I really hope the government has the balls to do it. Musk and Starlink are a huge security risk. The performance of the Nazi salute should be an ominous indicator of what's is coming.
I really really needed to read your thoughts on this, Emmett. It’s been keeping me up at night and as someone living in Alberta I am mortified by our premier’s behaviour. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, as always.
This is a perfect time for Canada to seriously remove barriers for Interprovincial trade - in Canada - and also seek more trade with other countries. It's been too long that Canada looks only 'south'. There's too much moaning about Canada's 'lack-of blah, blah, blah' when it's actually more to do with too many internal barriers. However, Canada seems to have little regard for foreign ownership of Canadian land and industries. It's tragic for example that PostMedia - a US company owns so many of Canada's former news outlets while the leader of the opposition makes statements like cuts to CBC - a fully Canadian, reliable news and social fabric. However, this type of giving Canada away to foreign interests is a pattern with the "CPC". Check into how many US companies own land and the Ag industry? Check into how many PE investors own Canadian businesses. Which companies own Canadian lumber processing? Perhaps we need a bright light on what's actually been taking place over the past years in this country. Canadians seem to own the liabilities while foreign interests run off with the value.
Strikes me that a good way to drive home the point is to withdraw from co-operative agreements. If we left NORAD, cancelled the F-35 (in favour of the Saab Gripen), and stopped other cooperative agreements - difficult for sure due to NATO and other obligations - I think the US would take notice.
Also, if the whole thing is about border protection (which seems ridiculous), then perhaps the appropriate response is to stop patrolling the border for southern traffic and enforce north- going traffic only. Nobody is looking for extreme measures against the US to stop northward gun smuggling but the effect is arguably much worse than the southward flow of people.
Ask Albertans if they hate Ottawa, and a solid majority will say yes. But change the question and ask if Albertans consider themselves Albertan or Canadian first, and >80% will give a resounding "Yes." Danielle Smith is completely offside in her position, because it's the 20% calling the shots within the UCP, including her own deputy Rob Anderson, a vertable Grima Wormtongue. With the sickening, naked display of Naziism yesterday, it's not a long stretch to see her as our Neville Chamberlain.
The one thing to keep in mind: an action threatened is more persuasive than an action taken. I don't believe Trump will actually impose 25% tariffs on Feb 1, because the threat of them is having the desired reaction, and leaves him the possibility of the action. We need to make clear exactly WHAT we will do in response, so he, and Americans, know what they are dealing with.
Although dark economic clouds appear on the horizon, there is a silver lining. Our nation has drifted along aimlessly for quite some time. This red flag alert from the American government needs to be the clarion call for Canadian leaders and citizens to prepare for the worst but also to create a better economic vision for Canada. Sadly without the strong leadership we need, citizens need to keep right on top of provincial and federal levels of government and advocate the strong position suggested here by Emmett. It's brave and bold and expensive, but we need not acquiesce to the bully.
A coordinated response with Mexico on auto parts could bring North American auto production lines to a screeching halt with zero US supply alternatives (at a significant cost to all three countries, of course). A 100% export tax on aluminum (ingots and rolled sheet) would hit Boeing and other aircraft manufacturers hard. And impose a 10000% duty on bourbon just to be spiteful.
Part of me is starting to think that they'd love nothing more than an over-the-top response from Canada; it would enable them to paint us as the enemy to the MAGA mouth-breathers, and ramp up support for invasion. I suspect that may be inevitable no matter what we do, but yeah... I cannot believe this is where we are. I'll never forgive Americans for this.
Well Stan anything Canada does is going to cause Canadians some pain,and we are ALL going to have to buck up and deal with it or we are all going to suffer greatly.
Either we are all in this fight together OR we aren’t!
If some Canadians won’t help because it might impact them, and prefer it impact some other Canadian somewhere else in the country then Trump wins!
That’s exactly what Trump and the extremist right wingers in Canada want. No unity
Yes so don’t make it easy. I live in a big city and have zero issues with internet access. Folks that have only starlink are not going to be quickly served by an alternative.
