Donald Trump tried to bully, dominate and subjugate Canada.
He failed.
As details emerged of US demands during the recent tariff trade talks, they sounded more like “Articles of Surrender” than a sincere attempt to achieve trade peace between two long-time partners and allies.
Trump actually thought he could force Canada into letting the US have a say in which other countries we could sell our resources to … including critical minerals … and at what price! Incredible!
And the US also wanted the right to limit/stop Canada’s signing of Free Trade Agreements with other countries. What arrogance!
Trump’s negotiators … no doubt following orders … then demanded Canada accept a 15% tariff on Canadian-assembled cars, a higher tariff on medium/heavy trucks) heading south, but duty-free entry for US-built vehicles shipped north. Ridiculous!
Meanwhile, US tariffs on Canadian forest products would remain at 45% …. three times the duty the US applies to forest products from Russia and China! Nuts!
“The suggestion that Canada would not trade with other countries or reduce our trade with other countries … would reduce us to the economic equivalent of the 51st state,” Premier David Eby said Saturday.
The US President even thought he could force Canada to abandon our Official Bilingualism language policies, eliminating the need for French on the labels of US products shipped north. (Imagine how that would play in Quebec, just weeks before a coming provincial election!)
It’s clear: the Mad Hatter was not really “negotiating” but acting like a Mafia Boss bullying, shaking down, threatening his neighbours, rather than seeking a mutually beneficial partnership.
Canada had no real choice as an independent nation (take that DJT!) but to walk away.
A new Angus Reid poll shows 76% of Canadians APPROVE of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to walk away from the talks. (Last I saw, Trump’s own approval rating at home was down to 33%.)
But this story is not yet over.
Trump’s 50% tariffs on $28 Billion of select Canadian products went into effect immediately after the talks broke down … but, interestingly, Carney set Canada’s retaliatory tariffs to begin Sept 8, giving the US President an opening to reach out.
However, Trump’s reaction on Truth Social Monday makes that look unlikely!
Most Canadians still like Americans, want to see them once more as good friends and neighbours and, yes, business and trade partners as well… but only as part of a relationship that respects each other
Canada will never be a US colony..
Meanwhile, Trump (and the Republicans) are in BIG trouble: his personal popularity is in the toilet; US inflation is UP, above where it was when he began his second term; gasoline is over $4 a gallon; the Iran war is a terrible mess; US interest rates are at their highest since 2007; the US debt just topped $40 TRILLION; US booze remains off the shelves almost everywhere in Canada; US tourism $$$ is way down (not just Canadians are staying away); … and, the mid-term elections are fast approaching.
Trump needs a WIN …. not more bad news for the US economy, US exports, US jobs when Canada hits more US products, US businesses and US jobs with tariffs.
Remember, Canada is the TOP export market for 27 US states and in the top three for 45 states; almost 1.4 million US jobs are directly tied to goods bound for Canada; and, more than 200,000 hospitality-related jobs have been affected by the $4.5 Billion loss of spending by Canadians who have stayed away.
Meanwhile, the world is watching and Carney is emerging once again as a hero … willing to stand up, speak up, walk away and then hit back at a bully.
Elbows UP!
Harv Oberfeld
🇨🇦🇨🇦More than ever … BUY CANADIAN!🇨🇦🇨🇦
(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to new postings on this BC Blog.)
Here is an excellent article on the collapse of the trade talks.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/world/canada/trump-carney-trade-war-tariffs.html?
I don’t think it is behind a paywall but if it is or you don’t have the time to read a fairly lengthy report, here is the summary from the NYT’s newsletter. And if you just want to know why neither side has released any texts, read the last paragraph of this summary.
“Our key findings, corroborated by officials on both sides of the negotiating table:
Talks were positive up until Tuesday night. Mr. Carney offered to collaborate on the Keystone XL pipeline, which delighted Mr. Trump. By the end of the week that was off the table.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was a factor in destabilizing the talks as he intervened repeatedly, including on Wednesday and Friday, to push for tariffs on steel, autos and auto parts, all of which fall under his purview.
