door open and can’t be trusted with the car. That it took economic nuclear war to wake up folks in Ottawa says enough. As for premier Smith doing what she can for her constituency, bravo. She endured enough inanity from Ottawa choking off O&G not trusting them is an adult reaction.
Danielle Smith has been unjustifiably vilified for not being a Team Canada player. That on the mistaken assumption that there was a logical, cohesive and achievable plan in place.
Frau, it couldn't possibly have escaped your notice that Trump is building the wall on the southern border. If you don't think the criminals will figure out that they can come down from the north when the southern route is closed, you greatly underestimate the criminal element. They are evil, not stupid. Trump is thinking three moves ahead of you.
If we had a functional government we could work on that problem. Unfortunately there is no government since Trudeau resigned and even before Trudeau was useless.
Annie, Trump had miles of wall bought and paid for, stacked up at the border ready to be erected. Didn't you catch the news a week or two ago that Biden is quickly selling it off at $5 per section, in order to force Trump to spend millions to get it back again? The wall is back on, baby!
No mention of stemming the tide of illegal firearms from down south!
It’s irritating though that the US says jump and we say how high. All that extra border security costs a lot. And why don’t they watch the border from their side if they are so concerned.
Hey! Remember that time Justin Trudeau went behind Trump's back and made a climate deal with France? https://youtu.be/zVWEGR_2ubc Canada is a threat to the USA as long as we have not taken care of finding out who the foreign supported politicians are - and people like Freeland bragging that they will 'fight' the USA just make us look stupid. We are a mouse against an elephant, we cannot defend our northern border where China is happily opening the Polar Silk Road, Russia has many large military bases right across the Arctic Ocean from where we have NONE. We have not kept up our part of the NATO bargain. We are deeply in debt and our own government is standing in the way of getting valuable resources to market. We are 'trapped' with our resources precisely b/c of Liberal climate policies. Premier Smith is taking the path of diplomacy while these other clowns make fools of themselves on the world stage. Freeland is claiming that Trump doesn't like her because she stood up to him - no, because she was publicly very rude to him just prior to having to negotiate. Just in the past few weeks and number of recent immigrant Canadian truckers have been found in the US with huge loads of drugs on board. So don't blame Trump for coming to obvious conclusions that we are a loose cannon pointing at his deck, and our deck is on rough seas. We are the problem. Our prorogued leaders are just too dumb to look at themselves in the mirror. Que sera sera. Ppl should read "The End of the World is Just the Beginning" by Peter Zeihan. I don't agree with everything, but he clearly has fingers on the pulse of global demographics and geopolitics. The world as we knew it is over. We can either help make a new world or face serious consequences.
On top of all you mentioned; which I absolutely agree with, Trudeau was too stupid to realize that acting like a 12 year old and insulting Trump on an open mike might be a bad idea.
Terry, EVERY Canadian politician is useless. (That's one reason I'm a libertarian.) But let's at least chose politicians that aren't massively destructive in 12 dimensions at once, shall we?
Seems so. As much as I can't stand Trudeau, poilieve certainly doesn't give me the warm fuzzies. There's something not quite right with him and the juvenile slogans are only part of it. The Conservative Party of Canada did not do itself any favours.
Until he’s elected, yes! Trump DOES want his southern AND Northern borders secured. More terrorists are coming across our border into the U.S. than are coming from Mexico. (Trudeau seems to LOVE extremists of every type!) anyway, as soon as Trump plugs the hole in his southern border, even MORE will come across from his northern border! So it HAS to be plugged, too. I can’t believe the RCMP actually bought Chinese drones to use on the Border! (Apparently they’ve now purchased some US-made ones.) YES, we have a HUGE Fentanyl (and other drugs) problem… manufacture, trafficking, global distribution and a global money-laundering hub!) I would have thought you’d be reading Sam Coooer’s Substack, Terry! As for our Defence Spending, it’s PATHETIC, EMBARASSING! We need to pull our weight if we want to be treated like a nation-state! We’ve spent years saying that we don’t need to defend the Arctic because who’d invade us? We’re so “nice! …and anyway, if anyone ever did, the Americans would have to defend us! “ well, if we’re going to act like a U.S. State, it’s no surprise that someone finally called us one! Trump’s concern is China, whose navy are making inroads everywhere. THAT’s Why Trump wants to secure our Arctic, Greenland and the Panama Canal. If China succeeds in taking over as the World Superpower, it won’t be good for ANY of us!
Seems the RCMP bought Chinese drones to monitor the border, and the USA doesn't want them anywhere near their border! If there's a metaphor for how Canada is handling our relationship with the USA, this might be perfect.
Well, now. You said a lot of interesting things, but I have say that you lost me at "Justin Trudeau went behind Trump's back."
I have zero respect for Trudeau. I had a bit of hope. back in 2015, that he would actually do a little bit to back his "sunny ways" and "Canada is back" rhetoric but, as it turns out, that was a forlorn hope.
But how in hell can you castigate him, or any other Canadian, for some sort of "going behind Trump's back" crap?
We are Canada! We are NOT the 51st state. We, or any citizen or politician of Canada, do NOT require the permission of Trump or any other leader of the US to deal with other countries. If there was some sort of specific harm to the US from that deal, you don't say, nor does the video at the link you supplied, nor did Trump complain specifically about it.
Trump is a bully. And you are castigating Trudeau for not kissing his boots, or other parts? There are more than enough reasons to wish Trudeau away, but that's not one of them.
Agreed! Keep in mind too, that the Trump administration is, and will keep being aware that Canadians are expressing dissatisfaction with their own country. This makes us very vulnerable. I still adore our country and will never, ever capitulate to another country who professes to want to annex us. Just the thought of it makes me shudder.
Pardon me for intruding here but when you have allies the likes of Canada and the United States there absolutely can be elements of “going behind someone’s back”. To suggest otherwise in this case is also naive. Our economies and peoples have always acted as if we were married so of course when you betray without communication it causes a breach of trust. Trudeau constantly looked for opportunities to undermine Mr Trump and openly treated him with disdain and hostility. This did not play well with American people and it greatly chilled relations even through Biden’s administration. Trudeau treats every relationship as if he is campaigning and cares little for the fallout it creates outside his narcissistic bubble. I’m not a fan of Mr Trump but let’s not kid ourselves that Trudeau’s jilting of Trump/USA by signing the agreement with Macron in 2018 helped sour the Can/US relationship in a way we are still paying for today.
Fair comment, but if you consider the volume of trade b/t the US and Canada, vs that b/t France and Canada...and the fact that there is a huge ocean b/t France and Canada, and the fact that France had OPENLY THREATENED the US, our largest trading partner, then I think it is fair to say Trudeau went behind the back of Trump. WE ARE THE LARGEST TRADING PARTNER OF THE US!!!!! I'm in favour of making trade deals with other countries, but not to 'spite' our largest trade partner on climate issues and in a sneaky way. I never said or intimated that 'permission' was required - it is self-evident in the world of geopolitical diplomacy, if you pull a trick like this, you'll pay. Dearly. We will pay. Probably tomorrow. PS Trudeau is also a bully. Note his tweet in this report...and the foreign interference surrounding it, and the outcome. Because of his stupid policies, we HAVE NO OTHER ACCESS to markets, making us reliant on the US. Not about boot kissing - all about diplomacy and common sense negotiations. Something PMJT knows nothing about. https://blog.friendsofscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Manufacturing-A-Climate-Crisis-2A-FINAL.pdf PS I agree that Trump is a bombastic bully. This should not surprise anyone - years of evidence - but he is also a business person who just gets things done. Unlike our gov't for the past 9 years.