Worry about what you will sacrifice not what others should.
Bullies feed on terror, and continue to target those who give in. Turning Greenland over to Trump should NEVER be an option. He will only take that as a sign he can progress with other territories. He is emulating Putin and what he would do. This is frightening on many levels, and I can see how frightened our legislators are to butt up against him (although that is exactly what they are doing). We can not live in fear, and since he did NOT have a mandate we know that over half the country is not in support of him, his administration and his policies. They have to start YELLING to their legislators that no matter what Trump can do to them, the voters have the power. Join the Resistence.
RISE UP CBADA! THERE IS NO GOOD CON PARTY IN ALL OF USA OR CANADA ANYMORE! VOTE ALL CORRUPTED PARTIES OUT OF CANADA !
THIS IS OUR LIFE AND WE KNOW WHO IS DISMANTLING OUR PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES IN THE DARK !
CONS GOTTA CON IT IS ALL THEY DO! DO NOT LUSTEN TO THEIR RHETORIC !
WATCH. WHAT. THEY DO!!! It IS NOT DEMOCRATIC POLICIES - IT IS ONLY POWER FOR FULL CONTROL AND TO HELL WITH CANADIANS, BLATANTLY ATTACKING RIGHTS ACROSS THE BOARD TO WEAKEN IS AND NOW CONS ARE BUTING INTO THE WORST FASCIST AMERICAN RETHUG MAFIA CON CLUB ON EARTH !
RISE UP AGAINST THE CON PARTY MOBSTERS WE KNOW NOW ARE THE PARTY OF CON TRAITORS TO WE. THE. PPL in NORTH AMERICA ! Ugh!🤬🤮👿
Im born and raised Albertan. An angle I think people are missing on Danielle smith is this. Most of the oil companies have higher debt levels than industry averages (double the debt levels). Interest rates have gone up and there is more pressure to service those corporate debts though these O&G companies.
Most of the ownership is foreign owned especially American foreign owned. If tariffs hit these O&G companies financial elites on wall street (Blackrock etc) would be losing hard on their investments which are leveraged on higher than average debt levels. Foreign financial elites must not lose their asset values. Meanwhile she is "Sticking up for Alberta" but in fact she is sticking up "Foreign financial elites" on wallstreeet. She puts the con in conservative. The real winner of no tariff retaliation is America not Alberta.
Danielle Smith is America first, Alberta Last. Why does she have support? Because its easier to fool people than convince them they have been fooled.
To start, let’s assume that President Trump has an objective in mind for the imposition of tariffs on Canada. That is, that the threat is not simply a whim on his part. For argument’s sake assume that he really does want to annex Canada or perhaps parts of Canada. If we take the position that we need to try to meet his demands (to begin say take steps to secure the border, however that may be defined), we know that this will never be enough. There will be a new set of demands and our efforts to meet them will also fail. Hitting back in some way will certainly not be a sure-fire way to get him to change his position but always seeking to meet his demands will not get us a reprieve because his ultimate goal is much larger.
Or perhaps his longer term goal is to foster the movement of economic production and activity into the continental US. Again, meeting other demands such as securing the border will have no impact. He will be see our economic hardship as a logical step towards meeting his goal. And business persons and companies will undoubtedly be forced to look at their bottom lines and decide if they have to change their marketing and investment decisions.
Hitting back at least offers the possibility that public, political and economic opinion in the US will shift to provide some measure of pressure on the President and his government. That doesn’t mean that we have to ignore his other demands, especially if they appear reasonable or even to our own advantage, but only trying to meet his demands doesn’t appear to get us where we want to be.
Something we could do that would cause a lot of people south of the border to stand up and listen is declare our intention to join the BRICS. A great number of our trading partners have already joined. Why not us?
Of course, we would not join unless forced to, but it would be fun to respond to Trump's bluffs with another bluff that, if it materialized, would be extremely unsettling for the US.
I really hope the government has the balls to do it. Musk and Starlink are a huge security risk. The performance of the Nazi salute should be an ominous indicator of what's is coming.