The United States insisted on maintaining the freedom to change its tariff policy on Canada without a dispute resolution mechanism or warning built into the new agreement. It also asked for Canada to notify and coordinate with the U.S. on steel tariffs that Canada enforces on other trading partners.
Mr. Carney spoke with Premier Doug Ford of Ontario minutes before he pulled the plug on the talks.
Much has been made of the French-language issue as a dividing line in the talks. Our reporting shows that the U.S. side did advance a demand for Canada to amend or repeal laws that protect Canadian content by asking streaming platforms to surface it more prominently for Canadian users. The U.S. side said that it wasn’t a red line for them.
The U.S. trade representative, Jamieson Greer, told Ana Swanson that, in terms of stable and official concessions, the United States was offering the best deal of any country in the world.
Canada’s Conservatives are pressing Mr. Carney to release the text of the agreement he refused to sign. Our reporting shows that the two negotiating teams signed confidentiality agreements (a requirement that is apparently standard in Trump administrations). Additionally our sources told us that the text was constantly changing, meaning that a draft would not necessarily reflect exactly where the latest point of agreement was, even if the confidentiality agreement was to be ignored.
(Response: Thanks for this: great background info. Frankly, I would NEER buy a used car from Lutnick …let alone trust him to negotiate any trade deal or any peace deal. Ho)
While poking about and digging in, I’ve found that the only country in the world that calls the Gulf of Mexico by another name is the United States of Murica. So this renaming attempt for a Canadian body of water is pretty much doomed to fail, as well.
(Response: More foolery from a proven fool. It amazes … and saddens me … when I look at the damage and wreckage Trump has brought the US around the world during his second term. Amazing what one man can wreak, when surrounded by timid, silent sycophants. America is a beautiful country and the vast majority of its people are still warm, kind and caring … but a nation that used to inspire and lead, now is widely despised and has almost no allies whose populations would be willing to stand up/act beside it. Ho)
I read a number of comments on this topic today and find most are about Marge.
So I quit reading … next Blog please
(Response: Sunday.😁 Ho)
MAGA
Misandrist Against Guys Again
Sorry, couldnt help it…..
🙂
You can see what a sick person and deranged child like bully Trump is by renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America, just like he renamed the Gulf of Mexico. These things alone are the sign of a very sick mind. It’s unbelievable though the number of cowards working for him in the top administration positions. I can even call most military general staff he has now under him absolute beyond a shadow of a doubt cowards hiding behind those medals and uniforms. They disgrace everything they’re supposed to stand for.
(Response: Don’t forget that Trump (and Hegseth) have fired a number of the top military who did speak up and protested or opposed some of their actions. But I certainly agree with you about those around Trump, and almost all of the elected Republicans who go along silently with the carnage and the damage he has done to America, both internationally and domestically. Ho)
Yes I know a number have been fired, but Donald Trump should actually be arrested along with war criminal Hegseth and others for what they’ve caused and done. But cowards don’t do that.
(Response: I’m not sure about Hegseth, but if the Democrats take back the Congress and in 2028 the Presidency and initiate investigations, I think there IS a pretty good chance Trump could face charges again … this time or his and/or family’s financial dealings. Ho)
You said Trump needs a win. A completely deranged and chaotic brained nut like him doesn’t know what that means.
I, for one, will miss Marge. She added a different perspective to a lot of topics and she sounds like a good person. I wish her well.
(Response: I agree. Ho)
I just emailed Harvey to ask that all by posts be deleted. I am not sure that he received it as it’s a Hotmail address. So, I thought I would post here as well and explain why.
Yesterday a friend I have known for over thirty years called to tell me she was in palliative care. She wanted to say goodbye and we reminisced about our friendship. She was my mentor as a teacher and I could always call on her for help and advice whenever I needed it.
Mary was one of those Japanese Canadian kids who were interred in the BC Interior during WW2. She couldn’t go to public school but instead the nuns came to teach them. Instead of turning to anger, Mary converted to Catholicism and became a teacher. She founded a program in Surrey for sick and vulnerable kids. I was the first high school teacher for the program. In her conversation with me yesterday, she told me she had hired me not only because I was incredibly smart and could teach almost anything but because I had compassion and a good heart for the kids nobody cared about. I thought about this last night a great deal.