OK, but I'm still totally confused as to what all this "behind his back" stuff is about. Just because the US is our largest trading partner, we have to have their approval (or at least Trumps) before we make any agreement with anyone else? Especially if it's a country Trump doesn't like?
Nope. No way.
And you still haven't said how whatever that deal with France would have been detrimental to the US.
BTW, I also disagree with "he is also a business person who just gets things done." If you take a real close look at his record over the years, it's nowhere near as spectacular as he makes out. More like a litany of idiocy with enough larceny and sheer blind luck to end up on the black side of the ledger line.
Rote insults, like “Trump’s imbecilities” is where much of these problems come from. Yes, Trump is transactional, and thin-skinned, but an imbecile he is not. His methods are unique, but he has managed to gain the support of his fellow Americans - against all odds. We are insulting the American people when we smear him. Even if we don’t appreciate his approach we should treat the President of the United States with a modicum of respect. If Trudeau and associates had done so we would not be in this mess today. As for Danielle Smith, I think she is on the right track. Let’s deal intelligently with Trump’s grievances - which are mostly legitimate. Let’s start meeting our NATO commitments. But huffing and puffing and waving our flag - especially by the Liberal party that tells us we are a genocidal, racist non-country - is as useless a response as is gratuitously insulting Trump
Trump's utterances on Canada and on most matters outside his expertise as a maestro in the vulgar arts pioneered by PT Barnum are utter imbecilities. Not always a liar, though, because in his moral universe there is no objective truth. He's a lot less like Poilievre and a great deal more like Trudeau in this way. Many millions of decent Americans voted for Trump because he was all the comparably primitive American political system had on offer. Many millions of voters had simply had it with Biden-Harris. People who are genuine devotees of Donald Trump, who fancy him as possessing some hidden wisdom that only svengalis like Alex Jones or Kevin O’Leary can comprehend, beclown themselves every time they open their mouths.
This newsletter was founded and remains devoted to the reality-based community. There’s all sorts of room for agreement and disagreement, but only because there is a basis for both in reality.
Brian's post is *entirely* grounded in reality, Terry.
It was said (Ann Coulter?) way back in 2016 that people take Trump literally but not seriously; whereas they should take him seriously but not literally. Yes, Trump would be uttering imbecilities, if you thought he means what he says literally. But generally, he doesn't. He speaks in metaphor and enthymemes; he simplifies and exaggerates. He is staking out a bargaining position; trying to destabilize an adversary before debating or negotiating; he is being deliberately hyperbolic for effect... Canadians should stop lighting their hair on fire and just do what is in our best interest - that's all Trump is really asking.
Canada may not have a good leader but Alberta certainly does. If you listen carefully to the position articulated by Danielle Smith, it is a reasoned, logical approach that resonates common sense. Trump is a 4 year blip on the historical path. Smith takes a much longer and prudent view of our close relationship with the U.S.
Conducting a trade war with an economy ten times our size is doomed to both short and long term failure.
Yes. Danielle Smith is being vilified for practicing diplomacy.
The Liberals are pushing to escalate a trade war with immediate “retaliation”, against a country with the largest economy in the world, when they’re going to be out the door in a few months.
And Smith gets labelled a “traitor”? And only looking out for her province?
I’m trying here Terry but what you should have written is I HATE TRUMP. Which you are, of course, entitled to. I don’t. I think he is Canadas best hope to force us to wisen the fuck up and start paying attention to what’s important. Smith is doing so. Ford has shown his cards and there is not a pair in sight. We’ve voted for weaklings promising free stuff for less effort and we’ve been caught.
It’s worth noting that about half of Americans DESPISE Trump. You should see what they call him. On the other hand a fraction of his fans won’t hear any criticism of him at all.
But I can understand why people voted for him—Biden was very far left and made some really bad decisions.
But note that that Trump didn’t campaign on the strange foreign policy ideas he’s talking about now (although he has a longstanding fondness for tariffs).
Such silliness. Wake up Canada. Trump's call has made us all look at what we are not achieving is a country. Good for Smith for not over reacting to a poke.
Deep breath Terry. This entire Tariff Threat is a direct consequence of Trudeau, and the ENTIRE LIBERAL PARTY, using Trump as the butt of their snide comments against the Conservatives for the last 4 years. Bullying and retribution shouldn't come as a surprise. Once Canadians have been allowed to kick Turdeau to the curb (Mary Simon should be fired immediately) I expect Trump will chill out. OTOH, cleaning up our terrorist problem and fentanyl problem seems like a win-win for all of us.
OK, Kelly, I'm going to challenge you a bit on this one. "This entire Tariff Threat is a direct consequence of Trudeau, and the ENTIRE LIBERAL PARTY" dose NOT explain why Trump has threatened each and every trading partner with tariffs. He also specifically went after Mexico and China. Because of Trudeau and the Liberals?
No, Trump is a bully, and a not very smart one at that. Contrary to all evidence, he seems to think that tariffs are paid by those whom he hits them with and he loves to hurt people that don't kneel down and kiss his ring (or other things).
Yes, Trudeau is not his favourite person, along with so many others, any for some valid reasons.
Trump will NOT chill out, regardless of who is leading Canada. He's not psychologically capable of that.
Two things can be true at once. He can go after Mexico for drugs and immigration, just like he's claimed to do for Canada. As for China? Their infiltration into Canadian affairs has been very well documented here as well as in other Substack files. Surely you understand that the US intelligence community knows the issues with CCP influence over Canadian politicians etc? So if it takes Donald Trump stomping around and breaking things to rid Canada of the CCP's favorite political party, I say "bring it on". I'm sick to death of what the Liberals have done to this country, and not just from their absolute contempt of Alberta. They have failed Canada in a way that is far more damaging than some trades tariffs. Donald Trump is a bully, absolutely. But frankly we've reached a point in the cycle where a bully might be what's needed to reorient the ship. The course we've been on is not good. Not by half.
I can understand your desire to be rid of Trudeau. But think back a bit. According to all the polls, we've been on the way to do that by ourselves for some time now. We didn't need McGilla Gorilla Trump stomping around to do that for us.
If that's what his aim was, he should have said so, not clouded the issue with bogus claims and demands that we enforce US laws for him. (Stopping people from entering the US, which is not illegal in Canada.)
Maybe the US intel community has concerns about CCP influence with certain people in Canada but knowing Trumps (lack of) respect for US intel, I doubt that had much to do with his "stomping around."
He's a bully that is stomping around because he can and because it makes him feel big and strong. Same reason he's beating up on Denmark over Greenland, for some vague "security" objective.
And that's the most dangerous type of bully. One you can't figure out and try to logically work with/around. And one who has enough power to break a lot of things.
That's the kind that scares me, especially when we're currently without competent leadership.