I really really needed to read your thoughts on this, Emmett. It’s been keeping me up at night and as someone living in Alberta I am mortified by our premier’s behaviour. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, as always.
This is a perfect time for Canada to seriously remove barriers for Interprovincial trade - in Canada - and also seek more trade with other countries. It's been too long that Canada looks only 'south'. There's too much moaning about Canada's 'lack-of blah, blah, blah' when it's actually more to do with too many internal barriers. However, Canada seems to have little regard for foreign ownership of Canadian land and industries. It's tragic for example that PostMedia - a US company owns so many of Canada's former news outlets while the leader of the opposition makes statements like cuts to CBC - a fully Canadian, reliable news and social fabric. However, this type of giving Canada away to foreign interests is a pattern with the "CPC". Check into how many US companies own land and the Ag industry? Check into how many PE investors own Canadian businesses. Which companies own Canadian lumber processing? Perhaps we need a bright light on what's actually been taking place over the past years in this country. Canadians seem to own the liabilities while foreign interests run off with the value.
Strikes me that a good way to drive home the point is to withdraw from co-operative agreements. If we left NORAD, cancelled the F-35 (in favour of the Saab Gripen), and stopped other cooperative agreements - difficult for sure due to NATO and other obligations - I think the US would take notice.
Also, if the whole thing is about border protection (which seems ridiculous), then perhaps the appropriate response is to stop patrolling the border for southern traffic and enforce north- going traffic only. Nobody is looking for extreme measures against the US to stop northward gun smuggling but the effect is arguably much worse than the southward flow of people.
Ask Albertans if they hate Ottawa, and a solid majority will say yes. But change the question and ask if Albertans consider themselves Albertan or Canadian first, and >80% will give a resounding "Yes." Danielle Smith is completely offside in her position, because it's the 20% calling the shots within the UCP, including her own deputy Rob Anderson, a vertable Grima Wormtongue. With the sickening, naked display of Naziism yesterday, it's not a long stretch to see her as our Neville Chamberlain.
The one thing to keep in mind: an action threatened is more persuasive than an action taken. I don't believe Trump will actually impose 25% tariffs on Feb 1, because the threat of them is having the desired reaction, and leaves him the possibility of the action. We need to make clear exactly WHAT we will do in response, so he, and Americans, know what they are dealing with.
Although dark economic clouds appear on the horizon, there is a silver lining. Our nation has drifted along aimlessly for quite some time. This red flag alert from the American government needs to be the clarion call for Canadian leaders and citizens to prepare for the worst but also to create a better economic vision for Canada. Sadly without the strong leadership we need, citizens need to keep right on top of provincial and federal levels of government and advocate the strong position suggested here by Emmett. It's brave and bold and expensive, but we need not acquiesce to the bully.
A coordinated response with Mexico on auto parts could bring North American auto production lines to a screeching halt with zero US supply alternatives (at a significant cost to all three countries, of course). A 100% export tax on aluminum (ingots and rolled sheet) would hit Boeing and other aircraft manufacturers hard. And impose a 10000% duty on bourbon just to be spiteful.
Part of me is starting to think that they'd love nothing more than an over-the-top response from Canada; it would enable them to paint us as the enemy to the MAGA mouth-breathers, and ramp up support for invasion. I suspect that may be inevitable no matter what we do, but yeah... I cannot believe this is where we are. I'll never forgive Americans for this.
They could make it a crime in Canada to break a trade agreement. Subject to large fines.
I think a starlink ban is impractical and also unnecessarily divides Canadians into those that are hurt by retaliation and those not.
Well Stan anything Canada does is going to cause Canadians some pain,and we are ALL going to have to buck up and deal with it or we are all going to suffer greatly.
Either we are all in this fight together OR we aren’t!
If some Canadians won’t help because it might impact them, and prefer it impact some other Canadian somewhere else in the country then Trump wins!
That’s exactly what Trump and the extremist right wingers in Canada want. No unity
Yes so don’t make it easy. I live in a big city and have zero issues with internet access. Folks that have only starlink are not going to be quickly served by an alternative.
Worry about what you will sacrifice not what others should.