Posting here, I am losing my compassion and not gaining anything by arguing with people whose minds are set. We really can’t change anything about the political situation right now and there is no much irrationality out there. I have friends who think it’s okay to boycott Home Depot because it’s AMERICAN but still shop at Walmart and COSTCO.
I don’t want to spend whatever time I have left arguing politics and getting nowhere. I hope to put my passions to use elsewhere. I have a very bright poodle pup and I would like to train her to be a therapy visitor dog. I also have other interests that I would like to pursue. Right now politics and this blog can’t be part of them.
Thank you to all of you who fight madly here. You gave me many hours of entertainment and I appreciate that. Maybe some of you need other hobbies, just saying….
(Response: Your comments have contributed to the debate and discussion that is such an essential part of our democracy and will always be welcome whenever you decide to participate. Ho)
Oh now Marge, take a breath, maybe go for a walk and come back with another post. Your input has value and adds an entertaining component to the discussion.
Every voice is worth hearing.
Good luck and God bless Marge. All the best to you.
I am not shocked by the Maple MAGA’s responses, it is part of their method of dealing with the world. It’s always someone else fault, the dreaded commies, the Liberals, the environmentalists and so on.
From what I have read, negotiations collpased because:
“U.S. officials wanted influence over Canada’s future trade agreements with other countries and wanted Canada to align some of its tariffs with U.S. tariffs. The U.S. also wanted Canada to roll back its “Buy Canadian” policies and challenged Canadian rules supporting domestic and French-language online content. Canada also wanted assurance that Washington could not simply change the tariff terms later. The U.S. would not provide that certainty.”
“The negotiations expanded into questions about Canadian industrial policy, future trade agreements, culture and the government’s ability to make independent economic decisions.”
It was the American version of “Anschluss”, with the German absorbing Austria in 1938.
The negations were not about trade, rather the complete capitulation of Canada as a sovereign state.
Carney walked away from the negotiations for one reason, he was not going to surrender!
(Response: Judging by the polls, The overwhelming majority of Canadians of all political stripes are supporting Prime Minister Carney‘s decision to walk away from the talks. This is really not a partisan issue: Donald Trump thought he could bully Canada into a subservient on our knees position…. even requiring we ask the US permission to enter into trade deals with other countries. Outrageous!!! I feel very proud that Canada is fighting back … and Canadians (Liberals, Conservatives and NDP) are buying Canadian more than ever. Ho)
A few more days have pasted and more information is coming to light. Suggest you find Tonda MacCharles article in the todays the 29th Toronto Sun “How trade deal unravelled Insiders recount tense week of negotiation” It should be available online through your libratry Presser.
It is appears both Ford and Kinew both were unhappy with the deal and Ford would not impliment his part of the deal. Makes for an interesting read.
(Response: The more most Canadians learn about the “deal” that was nearly agreed to, the more they seem to be happy Carney rejected it, despite any repercussions from the Mad Hatter. Canadians, including Millennials and Generation Z, are showing a toughness I frankly thought we no longer had. Elbows UP! Ho)
Well things devolved in a hurry.
One thing I am not is an expert on international trade so I am not going to pretend otherwise.
I was today years old when I learned that the US sells more dairy products in Canada than Canada sells dairy products in the US. The US would like to sell more but tariffs kick in at a certain level so it doesn’t happen. Our protection of Canadian dairy farmers is no doubt an irritant to the US but so is the US treatment of our soft wood lumber. Anyone here want to suggest a solution?
I was also today years old when I heard about section 32.10 in CUSMA. Gilbert alluded to it. It “requires members to provide three months’ advance notice before initiating free trade negotiations with a “non-market economy”. There are about a dozen countries designated as non-market but the three main ones are China, Russia and Vietnam. I don’t understand this enough but Canada or Mexico or the US cannot start negotiating a free trade agreement with say China without running the risk of ending CUSMA. Recall Canada and China coming up with a trade deal that lowered tariffs on Canadian canola in exchange for allowing Chinese EVs into Canada at a reduced tariff. Even though this was not a free trade agreement, Trump wasn’t happy with the arrangement. Again no expert here, but perhaps the Americans were trying to prevent Canada from making similar deals in the future with China which would be a significant undercutting of Canadian sovereignty. (Remember also that the US and China are big trading partners.)