Then be afraid. Trudeau has shown me (and many other Canadians) what a truly shitty system this country has. Provincial infighting, parliamentary grid lock, constitutional failure, violations of Charter Rights without consequences, judicial failures, etc. My "Proud to be Canadian" patch went into the garbage during the so-called pandemic. And I don't want to hear about "every country did it" BS. I doubt Trump could, or would, ever actually annex Canada. There's far too many left-wing idiots here. But honestly if it takes the mother of all economic catastrophes for Canadians to actually CHANGE things then bring it on. Respectfully, Ron it strikes me that you suffer from the same problem that a host of people did (still do) prior to both the 2016 and 2024 Presidential Election - thinking Trump is dumb. Trump is no idiot. Underestimating him has been a mistake again and again. Now, once again, he's running the most powerful country on the planet but had surrounded himself with equally intelligent teammates. Who do we have running the show here? Yeah, be afraid.
I agree with Smith. Our 'leaders' are more then happy to sell out Alberta. It seems that Ottawa is unaware that western oil to the east goes through the states. And I need more reasons than being a patriot to be on Team Canada's side.
Tanker ban, directed towards preventing shipping AB oil, pipeline East and Northern Gateway cancelled, post covid vaccine mfg money to Quebec and Ontario, Alberta nada. Battery mfg subsidies of about 40 Billion to Quebec and Ontario, Alberta nada. Dear Canadians we are sick and tired of your hostility towards us. You elect mostly liberal governments, extremely hostile towards us. May I ask why you don’t put up the Ontario auto mfg industry, or Quebecs electricity sales to the US, on the table as number uno retaliation weapons? We all know the answer to that right? Most Albertans fully support Danniele Smith on her talks with US power figures.
Your liberal/NDP government declared Canada a woke post national state, with no defined culture to bind us together. Well, and now dear hypocrites, you now want us to be a solid member of team Canada?
You my dear electorate, voted with great fervour in 2015 and again 2021 for the mess we are in. Out of goodwill towards you, I believe that Alberta ought to show the rest of Canada, the same degree of goodwill and loyalty, you have shown Alberta. Fair deal, would’nt you say?
Where were the Rest of canada's premiers when Trudeau and Guillbaut were ravaging our industry? If Ontario's autos or Quebec's hydro were on the table there would they sign?
Terry, I agree with a lot of this, and I respect your opinions a great deal, especially on Ukraine, Israel, and China. But I disagree with your position on Danielle Smith.
Ottawa displays a frivolous and alarming attitude towards threatening the Americans with an export tax on Alberta energy or blocking the sale of Alberta energy entirely. That is the nuclear option and it would blow up in Canada's face, especially Alberta's. Alberta has no reason to trust this government to look out for Alberta's interests or to understand the gravity of how that would impact Albertans; just look at how the federal government has hamstrung Alberta's energy sector the past 10 years and helped get us in this mess in the first place.
Alberta's interests are directly tied to the rest of Canada's interests, and protecting Alberta's energy sector will help Canadians in other provinces. Alberta is the economic engine of the country, after all. The dearly departed Rex Murphy spoke eloquently on how Alberta's energy boom helped Newfoundlanders just when they needed it the most. We are a Confederation and need to remember that.
Smith is a very smart politician. One of the best and most principled Canadian politicians in my lifetime, in my opinion. I can tell you that most Albertans I have spoken to, on the left and the right, think she is absolutely right on this issue.
Premier Lougheed was labelled a turncoat as well for standing up to the last Trudeau's harmful energy policies. In 2012 Lougheed was chosen as the best Canadian premier of the last 40 years in a landslide poll by Policy Options. Doing the right thing doesn't always make you popular in the short term.
Smith is exercising diplomacy and leadership at a time when we need it the most. She is making the case for Alberta and Canada's interests by listening to the substance of what the most serious Americans are complaining about, instead of getting caught up in the trolling and social media bombast that Trump excels at. She is forging relationships and getting face to face time to plead Alberta and Canada's case. Her appearances on Fox News, appealing directly to Trump's supporters, are a masterclass in communication. She handles the ribbing about becoming the "51st state" with disarming grace, humour, and skill, simultaneously reminding the Americans we are a sovereign nation, but also one that is a strategic partner that can be relied upon.
Compare that to Melanie Joly's embarrassing stumbling performance on CNN.
Trudeau and Doug Ford are doing the opposite: behaving like silly little men trying to counter-troll Trump with "Canada is not for sale" hats and unconvincingly trying to convey a "tough" and "serious" image, after a decade of being neither. They are just playing into Trump's game and harming Canada, with no real plan other than sabre rattling.
Terry, let's be clear about something: Trump isn't *creating* a fissure between Alberta and the rest of Canada; he is exploiting a fissure that is *entirely* homemade.
Where was the "Team Canada" approach in the past when negotiating trade deals with the USA and Europe, among other regions? Hell, Quebec wouldn't even sacrifice their horrid little dairy cartel that harms every Canadian consumer, in order to smooth better trading relations with our allies. But now they want Alberta to sacrifice the O&G sector that is the entire backbone of the Alberta economy? The scale of the sacrifice expected is orders of magnitude greater. From the distant Laurentians, it might not look like it, though.
Where was the "Team Canada" approach when Alberta wanted to supply foreign markets east and west that were clambering for our O&G? That would have made Canada stronger, less reliant on Trump as the sole buyer-at-a-steep-discount. Eastern Canada is happy to take the wealth generated in Alberta from our "filthy oil" in the form of $20billion in equalization payments per year. Why don't you easterners fight your stupid trade war using the generous subsidy Alberta is already giving you, instead of imposing yet another enormous sacrifice on us? The playing field has never been level in Canada, and now you want to siphon off even more from Alberta to support hard-hit industries in Ontario and Quebec?
Samuel Johnson remarked that "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." When all rational arguments and justifications run out, politicians appeal to patriotism. Sorry, but Albertans have had enough. Many of us now prefer separation and sovereignty.
Nobody gives a fuck about the cow lobby and Canada just finished spending $35 billion to get Alberta oil to tidewater. This isn't the time to rub salt into wounds that have a lot less to do with Eastern politicians than it is politically expedient to allege. And if it's separatism you want, you have nothing to contribute to the conversations Canadians should be having among themselves at the moment. If that's what you want, there's nothing to discuss.
Terry, calm down. The Bloc put forth a motion in Parliament just last Fall which would pre-emptively protect the Quebec dairy cartel in any future trade negotiations. They made approval of that provision a condition of supporting the Trudeau government. Nobody cares about the dairy lobby, really? OK, Andrew Scheer won the Conservative leadership race by a sliver because he supported the Quebec dairy cartel and Bernier didn't. To say that nobody gives a fuck about it is contrary to all evidence since it was established by Eugene Whalen in 1970. This isn't your beat; maybe you should excuse yourself.
And stop talking about the transmountain pipeline as though it were Canada's gift to Alberta. If it hadn't been for the Trudeau government and Christy Clarke government constantly putting unpredictable obstacles in the way of its completion, Kinder Morgan would have built that thing faster and at no cost to the taxpayer. You get no brownie points from Albertans for wasting more of our tax money to drag your feet completing it. This is just so typical of the ignorant Canadian attitude toward Alberta. Sit down.
The Albertans have a valid point: Team Canada is all about Alberta bearing the burden. Not surprisingly, Alberta is saying, "Screw that" and asking, "What have you done for us lately?"