Totally agree. Is there anything that provincial governments can do that in the way of imposing aggressive retaliatory economic policies?
Get on board with Team Canada starting RFN.
Bullies feed on terror, and continue to target those who give in. Turning Greenland over to Trump should NEVER be an option. He will only take that as a sign he can progress with other territories. He is emulating Putin and what he would do. This is frightening on many levels, and I can see how frightened our legislators are to butt up against him (although that is exactly what they are doing). We can not live in fear, and since he did NOT have a mandate we know that over half the country is not in support of him, his administration and his policies. They have to start YELLING to their legislators that no matter what Trump can do to them, the voters have the power. Join the Resistence.
RISE UP CBADA! THERE IS NO GOOD CON PARTY IN ALL OF USA OR CANADA ANYMORE! VOTE ALL CORRUPTED PARTIES OUT OF CANADA !
THIS IS OUR LIFE AND WE KNOW WHO IS DISMANTLING OUR PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES IN THE DARK !
CONS GOTTA CON IT IS ALL THEY DO! DO NOT LUSTEN TO THEIR RHETORIC !
WATCH. WHAT. THEY DO!!! It IS NOT DEMOCRATIC POLICIES - IT IS ONLY POWER FOR FULL CONTROL AND TO HELL WITH CANADIANS, BLATANTLY ATTACKING RIGHTS ACROSS THE BOARD TO WEAKEN IS AND NOW CONS ARE BUTING INTO THE WORST FASCIST AMERICAN RETHUG MAFIA CON CLUB ON EARTH !
RISE UP AGAINST THE CON PARTY MOBSTERS WE KNOW NOW ARE THE PARTY OF CON TRAITORS TO WE. THE. PPL in NORTH AMERICA ! Ugh!🤬🤮👿
Im born and raised Albertan. An angle I think people are missing on Danielle smith is this. Most of the oil companies have higher debt levels than industry averages (double the debt levels). Interest rates have gone up and there is more pressure to service those corporate debts though these O&G companies.
Most of the ownership is foreign owned especially American foreign owned. If tariffs hit these O&G companies financial elites on wall street (Blackrock etc) would be losing hard on their investments which are leveraged on higher than average debt levels. Foreign financial elites must not lose their asset values. Meanwhile she is "Sticking up for Alberta" but in fact she is sticking up "Foreign financial elites" on wallstreeet. She puts the con in conservative. The real winner of no tariff retaliation is America not Alberta.
Danielle Smith is America first, Alberta Last. Why does she have support? Because its easier to fool people than convince them they have been fooled.
We all need to fight that guy with everything we have. I mean it.
To start, let’s assume that President Trump has an objective in mind for the imposition of tariffs on Canada. That is, that the threat is not simply a whim on his part. For argument’s sake assume that he really does want to annex Canada or perhaps parts of Canada. If we take the position that we need to try to meet his demands (to begin say take steps to secure the border, however that may be defined), we know that this will never be enough. There will be a new set of demands and our efforts to meet them will also fail. Hitting back in some way will certainly not be a sure-fire way to get him to change his position but always seeking to meet his demands will not get us a reprieve because his ultimate goal is much larger.
Or perhaps his longer term goal is to foster the movement of economic production and activity into the continental US. Again, meeting other demands such as securing the border will have no impact. He will be see our economic hardship as a logical step towards meeting his goal. And business persons and companies will undoubtedly be forced to look at their bottom lines and decide if they have to change their marketing and investment decisions.
Hitting back at least offers the possibility that public, political and economic opinion in the US will shift to provide some measure of pressure on the President and his government. That doesn’t mean that we have to ignore his other demands, especially if they appear reasonable or even to our own advantage, but only trying to meet his demands doesn’t appear to get us where we want to be.
Something we could do that would cause a lot of people south of the border to stand up and listen is declare our intention to join the BRICS. A great number of our trading partners have already joined. Why not us?
Of course, we would not join unless forced to, but it would be fun to respond to Trump's bluffs with another bluff that, if it materialized, would be extremely unsettling for the US.