OK so no expert on international trade but maybe I am an expert on lemmings and peons and foolish boomers who watch the CBC. lol
Some people don’t like Mark Carney. Fair enough. Carney’s advisory board consists of CEOs, union leaders, and people like former CPC leader Erin O’Toole, former Progressive Conservative leader Jean Charest and former CPC Deputy leader Lisa Raitt. He seems to have the support of the provincial premiers most of whom are Conservatives. Even Poilievre hasn’t been overly critical.
And in a telling the truth discussion:
Didn’t Howard Lutnick say he had broken off relations with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005 when in fact he was still in contact several years later even after Epstein’s first conviction in 2008.
Remember the Haitians eating the cats and dogs which was later debunked. Here is what JD Vance said about his role in the story.
When questioned about the falsehood of the stories, Vance defended focusing media attention on the issue, remarking: “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do.” Can I emphasize IF I HAVE TO CREATE STORIES.
And I don’t think I have to say anything about Trump’s relationship with the truth.
So yeh, call me a lemming, a peon or a foolish boomer who watches CBC but am going with Carney here until proven wrong.
(Response: The Americans make a big deal out of the CUSMA requirement that Canada consult with other partners before entering into discussions about a free trade deal with other countries. I am a news junkie, but I cannot remember seeing ever that the United States consulted Canada or Mexico before entering entering into any trade deals (free or otherwise with any other nation in the world! Can anyone see Trump doing that??? What really disappoints me is I haven’t seen any reporters asking US officials about that when they talk about that Canada provision. Ho)
Mark Carney told us that he got the best deal on the Gordie Howe Bridge and that we’d be repaid back all the money right up front…. he LIED! This was proven when the text of the deal was ACTUALLY released and Canadians saw what a bad deal it was and how much money we were in debt for!
We don’t have the text of the US trade deal Carney just rejected. Could it be, could it just be that Carney could be lying about that too? We won’t know until we see it. I look forward to somebody leaking it to the press and hopefully it’s not CBC…
Why are male boomer liberals like Stewie and Harvey and D.M. believing all that comes out of Carney’s mouth without proof of any sort??? Is it the old boys’ club attitude where you support each other no matter how badly behaved one or more of you are? Just wondering why none of you have the guts to ask for proof but blindly follow Carney off the economic cliff like lemmings… must be your generation. You also act very demeaning towards women which is not surprising either to me. If I posted as a male, I am sure my reception would be better received and I would not get the “MAGA” comments, would I?
I look forward to more demeaning remarks here from the above….. it just reinforces what I am saying!
(Response: You should read everyone on here’s FULL comments… not just the parts that make you see “red” (pun intentional :)) You accuse them of “believing all that comes out of Carney’s mouth”. Clearly you’ve missed a LOT of what they have written on here about Carney/Liberals! Ho)
Trump is a sick bully. I’m really hoping the whole world stands up to this disgusting and obscene exuse for a president and Canada is setting the example and bar to not be intimidated by this sick mutant and his cowards who lick his boots because their to frightened to stop even one sick chaotic little thug. I suppose the cowardly little figures under him feel like they actually have some kind of stature and meaning under him. I will pray the world has a dark future for him and his creeps. The pig is going start a world war the way he’s going on the world stage at the moment. What’s wrong with so many Americans. Are they just so concerned with their world of reality shows and the entertainment stage to see what’s coming at them.
(Response: People who are dedicated hard-wired partisans for any party (or leader) have a Pavlovian reaction to ANYTHING! They will advocate and support or criticize, condemn and urge inquiries, even criminal charges whatever position their “side” backs or opposes…. but take exactly the opposite position(s) when their “side” does/advocates/opposes the very same thing! I get it when it comes to ordinary supporters, but I find it so hypocritical … almost disgusting … when a leader or any politician spews what he or she knows is crap … even when media produce past interviews/statements of them saying exactly the opposite. Sure, people can change their minds … but sorry to say, most just have no integrity or credibility. Ho)
Here is Poilievre’s response to Carney as posted on FB today(I am sure that the liberal lemmings here will be all so disgusted by it as it is so right but hey we have to be disgusted by it … so predictable your lemmings are):
“Just finished a call with the Prime Minister to discuss the tariff escalation.