The reality is that we should have sea to sea oil pipelines which don't run through the US. We should have LNG facilities on both coasts. We should have other markets so we can tell Trump to pound sand. We don't and that is a choice the Liberals made years ago.
That project could've been completed for $7 billion of private money if it hadn't been held hostage by mostly federal reviews/regs. And I do care about the "cow lobby": we pay way too much here for dairy products and it's simply to prop up an outdated and inefficient (and shall I say, rather Soviet) agricultural model at the expense of everyday Canadians.
Trudeau having spent the last decade denigrating this country; labeling us systematically racist, flying flags at half mast for months, radically transforming our institutions, lurching from one scandal to another, calling us post-national and flooding the system with newcomers who can’t possible be absorbed, I’m hardly surprised that Trump seized this moment of historic weakness to capitalize on. We haven’t been grown ups in this relationship for some time. We’ve allowed foreign actors to corrupt our economics and politics. We’ve been a free rider on defence. We’ve allowed our brains to be marinated in an ongoing drivel of identity politics and claimed superiority at our uncouth southern neighbours in the most obnoxiously sanctimonious way. I love this country but what comes next is as much about Trump as it is about how unserious our country is now.
Alberta stands to lose a lot more than any other province. Economists are lining up to say restricting or shutting off pipelines is an extremely unwise path to take. Albertans have no reason to trust the Trudeau government and there isn’t a ball cap in Canada that will change their minds. We’re not Team Canada when Trudeau declares that the oilsands need to be phased out. That’s why Premier Smith has the support of a great deal of Albertans. She seems to be the only adult in the room at the moment.
This appears to be the only country where the leader of the opposition has been expected to provide the solutions to the problems the government is facing (and is the cause of) and can't solve for itself. And then he still gets criticized for both the ideas he gives AND for the seeming lack of his input.
Why is it the job of the opposition to propose solutions when there is no election announced? (And no I don't trust the weasel Singh to vote non-confidence).
It is precisely the job of the Opposition, especially now that the governing party has padlocked Parliament, to "provide the solutions." People are looking to Poilievre for leadership. If all they hear is boring old propaganda fictions about transfer payments, they'll look elsewhere.
I suppose this is where my disagreement lies. Stephen Harper articulated it best when he revealed his advice to CPC - reminding them of their role as opposition and why they should NOT propose detailed solutions right away. YT clip: https://youtu.be/4yvqid3tUp0?si=JZfUf0YJYTAPx_er
His "axe the tax....." schtik doesn't fit the bill any more. As for providing the solutions, that's not a good idea before an election. The Liberals have had a habit of claiming the best parts as their own and running with them.
Transfer payments are fundamentally unfair and a tax on the ROC just for the privilege of keeping Quebec in the Confederation. Meantime the federal government STILL has not fulfilled its promises to BC as a perquisite of joining in 1872 (most importantly, settling Native treaties, leading to the mess we're in out here re: title).
Excellent analysis as usual, Mr. Glavin. Nice to read someone is morally consistent. The reasons to be alarmed at Trump’s excesses are the same alarmed at Trudeau’s. They are two sides of the same coin.
The issues that are concerning are the issues that Canadian Governments (Liberal and Conservative ) and they are:
1. Border security- after September 11, 2001 the Canadian government promised to beef up the border, but it has fallen to US Customs ICE to primarily be the ones maintaining our nation's security. It is going to take increasing the size of the RCMP to 60,000 as criminal cases especially those along the border requires resources dedicated to investigating and prosecuting these types of investigations. It will also require increasing the size of the CBSA and buying high tech helicopters, aircraft and other technologies to intercept and interdict drugs, firearms and illegal immigrants either using Canada to enter the US or vice versa. Currently, a Canadian who wanted to smuggle anything into Canada can drive the Partridge family bus into Canada full of guns, drugs, contraband and anything else criminals desire. The current and recently leased 2 Blackhawk helicopters based in Ottawa is a joke and window dressing. Canada needs to pull its weight.
The other component is to rewrite the onerous disclosure rules which law enforcement has to provide full disclosure to the courts and defence counsel. Other countries such as Australia and the UK have a lot of problems with this as informants and police agents are put at risk and many would be compromised in their countries. It is time for legislation to be enacted to address this problem so informants and police agents from other countries and Canada are protected and full disclosure curtailed in this specific area.
2. Our military- It has long been neglected since 1968. Our Navy needs lots of patrol ships, an aircraft carries and other necessary hardware to protect our sovereignty and support our NATO and international commitments. The came needs to be done for the Army and the RCAF. Canada has skated on our NATO commitments since Pierre Trudeau came to power. It is integral that the military gets beefed up to meet our commitments. This means providing anti aircraft and air defense systems for our soldiers, proper attack helicopters and drone systems.
3. Our intelligence service- the size of CSIS needs to be increased so as to be able to surveil, infiltrate and investigate active bad actors from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea that are destabilizing our democracies, stealing intellectual property and targeting Canadian citizens.
The issue of Trump not liking our dairy system is a joke. The US subsidizes their own farmers.
I concur that Trump is deflecting from dealing with Russia and China. Attacking his own western allies and destabilizing western democracies plays into our enemies hands. Trump will surrender the Ukraine as believe he may be a Russian asset and the FSB have dirt on him. If one were to review any of Trump's past comments on the Ukraine and Russia then one would find no criticism of Putin.
I am very concerned that we need to get our house in order to deal with the threat of tariffs and I want see Canada and other western democracies that get hit with tariffs retaliate so hard that the US ends up with hyper inflation like they have never experienced in their history.
On the other above noted points, Canada needs to pull their weight if it wants be considered a serious mid level power rather than the horrid "soft power" previously marketed by past Liberal governments.
The three key area cited by Pres Trump are :
1) Defence Spending (the lack of)
2) Agricultural Marketing Boards (Bonjour Quebec)
3) Border Security
These were also issues for the Biden administration, previous Trump administration and Pres Obama. How long do we expect our neighbors and the rest of the 5 eyes(who no longer trust us, nei hao ma Beijing )to put up with our juvenile behaviour? Yes, President Trump is over the top. Canada is the 40 year old in dad’s attic. Pays no bills, risks a house fire by leaving the door open and can’t be trusted with the car. That it took economic nuclear war to wake up folks in Ottawa says enough. As for premier Smith doing what she can for her constituency, bravo. She endured enough inanity from Ottawa choking off O&G not trusting them is an adult reaction.
Danielle Smith has been unjustifiably vilified for not being a Team Canada player. That on the mistaken assumption that there was a logical, cohesive and achievable plan in place.
Bingo, except the folks in Ottawa still have not woken up. It is in their parochial political interests to stoke a trade war with the Big Satan.
Ottawa people are very woke
The number of illegal migrants entering the US from Canada is a tiny fraction of the number from Mexico. Ditto the fentanyl.
Trump’s stated reason for the tariff—illegals and fentanyl—just don’t make sense.
Frau, it couldn't possibly have escaped your notice that Trump is building the wall on the southern border. If you don't think the criminals will figure out that they can come down from the north when the southern route is closed, you greatly underestimate the criminal element. They are evil, not stupid. Trump is thinking three moves ahead of you.
If we had a functional government we could work on that problem. Unfortunately there is no government since Trudeau resigned and even before Trudeau was useless.
He built a few miles of wall during his first tenure. He hasn’t mentioned it since.
Annie, Trump had miles of wall bought and paid for, stacked up at the border ready to be erected. Didn't you catch the news a week or two ago that Biden is quickly selling it off at $5 per section, in order to force Trump to spend millions to get it back again? The wall is back on, baby!
Read Sam Cooper’s Substack and you’ll understand!
No mention of stemming the tide of illegal firearms from down south!
It’s irritating though that the US says jump and we say how high. All that extra border security costs a lot. And why don’t they watch the border from their side if they are so concerned.
Amen to that!
Hey! Remember that time Justin Trudeau went behind Trump's back and made a climate deal with France? https://youtu.be/zVWEGR_2ubc Canada is a threat to the USA as long as we have not taken care of finding out who the foreign supported politicians are - and people like Freeland bragging that they will 'fight' the USA just make us look stupid. We are a mouse against an elephant, we cannot defend our northern border where China is happily opening the Polar Silk Road, Russia has many large military bases right across the Arctic Ocean from where we have NONE. We have not kept up our part of the NATO bargain. We are deeply in debt and our own government is standing in the way of getting valuable resources to market. We are 'trapped' with our resources precisely b/c of Liberal climate policies. Premier Smith is taking the path of diplomacy while these other clowns make fools of themselves on the world stage. Freeland is claiming that Trump doesn't like her because she stood up to him - no, because she was publicly very rude to him just prior to having to negotiate. Just in the past few weeks and number of recent immigrant Canadian truckers have been found in the US with huge loads of drugs on board. So don't blame Trump for coming to obvious conclusions that we are a loose cannon pointing at his deck, and our deck is on rough seas. We are the problem. Our prorogued leaders are just too dumb to look at themselves in the mirror. Que sera sera. Ppl should read "The End of the World is Just the Beginning" by Peter Zeihan. I don't agree with everything, but he clearly has fingers on the pulse of global demographics and geopolitics. The world as we knew it is over. We can either help make a new world or face serious consequences.
On top of all you mentioned; which I absolutely agree with, Trudeau was too stupid to realize that acting like a 12 year old and insulting Trump on an open mike might be a bad idea.
So, Poilivre is useless then.
Terry, EVERY Canadian politician is useless. (That's one reason I'm a libertarian.) But let's at least chose politicians that aren't massively destructive in 12 dimensions at once, shall we?
Seems so. As much as I can't stand Trudeau, poilieve certainly doesn't give me the warm fuzzies. There's something not quite right with him and the juvenile slogans are only part of it. The Conservative Party of Canada did not do itself any favours.
Until he’s elected, yes! Trump DOES want his southern AND Northern borders secured. More terrorists are coming across our border into the U.S. than are coming from Mexico. (Trudeau seems to LOVE extremists of every type!) anyway, as soon as Trump plugs the hole in his southern border, even MORE will come across from his northern border! So it HAS to be plugged, too. I can’t believe the RCMP actually bought Chinese drones to use on the Border! (Apparently they’ve now purchased some US-made ones.) YES, we have a HUGE Fentanyl (and other drugs) problem… manufacture, trafficking, global distribution and a global money-laundering hub!) I would have thought you’d be reading Sam Coooer’s Substack, Terry! As for our Defence Spending, it’s PATHETIC, EMBARASSING! We need to pull our weight if we want to be treated like a nation-state! We’ve spent years saying that we don’t need to defend the Arctic because who’d invade us? We’re so “nice! …and anyway, if anyone ever did, the Americans would have to defend us! “ well, if we’re going to act like a U.S. State, it’s no surprise that someone finally called us one! Trump’s concern is China, whose navy are making inroads everywhere. THAT’s Why Trump wants to secure our Arctic, Greenland and the Panama Canal. If China succeeds in taking over as the World Superpower, it won’t be good for ANY of us!
Furthermore, we are in a rare metals war and we don't even know it. https://youtu.be/gUq3XLNYkoY
Not to mention, what does the USA think of what these Cdn Intelligence and RCMP folks have to say about China's infiltration here? https://presentdangerchina.org/webinar-oh-canada-the-ccps-subversion-of-our-northern-neighbor-and-us/
Seems the RCMP bought Chinese drones to monitor the border, and the USA doesn't want them anywhere near their border! If there's a metaphor for how Canada is handling our relationship with the USA, this might be perfect.
China’s trying the same thing in the US. I’m sure Trump is not amused.
Well, now. You said a lot of interesting things, but I have say that you lost me at "Justin Trudeau went behind Trump's back."
I have zero respect for Trudeau. I had a bit of hope. back in 2015, that he would actually do a little bit to back his "sunny ways" and "Canada is back" rhetoric but, as it turns out, that was a forlorn hope.
But how in hell can you castigate him, or any other Canadian, for some sort of "going behind Trump's back" crap?
We are Canada! We are NOT the 51st state. We, or any citizen or politician of Canada, do NOT require the permission of Trump or any other leader of the US to deal with other countries. If there was some sort of specific harm to the US from that deal, you don't say, nor does the video at the link you supplied, nor did Trump complain specifically about it.
Trump is a bully. And you are castigating Trudeau for not kissing his boots, or other parts? There are more than enough reasons to wish Trudeau away, but that's not one of them.
Agreed! Keep in mind too, that the Trump administration is, and will keep being aware that Canadians are expressing dissatisfaction with their own country. This makes us very vulnerable. I still adore our country and will never, ever capitulate to another country who professes to want to annex us. Just the thought of it makes me shudder.
Pardon me for intruding here but when you have allies the likes of Canada and the United States there absolutely can be elements of “going behind someone’s back”. To suggest otherwise in this case is also naive. Our economies and peoples have always acted as if we were married so of course when you betray without communication it causes a breach of trust. Trudeau constantly looked for opportunities to undermine Mr Trump and openly treated him with disdain and hostility. This did not play well with American people and it greatly chilled relations even through Biden’s administration. Trudeau treats every relationship as if he is campaigning and cares little for the fallout it creates outside his narcissistic bubble. I’m not a fan of Mr Trump but let’s not kid ourselves that Trudeau’s jilting of Trump/USA by signing the agreement with Macron in 2018 helped sour the Can/US relationship in a way we are still paying for today.
Trudeau was an ass. Macron was prescient.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/07/macron-g7-summit-trump-trade-policy-hegemony
Fair comment, but if you consider the volume of trade b/t the US and Canada, vs that b/t France and Canada...and the fact that there is a huge ocean b/t France and Canada, and the fact that France had OPENLY THREATENED the US, our largest trading partner, then I think it is fair to say Trudeau went behind the back of Trump. WE ARE THE LARGEST TRADING PARTNER OF THE US!!!!! I'm in favour of making trade deals with other countries, but not to 'spite' our largest trade partner on climate issues and in a sneaky way. I never said or intimated that 'permission' was required - it is self-evident in the world of geopolitical diplomacy, if you pull a trick like this, you'll pay. Dearly. We will pay. Probably tomorrow. PS Trudeau is also a bully. Note his tweet in this report...and the foreign interference surrounding it, and the outcome. Because of his stupid policies, we HAVE NO OTHER ACCESS to markets, making us reliant on the US. Not about boot kissing - all about diplomacy and common sense negotiations. Something PMJT knows nothing about. https://blog.friendsofscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Manufacturing-A-Climate-Crisis-2A-FINAL.pdf PS I agree that Trump is a bombastic bully. This should not surprise anyone - years of evidence - but he is also a business person who just gets things done. Unlike our gov't for the past 9 years.