My message: release the text of the rejected agreement, recall Parliament, and adopt an emergency Economic Action Plan to save jobs and lower costs for our people.
The plan should scrap gas taxes until Canada Day, have zero capital gains tax on reinvesting in Canada, end the industrial carbon tax, green -light the 500 projects waiting for federal permits, and have ZERO sales tax on Canadian-made cars.
As the U.S. hikes tariffs, we must lower taxes for Canadians.
Let’s all fight for our workers, our businesses, and our country.”
(Response: He has said almost all of that before. I agree with him on scrapping the gas taxes and having ZERO sales tax in Canadian-made cars…. but not eliminating capital gains on even those companies that are thriving and have money to reinvest/grow. The government does NEED tax revenues to pay for all the programs it funds .. and surely you agree the deficit and the debt are high enough! Ho)
Sorry Marge, it looks like you are at odds with the 76% of the population. “76 per cent of Canadians support Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to break off U.S. trade talks and to fight fire with fire on the tariff front.”
Too bad pictures can’t be posted on here, I think I might have seen you today wearing a red cap with Marge Against Good Admin.
🙂
Gee, I think we all come here for an intelligent discussion. I for one don’t appreciate mischaracterization and the slagging of someone for holding a different point of view.
Thank you. There are a lot of MBB’s here (misogynist boomer boys) who think it’s okay to name call, especially if it is a female response. I notice they don’t go after Gilbert and call him names like they do me. I wonder if I changed my name to Mike, would that garner me more respect. Misogyny reigns supreme at this blog. That is why I decided in July that it wasn’t worth my while to post here anymore. Too many MBB’s, including the host of the site. I came back because I thought it would be fun to interact with the liberal lemmings here, but once again the MBB’s played out their role. Sad that they behave this way and have no respect for women whatsoever and especially bright women who question their viewpoints but whom they view as a threat for whatever reason.
Response: Moi? Misogynist? That’s a new one directed at me …so much so, I had to check the definition in the dictionary just to make sure the accusation meant what I thought it meant. Really?? You also write “Misogyny reigns supreme at this blog”. I think YOU should check the definition: looks like you believe it means “ANY male who disagrees with Marge”. LOL! Ho)
Oh Marge, you are so easy to wind up.
And I just love it when folks go after name callers with name calling.
I’m ok being called a lemming as it indicates forward movement, not standing still.
Don’t go ‘way Marge.
Exactly what I would expect from a misogynist demeaning lemming supporting the Conman Carney… name calling instead of active engagement. Maybe you don’t know how to think so resort to this form of attack. And nice of Harvey for not saying anything about it…says a lot about male boomers, doesn’t it? Not unexpected given whom you support politically.
Until the Liberals release what they turned down, it’s all meaningless but you believe the Kool-Aid that is being poured down your throat and will buy anything the Liberal propaganda machine will tell you. Show me the document and I will support you if it proves that the Canadians were getting shafted. The refusal to show the document is telling, but you don’t see that with your pink glasses on, do you Stewie? How do you know you are not being conned?
(Response: More “misogynist” accusations. Did you just learn this new word? Can’t wait till you get down to the “P”s … and spot the words “persecuted” and “paranoid”. Ho)
I have a hat for you Stewie. Maybe we can meet up and I can give it to you? It says Misogynous P (the P doesn’t stand for person Stewie. We will leave it to your imagination what the p may stand for….) I am guessing you will have to look up the word misogynous as a name calling liberal you wouldn’t know much.
More than 76% chose Hitler too…. just saying…. Sometimes those of us you think wrong are actually right and we’re not liberal lemmings like you appear to be a member of.
It seems the trade deal became a casuality of Washington politics. As Rob Russo, Canadian correspondent for the Economist, said this morning on the CBC it sure looked like Leblanc and Greer had a deal. According to all reports Howard Lutnick entered the discussion and then the deal went south. Lutnick’s position according to the Wall Street Journal states Lutnick wants “Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose agency administers the tariffs, has said he wants to bring many of those supply chains to the U.S.” Reversing history that dates back to the auotpact. Thus the harsher demands to sideline the deal.
Russo also added an interesting comment, Canada needs a deal if they want to attract the investment to development all the projects envisioned by governments across the country. Without access to the American market the investment may not look so secure. Interesting perspective.
(Response: My own impression is that Trump and his administration see Canada much like Putin and his lackeys see Ukraine: an extension of their geography, linguistically and culturally close enough to be an adjunct territory or colony, whose resources and policies are there to serve the larger motherland. So now that Canada has rejected that role, Trump has started a war …an economic one … believing US size and power will bring us to heel. He will inflict damage on us, but he’s also about to find out the conflict will cause serious losses/casualties in the US as well. Ho)
I remind all readers that Prime Minister Carney said he was the man to handle President Trump. In fact, I believe he said he was the only one. If we remember those words, it doesn’t appear he has been successful.
Of course I understand that President Trump is difficult to deal with. He’s unpredictable and not very popular. Nevertheless, it is important for Canada to maintain a good relationship with the USA. 70% of our trade is with the USA, but of course, removing interprovincial trade barriers, developing our natural resources and diversifying our economy are critical.
The CUSMA agreement already states that if a country enters into a trade agreement with another country, it needs to give six months’ notice, and then the countries in CUSMA can decide to terminate the agreement. Let’s be honest. The country that the USA was worried about was almost certainly China. Anyone who has been paying attention knows that Prime Minister Carney loves the CCP.
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has a child who lives in Paris and speaks French himself. He said that there was no demand on the part of the USA that packaging to Canada should be in English only. According to him, having packaging in both French and English was fine. Let’s remember that we haven’t seen the details of the agreement. It should be obvious to everyone that the Canadian Prime Minister is not the most transparent person in the world. Until we know the actual details of what Canada walked away from, we cannot give an accurate analysis.
We need to ask ourselves if walking away from the agreement was in the best interests of Canada or of the Canadian Prime Minister. We know that Mark Carney was largely elected on the basis of his opposition to the USA and to President Trump, so maybe he’s decided to go back to his old playbook. It will almost certainly make him go up in the polls and help him in the upcoming by-elections.
Many here are saying that he’s much better to lead the country than Pierre Poilievre. Well, that’s mere speculation because we simply don’t know. That’s of course what he wants people to believe, but the result is that the size of government will continue to grow and many Canadians will suffer. Don’t worry about the Canadian Prime Minister, though. His personal finances won’t be affected.
How serious was he about securing a good deal for Canada? Prior to walking away from the agreement, he was on vacation in Tuscany. That tells me all I need to know. It doesn’t appear he was too concerned. He knows that by appealing to Canadians emotions and sense of nationalism, most of them will continue to give him their blind support.
(Response: The problem with accepting any of the US demands that Canada believes will hurt our economy/growth/independence is the precedent it would set. Remember, the current dispute involves only 5% of the trade between the two countries: BUT any small “give” Canada agrees to now will become a much larger “give” when (if) the full CUSMA deal is renegotiated. As for your remarks about Carney, although I favoured the Conservatives in the last election, the more I observe, I think he’s doing a very good job in dealing with Trump … much better than Poilievre would do. Ho)
This is mere speculation on my part, but let me present the other story. If Pierre Poilievre were the Prime Minister, Canada would have a better relationship with the USA. The border would be more secure with fewer drugs and illegal immigrants crossing. The ridiculous policy of free drugs and injection sites could be reversed.
The military would be in better shape with the peaceniks out of power, we’d see a government that was tougher on crime, we wouldn’t see the useless major projects office, the ridiculous net zero agenda or useless land acknowledgements. Canadian natural resources would actually get developed, the Keystone Pipeline would be revived, we’d see more distance between Canada and the CCP, a real investigation into foreign interference, a less sycophantic media, more investment, a smaller debt (who would have expected the banker to spend like a drunken sailor?), fewer Canadians leaving the country and less flight capital. Of course seniors and wealthy liberal Canadians would still love the Liberals, but at least the country wouldn’t be in the terrible shape it is now.