OK, but I'm still totally confused as to what all this "behind his back" stuff is about. Just because the US is our largest trading partner, we have to have their approval (or at least Trumps) before we make any agreement with anyone else? Especially if it's a country Trump doesn't like?
Nope. No way.
And you still haven't said how whatever that deal with France would have been detrimental to the US.
BTW, I also disagree with "he is also a business person who just gets things done." If you take a real close look at his record over the years, it's nowhere near as spectacular as he makes out. More like a litany of idiocy with enough larceny and sheer blind luck to end up on the black side of the ledger line.
I didn’t know that about the truckers. Yikes!
Rote insults, like “Trump’s imbecilities” is where much of these problems come from. Yes, Trump is transactional, and thin-skinned, but an imbecile he is not. His methods are unique, but he has managed to gain the support of his fellow Americans - against all odds. We are insulting the American people when we smear him. Even if we don’t appreciate his approach we should treat the President of the United States with a modicum of respect. If Trudeau and associates had done so we would not be in this mess today. As for Danielle Smith, I think she is on the right track. Let’s deal intelligently with Trump’s grievances - which are mostly legitimate. Let’s start meeting our NATO commitments. But huffing and puffing and waving our flag - especially by the Liberal party that tells us we are a genocidal, racist non-country - is as useless a response as is gratuitously insulting Trump
Trump's utterances on Canada and on most matters outside his expertise as a maestro in the vulgar arts pioneered by PT Barnum are utter imbecilities. Not always a liar, though, because in his moral universe there is no objective truth. He's a lot less like Poilievre and a great deal more like Trudeau in this way. Many millions of decent Americans voted for Trump because he was all the comparably primitive American political system had on offer. Many millions of voters had simply had it with Biden-Harris. People who are genuine devotees of Donald Trump, who fancy him as possessing some hidden wisdom that only svengalis like Alex Jones or Kevin O’Leary can comprehend, beclown themselves every time they open their mouths.
This newsletter was founded and remains devoted to the reality-based community. There’s all sorts of room for agreement and disagreement, but only because there is a basis for both in reality.
Brian's post is *entirely* grounded in reality, Terry.
It was said (Ann Coulter?) way back in 2016 that people take Trump literally but not seriously; whereas they should take him seriously but not literally. Yes, Trump would be uttering imbecilities, if you thought he means what he says literally. But generally, he doesn't. He speaks in metaphor and enthymemes; he simplifies and exaggerates. He is staking out a bargaining position; trying to destabilize an adversary before debating or negotiating; he is being deliberately hyperbolic for effect... Canadians should stop lighting their hair on fire and just do what is in our best interest - that's all Trump is really asking.
Ann Coulter? How is she an expert on Trump, or much of anything else?
Trump's utterances become imbecilities because, most often, he doesn't understand what he's talking about.
Do you really think he knows what "metaphor and enthymemes" are?
How would you fit a 15-20 minute discourse on the size of Arnold Palmers junk into your hypothesis of his superior speech making skills?
Of course, he did come up with the word "groceries" so maybe there is something hidden way down deep... 😒
Your TDS is showing, Ron.
I see this excuse all the time: you can’t take him literally.
That’s a serious problem indicating he doesn’t think things through. He’s not a good leader. But hey, Canada doesn’t have any leader at all!
Canada may not have a good leader but Alberta certainly does. If you listen carefully to the position articulated by Danielle Smith, it is a reasoned, logical approach that resonates common sense. Trump is a 4 year blip on the historical path. Smith takes a much longer and prudent view of our close relationship with the U.S.
Conducting a trade war with an economy ten times our size is doomed to both short and long term failure.
Yes. Danielle Smith is being vilified for practicing diplomacy.
The Liberals are pushing to escalate a trade war with immediate “retaliation”, against a country with the largest economy in the world, when they’re going to be out the door in a few months.
And Smith gets labelled a “traitor”? And only looking out for her province?
She’s behaving like the only adult in the room.
Trump won the presidency on lies. He won on appealling to citizen’s deepest and darkest fears. It’s the tried and true method of autocrats.
I’m trying here Terry but what you should have written is I HATE TRUMP. Which you are, of course, entitled to. I don’t. I think he is Canadas best hope to force us to wisen the fuck up and start paying attention to what’s important. Smith is doing so. Ford has shown his cards and there is not a pair in sight. We’ve voted for weaklings promising free stuff for less effort and we’ve been caught.
It’s worth noting that about half of Americans DESPISE Trump. You should see what they call him. On the other hand a fraction of his fans won’t hear any criticism of him at all.
But I can understand why people voted for him—Biden was very far left and made some really bad decisions.
But note that that Trump didn’t campaign on the strange foreign policy ideas he’s talking about now (although he has a longstanding fondness for tariffs).
Many Americans have no idea what left, or far left means. They just think it’s something bad.
Such silliness. Wake up Canada. Trump's call has made us all look at what we are not achieving is a country. Good for Smith for not over reacting to a poke.
Deep breath Terry. This entire Tariff Threat is a direct consequence of Trudeau, and the ENTIRE LIBERAL PARTY, using Trump as the butt of their snide comments against the Conservatives for the last 4 years. Bullying and retribution shouldn't come as a surprise. Once Canadians have been allowed to kick Turdeau to the curb (Mary Simon should be fired immediately) I expect Trump will chill out. OTOH, cleaning up our terrorist problem and fentanyl problem seems like a win-win for all of us.
EVERYTHING Trump has asked Canada to do is a win for us. Canadians suffer from a tragic and deadly combination of ODD and TDS.
OK, Kelly, I'm going to challenge you a bit on this one. "This entire Tariff Threat is a direct consequence of Trudeau, and the ENTIRE LIBERAL PARTY" dose NOT explain why Trump has threatened each and every trading partner with tariffs. He also specifically went after Mexico and China. Because of Trudeau and the Liberals?
No, Trump is a bully, and a not very smart one at that. Contrary to all evidence, he seems to think that tariffs are paid by those whom he hits them with and he loves to hurt people that don't kneel down and kiss his ring (or other things).
Yes, Trudeau is not his favourite person, along with so many others, any for some valid reasons.
Trump will NOT chill out, regardless of who is leading Canada. He's not psychologically capable of that.
Two things can be true at once. He can go after Mexico for drugs and immigration, just like he's claimed to do for Canada. As for China? Their infiltration into Canadian affairs has been very well documented here as well as in other Substack files. Surely you understand that the US intelligence community knows the issues with CCP influence over Canadian politicians etc? So if it takes Donald Trump stomping around and breaking things to rid Canada of the CCP's favorite political party, I say "bring it on". I'm sick to death of what the Liberals have done to this country, and not just from their absolute contempt of Alberta. They have failed Canada in a way that is far more damaging than some trades tariffs. Donald Trump is a bully, absolutely. But frankly we've reached a point in the cycle where a bully might be what's needed to reorient the ship. The course we've been on is not good. Not by half.
I can understand your desire to be rid of Trudeau. But think back a bit. According to all the polls, we've been on the way to do that by ourselves for some time now. We didn't need McGilla Gorilla Trump stomping around to do that for us.