(Response: Speculation is always difficult: politicians often say/do one thing when they are in opposition, but do or say the exact opposite once they take power and have different responsibilities. As for Trump, the overwhelming evidence is that his conflict with Canada is not partisan related: he’s at odds with other administrations from left to right with supposed US allies and partners all across the globe! It’s about dominance and control … and I sure hope Poilievre would have resisted/fired back too when Trump/Lutnick moved to completely destroy Canada’s auto manufacturing sector. Ho)
And one more thing to ponder…. why hasn’t the Canadian public been given access to what the deal they turned down was??? Surely Carney the “honest Abe” person that he is, would want us all to know, wouldn’t he???
(Response: The deal is not yet done (it will be, eventually) and I’ve never seen ANY government release full details of what’s on the table in any negotiations before it is signed, sealed and delivered. Ho)
Marge,
Your comments are excellent. It’s clear that the Canadian Prime Minister’s theatrics don’t work on you. As you know, Mark Carney isn’t a very honest person. The moment he says “let me be clear”, and he starts moving his hands a lot, we can be very suspicious of what he tells us. He’s doing what’s in his own best interest and not the country’s. Let’s not kid ourselves. Who really think he left a trillion dollar organization to serve the Canadian people?
All for political reasons so that Carney comes out looking like a hero instead of a zero in the upcoming byelections…. And the peons buy into it … proof positive here again as always !!! Carney has lied before (Confederation bridge tale) and I wouldn’t put it past him to be lying again to garner votes and publicity for the liberals as Canada’s saviors (even you said you would rather have him than the Conservative leader in charge….). Fool me once, shame on you , fool me twice, shame on me! According to the US it was Canada who walked away from the table, not the Americans. Considering how Carney lies continuously to Canadians, who would you believe??? Trump is an ass but our Conman leader isn’t to be trusted except by fools who fall for it every time (boomers who watch CBC for sure!)
Be sure to check in after the byelections to find out that we are now “negotiating” a better deal for the country…. (Note our retaliations don’t happen until after Labor day…. Go figure!)
(Response: Yes, although I favoured the Conservatives in the last election, I have become increasingly unimpressed with Poilievre since then (on both issues and personal appeal) and have to admit I believe Carney is the best leader for the moment…. especially with Doug Ford and Wab Kinew as wing men! Ho)
I tried to look at the trend of the newspaper coverage of these trade talks breaking down, and the Google News app gave me mostly Canadian newspapers. I looked farther for the USA positions and as usual the NY Times and Washington Post use Canadian correspondents and the Atlantic uses David Frum, an expatriot Canuck. So we led the public relations battle for a couple of hours.
Later last night there was a bevy of articles all at once, and including Fox News, stating that Canada was trading with China much more. The Fox implication was that we were trading with the enemy. Interestingly the other news outlets focusing on the China trade were Canadian.
Now, there seems to be very little US coverage supporting Trump on this. Even the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board is panning Trump on this issue.
(Response: Most Americans … looking at how almost the whole world now sees the US … are realizing the problem is Trump, not the rest of the world. The US President blusters, bullies, threatens and sometimes barrels ahead without thinking, or caring, about the consequences. For example, think about his announcement today about the 50% tariff coming Jan 1 on ALL Canadian car parts etc heading south: just for US manufacturers to retool and resource the necessary materials would take years; just imagine what that 50% tariff would do to the prices of US-built cars in the interim!!! Ridiculous …thousands of dollars more per car. It won’t happen: the dispute will end before then, once Trump and his team realize Canada is a partner, NOT a US colony. Ho)
Ignoring his politics, Tom Mulcair has interesting and reasoned comments.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video/2026/08/23/it-is-a-muted-response-from-donald-trump-mulcair/
I believe he is correct.
(Response: I see Mulcair occasionally on TV and find his perspective quite accurate and reasonable. Seems to be better as an analyst/commentator than he was as a politician. Ho)
From the American comments about the collapse of the trade talks, the USA has a profound ignorance of Canada. The Trump Cabinet seems to be completely illiterate and just repeats the USA mantra of politcal exceptionalism.