If that's what his aim was, he should have said so, not clouded the issue with bogus claims and demands that we enforce US laws for him. (Stopping people from entering the US, which is not illegal in Canada.)
Maybe the US intel community has concerns about CCP influence with certain people in Canada but knowing Trumps (lack of) respect for US intel, I doubt that had much to do with his "stomping around."
He's a bully that is stomping around because he can and because it makes him feel big and strong. Same reason he's beating up on Denmark over Greenland, for some vague "security" objective.
And that's the most dangerous type of bully. One you can't figure out and try to logically work with/around. And one who has enough power to break a lot of things.
That's the kind that scares me, especially when we're currently without competent leadership.
And, China has infiltrated the US just as much I am certain.
Then be afraid. Trudeau has shown me (and many other Canadians) what a truly shitty system this country has. Provincial infighting, parliamentary grid lock, constitutional failure, violations of Charter Rights without consequences, judicial failures, etc. My "Proud to be Canadian" patch went into the garbage during the so-called pandemic. And I don't want to hear about "every country did it" BS. I doubt Trump could, or would, ever actually annex Canada. There's far too many left-wing idiots here. But honestly if it takes the mother of all economic catastrophes for Canadians to actually CHANGE things then bring it on. Respectfully, Ron it strikes me that you suffer from the same problem that a host of people did (still do) prior to both the 2016 and 2024 Presidential Election - thinking Trump is dumb. Trump is no idiot. Underestimating him has been a mistake again and again. Now, once again, he's running the most powerful country on the planet but had surrounded himself with equally intelligent teammates. Who do we have running the show here? Yeah, be afraid.
I agree with Smith. Our 'leaders' are more then happy to sell out Alberta. It seems that Ottawa is unaware that western oil to the east goes through the states. And I need more reasons than being a patriot to be on Team Canada's side.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." -Samuel Johnson
When the other side have to resort to emotional appeals to patriotism, you know they have lost the argument and have no rational justifications left.
Tanker ban, directed towards preventing shipping AB oil, pipeline East and Northern Gateway cancelled, post covid vaccine mfg money to Quebec and Ontario, Alberta nada. Battery mfg subsidies of about 40 Billion to Quebec and Ontario, Alberta nada. Dear Canadians we are sick and tired of your hostility towards us. You elect mostly liberal governments, extremely hostile towards us. May I ask why you don’t put up the Ontario auto mfg industry, or Quebecs electricity sales to the US, on the table as number uno retaliation weapons? We all know the answer to that right? Most Albertans fully support Danniele Smith on her talks with US power figures.
Your liberal/NDP government declared Canada a woke post national state, with no defined culture to bind us together. Well, and now dear hypocrites, you now want us to be a solid member of team Canada?
You my dear electorate, voted with great fervour in 2015 and again 2021 for the mess we are in. Out of goodwill towards you, I believe that Alberta ought to show the rest of Canada, the same degree of goodwill and loyalty, you have shown Alberta. Fair deal, would’nt you say?
Where were the Rest of canada's premiers when Trudeau and Guillbaut were ravaging our industry? If Ontario's autos or Quebec's hydro were on the table there would they sign?
Terry, I agree with a lot of this, and I respect your opinions a great deal, especially on Ukraine, Israel, and China. But I disagree with your position on Danielle Smith.
Ottawa displays a frivolous and alarming attitude towards threatening the Americans with an export tax on Alberta energy or blocking the sale of Alberta energy entirely. That is the nuclear option and it would blow up in Canada's face, especially Alberta's. Alberta has no reason to trust this government to look out for Alberta's interests or to understand the gravity of how that would impact Albertans; just look at how the federal government has hamstrung Alberta's energy sector the past 10 years and helped get us in this mess in the first place.
Alberta's interests are directly tied to the rest of Canada's interests, and protecting Alberta's energy sector will help Canadians in other provinces. Alberta is the economic engine of the country, after all. The dearly departed Rex Murphy spoke eloquently on how Alberta's energy boom helped Newfoundlanders just when they needed it the most. We are a Confederation and need to remember that.
Smith is a very smart politician. One of the best and most principled Canadian politicians in my lifetime, in my opinion. I can tell you that most Albertans I have spoken to, on the left and the right, think she is absolutely right on this issue.
Premier Lougheed was labelled a turncoat as well for standing up to the last Trudeau's harmful energy policies. In 2012 Lougheed was chosen as the best Canadian premier of the last 40 years in a landslide poll by Policy Options. Doing the right thing doesn't always make you popular in the short term.
Smith is exercising diplomacy and leadership at a time when we need it the most. She is making the case for Alberta and Canada's interests by listening to the substance of what the most serious Americans are complaining about, instead of getting caught up in the trolling and social media bombast that Trump excels at. She is forging relationships and getting face to face time to plead Alberta and Canada's case. Her appearances on Fox News, appealing directly to Trump's supporters, are a masterclass in communication. She handles the ribbing about becoming the "51st state" with disarming grace, humour, and skill, simultaneously reminding the Americans we are a sovereign nation, but also one that is a strategic partner that can be relied upon.
Compare that to Melanie Joly's embarrassing stumbling performance on CNN.
Trudeau and Doug Ford are doing the opposite: behaving like silly little men trying to counter-troll Trump with "Canada is not for sale" hats and unconvincingly trying to convey a "tough" and "serious" image, after a decade of being neither. They are just playing into Trump's game and harming Canada, with no real plan other than sabre rattling.
https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/braid-new-fox-fave-danielle-smith-champions-canada-with-more-impact-than-feds
Terry, let's be clear about something: Trump isn't *creating* a fissure between Alberta and the rest of Canada; he is exploiting a fissure that is *entirely* homemade.
Where was the "Team Canada" approach in the past when negotiating trade deals with the USA and Europe, among other regions? Hell, Quebec wouldn't even sacrifice their horrid little dairy cartel that harms every Canadian consumer, in order to smooth better trading relations with our allies. But now they want Alberta to sacrifice the O&G sector that is the entire backbone of the Alberta economy? The scale of the sacrifice expected is orders of magnitude greater. From the distant Laurentians, it might not look like it, though.
Where was the "Team Canada" approach when Alberta wanted to supply foreign markets east and west that were clambering for our O&G? That would have made Canada stronger, less reliant on Trump as the sole buyer-at-a-steep-discount. Eastern Canada is happy to take the wealth generated in Alberta from our "filthy oil" in the form of $20billion in equalization payments per year. Why don't you easterners fight your stupid trade war using the generous subsidy Alberta is already giving you, instead of imposing yet another enormous sacrifice on us? The playing field has never been level in Canada, and now you want to siphon off even more from Alberta to support hard-hit industries in Ontario and Quebec?
Samuel Johnson remarked that "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." When all rational arguments and justifications run out, politicians appeal to patriotism. Sorry, but Albertans have had enough. Many of us now prefer separation and sovereignty.
Nobody gives a fuck about the cow lobby and Canada just finished spending $35 billion to get Alberta oil to tidewater. This isn't the time to rub salt into wounds that have a lot less to do with Eastern politicians than it is politically expedient to allege. And if it's separatism you want, you have nothing to contribute to the conversations Canadians should be having among themselves at the moment. If that's what you want, there's nothing to discuss.