Negotiating is impossible.
It has confirmed my belief that American school teach that Canada is a historic anomaly created in 1867 (American rote education is very big on dates) and is ripe for the taking.
The reality is Canada were the “loyalists”, who remained loyal to the crown/government; something that Trump and his ilk have absolutely no loyalty to anything but money.
We are going to have a difficult few years ahead of us and those on the “give-me” end of the stick will be in for a shock (take note civic politcans), what is going to trickle down to our spendthrift provincial and civic politicians is thrift and the electorate are going to demand it.
As for trade talks, they are as dead as Marley’s ghost and I still think an export tax on oil, electricity and potash, will send the message that Canada is (to be polite) mad.
Trump has awakened our nasty side and the USA will soon find out how nasty Canada can be.
(Response: I don’t believe the trade talks are dead. Haven’t we learned that Trumps bluster, snorts and threats are often just for his MAGA crowd. The truth is Canada, despite its small size buys more goods from the United States, then China, Japan, and the UK combined!! If Trump doesn’t know that yet, I have no doubt US businesses, trade organizations and politicians will educate him as our boycotts and customs duties will take even more effect. Ho)
Carney is the man for this moment. I don’t think Canada has ever enjoyed a better international reputation than right now. I’m pleased to see most Canadians are rallying behind him. Of course there will always be a fringe minority of Canadians who will continue worshipping Trump no matter what. Glad to see you changed your mind about Iran. 😉
(Response: The world is watching and as Trump’s term winds down, I believe you will see more countries standing up against his bullying… and extending their support and dealings with Canada. As for Iran, I still believe taking out their nuclear and ballistic sites were the right thing to do: the entire mid East and the world are safer for that. However, the second attack, trying to overthrow the regime, had no end game plan, which is now proving to be a disaster. Ho)
I am so proud of this stance and thankful we don’t have Katy Perry’s boyfriend on the job.
Two things I would like to see starting RIGHT NOW is for leaders of other free, independent countries stepping up to provide, at the very least, public, vocal support for Canada and disapproval of DJT. In a forceful, believable manner.
At the same time, I want to see Canadians, all Canadians, become more serious about boycotting the US, while buying products from Canada and other friendly nations. It should be accepted as our responsibility.
And that can start with my favourite US pet peeve, Starbucks.
Every addicted patron I challenge on this, excuses their behavior by saying the Starbucks they go to is owned by a Canadian.
It is not.
(Response: What we need is for the American people and businesses, as well as our foreign allies, to start speaking up… and also standing up. If American exports of unessential goods fall worldwide , the economic consequences will speak loudly. Many of us are already looking at labels like never before. It’s all quite sad, but I agree, we are fortunate to have Carney to lead, not Trudeau (or Poilievre either).
As for travel to the US, other than essential trips for family or business reasons,and snowbirds like me, who already own and pay for places down there … many for health purposes … I think you’ll see fewer and fewer Canadians heading south just to shop or enjoy the scenery. Ho)
Agreed.
Label watching is a good exercise, but a tough one to adhere to.
A 750ml bottle of Heinz ketchup is “A product of USA” while the 1.25l is “Prepared in Canada” whatever the hell that means.
My sons single grocery cart holds $700 worth of habitual consumables, which are robotically taken from the shelves. deciphering the labels is foreign and time consuming, not to mention his kids being fanatical about cereal circles, not flakes…this week.
Any interaction I currently have with Americans is difficult because they are embarrassed to the point of hiding where they are from. Difficult meaningful conversational moments.
Observing what is going on, makes it easier to understand how the world sat on their hands while Hitler went unchallenged for so long.
(Response: Since you mentioned Hitler, it reminded me of the fact (unknown by many many younger Canadians) that Canada took on the Nazi dictator three years before the US, which only entered the war after it was directly attacked at Pearl Harbour. Canadians have proudly stood for principles generation after generation and, frankly, I have wondered at times whether today’s younger people have that backbone: but the reaction I’ve seen on TV from most Canadiens is reassuring. Elbows UP together! Ho)