Terry, calm down. The Bloc put forth a motion in Parliament just last Fall which would pre-emptively protect the Quebec dairy cartel in any future trade negotiations. They made approval of that provision a condition of supporting the Trudeau government. Nobody cares about the dairy lobby, really? OK, Andrew Scheer won the Conservative leadership race by a sliver because he supported the Quebec dairy cartel and Bernier didn't. To say that nobody gives a fuck about it is contrary to all evidence since it was established by Eugene Whalen in 1970. This isn't your beat; maybe you should excuse yourself.
And stop talking about the transmountain pipeline as though it were Canada's gift to Alberta. If it hadn't been for the Trudeau government and Christy Clarke government constantly putting unpredictable obstacles in the way of its completion, Kinder Morgan would have built that thing faster and at no cost to the taxpayer. You get no brownie points from Albertans for wasting more of our tax money to drag your feet completing it. This is just so typical of the ignorant Canadian attitude toward Alberta. Sit down.
Respect for your reply Grant.
Wasted about 25 of that 35 billion.
The Albertans have a valid point: Team Canada is all about Alberta bearing the burden. Not surprisingly, Alberta is saying, "Screw that" and asking, "What have you done for us lately?"
The reality is that we should have sea to sea oil pipelines which don't run through the US. We should have LNG facilities on both coasts. We should have other markets so we can tell Trump to pound sand. We don't and that is a choice the Liberals made years ago.
That project could've been completed for $7 billion of private money if it hadn't been held hostage by mostly federal reviews/regs. And I do care about the "cow lobby": we pay way too much here for dairy products and it's simply to prop up an outdated and inefficient (and shall I say, rather Soviet) agricultural model at the expense of everyday Canadians.
Trudeau having spent the last decade denigrating this country; labeling us systematically racist, flying flags at half mast for months, radically transforming our institutions, lurching from one scandal to another, calling us post-national and flooding the system with newcomers who can’t possible be absorbed, I’m hardly surprised that Trump seized this moment of historic weakness to capitalize on. We haven’t been grown ups in this relationship for some time. We’ve allowed foreign actors to corrupt our economics and politics. We’ve been a free rider on defence. We’ve allowed our brains to be marinated in an ongoing drivel of identity politics and claimed superiority at our uncouth southern neighbours in the most obnoxiously sanctimonious way. I love this country but what comes next is as much about Trump as it is about how unserious our country is now.
Alberta stands to lose a lot more than any other province. Economists are lining up to say restricting or shutting off pipelines is an extremely unwise path to take. Albertans have no reason to trust the Trudeau government and there isn’t a ball cap in Canada that will change their minds. We’re not Team Canada when Trudeau declares that the oilsands need to be phased out. That’s why Premier Smith has the support of a great deal of Albertans. She seems to be the only adult in the room at the moment.
This appears to be the only country where the leader of the opposition has been expected to provide the solutions to the problems the government is facing (and is the cause of) and can't solve for itself. And then he still gets criticized for both the ideas he gives AND for the seeming lack of his input.
Why is it the job of the opposition to propose solutions when there is no election announced? (And no I don't trust the weasel Singh to vote non-confidence).
It is precisely the job of the Opposition, especially now that the governing party has padlocked Parliament, to "provide the solutions." People are looking to Poilievre for leadership. If all they hear is boring old propaganda fictions about transfer payments, they'll look elsewhere.
I suppose this is where my disagreement lies. Stephen Harper articulated it best when he revealed his advice to CPC - reminding them of their role as opposition and why they should NOT propose detailed solutions right away. YT clip: https://youtu.be/4yvqid3tUp0?si=JZfUf0YJYTAPx_er
His "axe the tax....." schtik doesn't fit the bill any more. As for providing the solutions, that's not a good idea before an election. The Liberals have had a habit of claiming the best parts as their own and running with them.
Transfer payments are fundamentally unfair and a tax on the ROC just for the privilege of keeping Quebec in the Confederation. Meantime the federal government STILL has not fulfilled its promises to BC as a perquisite of joining in 1872 (most importantly, settling Native treaties, leading to the mess we're in out here re: title).
Excellent analysis as usual, Mr. Glavin. Nice to read someone is morally consistent. The reasons to be alarmed at Trump’s excesses are the same alarmed at Trudeau’s. They are two sides of the same coin.
I'm beginning to think there are more of us out there than we've imagined, Ray.
By the way, it was not only Stephen Harper standing strong. Jean Chretien wrote a very powerful opinion piece in the Globe last week.
Chretien is as corrupt as Trudeau. How quickly we forget.
Terry you nailed the key points regarding Trump.
The issues that are concerning are the issues that Canadian Governments (Liberal and Conservative ) and they are:
1. Border security- after September 11, 2001 the Canadian government promised to beef up the border, but it has fallen to US Customs ICE to primarily be the ones maintaining our nation's security. It is going to take increasing the size of the RCMP to 60,000 as criminal cases especially those along the border requires resources dedicated to investigating and prosecuting these types of investigations. It will also require increasing the size of the CBSA and buying high tech helicopters, aircraft and other technologies to intercept and interdict drugs, firearms and illegal immigrants either using Canada to enter the US or vice versa. Currently, a Canadian who wanted to smuggle anything into Canada can drive the Partridge family bus into Canada full of guns, drugs, contraband and anything else criminals desire. The current and recently leased 2 Blackhawk helicopters based in Ottawa is a joke and window dressing. Canada needs to pull its weight.
The other component is to rewrite the onerous disclosure rules which law enforcement has to provide full disclosure to the courts and defence counsel. Other countries such as Australia and the UK have a lot of problems with this as informants and police agents are put at risk and many would be compromised in their countries. It is time for legislation to be enacted to address this problem so informants and police agents from other countries and Canada are protected and full disclosure curtailed in this specific area.
2. Our military- It has long been neglected since 1968. Our Navy needs lots of patrol ships, an aircraft carries and other necessary hardware to protect our sovereignty and support our NATO and international commitments. The came needs to be done for the Army and the RCAF. Canada has skated on our NATO commitments since Pierre Trudeau came to power. It is integral that the military gets beefed up to meet our commitments. This means providing anti aircraft and air defense systems for our soldiers, proper attack helicopters and drone systems.
3. Our intelligence service- the size of CSIS needs to be increased so as to be able to surveil, infiltrate and investigate active bad actors from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea that are destabilizing our democracies, stealing intellectual property and targeting Canadian citizens.
The issue of Trump not liking our dairy system is a joke. The US subsidizes their own farmers.
I concur that Trump is deflecting from dealing with Russia and China. Attacking his own western allies and destabilizing western democracies plays into our enemies hands. Trump will surrender the Ukraine as believe he may be a Russian asset and the FSB have dirt on him. If one were to review any of Trump's past comments on the Ukraine and Russia then one would find no criticism of Putin.
I am very concerned that we need to get our house in order to deal with the threat of tariffs and I want see Canada and other western democracies that get hit with tariffs retaliate so hard that the US ends up with hyper inflation like they have never experienced in their history.
On the other above noted points, Canada needs to pull their weight if it wants be considered a serious mid level power rather than the horrid "soft power" previously marketed by past Liberal governments.
Splendid analysis. Agreed on every point. Thanks, Derrick.
Hey Derrick. You oughta have your own Substack. Excellent comments.