100% Trump wanted to renegotiate NAFTA, and he did. He threatened steel and aluminum tariffs, and did it. There's no reason to think he's not serious now. If we want to hit them, Transport Canada issues a stop sale order on Teslas(safety) and then treat X like RT. Foreign propaganda.
He didn't really renegotiate NAFTA. A few changes were made, mostly pushed by Trudeau, and it got a new name that highlighted "America". That's about it. And his tariff attack failed miserably, after 30+ US governors and large corporations objected. Trump fails at everything except self promotion
One last thing. About what I wrote. I hope I am wrong. I hope there are less crazy solutions that will solve the problem and I hope for their success. I would much rather be wrong than to be right on this.
Because a peace agreement; a trade agreement; any kind of international agreement requires reliability. If that isn't there then there really isn't a reason to trust that partner. Which is why I suggest a more pointed trade response with Mexico. Because at least Mexico is reliable.
How is it free trade if the US suddenly unilaterally puts tariffs of 25% on products of the other free trade partners in contravention of that agreement? Because such actions should be a contravention if anything. I would rather we talk and establish relationships with a partners who are reliable.
There is a reason I feel the way I do. I keep thinking that trying to talk to him is hopeless. He prides himself on being unsettling and unpredictable. But a peace of paper with a signature on it requires predictability. The free trade deal is an example of what I mean. (1/2)
But it really does feel like nutso times and decoupling from NORAD and the trade relationship seem like choices we have to make. Like I say I think to say this stuff is nutso and I hope we don't have to but I feel like we need to be aware that our next door neighbor covets rather than seeks peace.
From the Canadian market. Also we need to open free trade between provinces and territories and move to find new economic partners including China (yes I went there). Finally we should be prepared to look at a nuclear weapons program of our own. I realize what I am saying is nutso believe me.
I listened to what you were saying and one of the first things that occurred is simply tear up free trade with US as a retaliatory strike on tariffs. Second seek a free trade and defensive agreement with Mexico. Third. Should any American manufacturer move south their products are banned (1/2)
We need a tear emoji. Canada is my home, my native land; I still have my first ever passport (expired) and my Social Assurance Card and a fully-executed Canadian birth certificate. I would be packing to leave now if I did not have a bed-ridden husband of 93.
As an American and a Permanent Resident in Canada, I implore all Canadians to monitor the machinations of Trump wannabe Pierre Poilievre. His platform positions are disturbingly in tune with Trump's and he poses a real threat to Canadian sovereignty if elected PM.
If Trump goes ahead with expelling millions of immigrants and imposing his tariffs, you'll see the stock market collapse, there's no way around it. That won't go down very well with the big money on Wall Street.
Lost respect for Frum when he recently rationalized/downplayed atrocities against Canada’s indigenous peoples. Stealing children and cultural genocide doesn’t get a pass.
Agree - that would be bad. Do you have a reference? Sorry to have to ask, but all sorts of assertions turn out not to have a factual basis. Although Frum is already of questionable integrity.
Maybe they should appeal to his ego & talk about how Canada is still hurting so badly from the USMCA that Trump forced them to swallow. How it would be terrible for Canada if he made them adhere to it for four more years. Plan B could be cutting off all softwood lumber, oil & gas exports to the US.
My picture of things is that USA produces more fossil fuels than it consumes. I don't think they need our dibit, but it's the only market that Alberta has for it.
There are some good sites where you can get a better perspective. Fossil fuels include coal. US has huge amounts, no one wants. It includes Natural Gas, which requires pipelines for transportation. US produces more crude oil than it uses, but it can't be refined in the US so it is exported.
“Conciliation, concession, working with partners, that’s Plan A. But you really need to have a Plan B of much more radical ideas that say, ‘You know what? This president may not be interested in conciliation, and may not be someone that can be mollified by concessions.”
He could speak to his idol Putin. 'Ukraine in 3 days' has turned into 800,000 dead soldiers and a few hundred square kilometres of territory and a collapsing economy.
Evidence mounts that Putin and Xi are the model that he wishes to emulate. Both leaders are in the process of seizing nearby territories, and he evidently envies that.
I see many parallels between convicted felons Trump & Hitler's lies, rhetoric, propaganda techniques & stated planned policies and/or actions. I've got many ideas & none of them entail appeasement.
trump is not going to order military intervention within Canadian borders. trump creates panic to use as leverage. There will likely be tariffs that are targeted and conditional. Even Obama had tariffs.
Actually I quite like Global's podcast Conversations with Ben O'Hara-Byrne. Give it a listen. Luke LeBrun is my favourite journalist these days. I subscribe to his Substack instead of an MSM subscription
I want our government to stop letting illegal guns into Canada. The same for drugs too that come across the US border. Maybe we need to close the border
During my career in DND, I often came to be mystified at why the Canadian public sector, and especially DND, gave preferential treatment to US vendors. This seemed to be founded on the assumption, expressed both implicitly and explicitly, that the US would always act benevolently to protect us.
The old assumptions clearly don't hold; indeed Canada is being seen as easy pickings. We had better start getting our act together if we are not to end up as third class Americans.
Trump is planning something at Canada's expense. Time to man up as a team, join forces as Canadian Provinces, part of a proud and strong country and tell him to piss off, we're ready!
Frankly, nobody knows, and anybody who says they know is not to be trusted. Should there be a plan for either timeline? Absolutely. Can we afford to rely on hope that it's a Trump fever dream? Nope.
Comments
I'm a 65 year old woman but will absolutely fight for Canada!
You wouldn't need to invade another country if you hadn't sold your own.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/01/settler-colonialism-guilty-history/680992/
🇨🇦patriotism.
Trump sees himself as star of his own movie.There was the Apprentice, in which he thrived in a way that never proved out privately.
Now Trump is Jefferson, & Napoleon, & Netanyahu. All in one…
Meanwhile, Danielle Smith told Alberta she was going on vacation and she ends up staying at Trump’s place. Along with O’Leary and Peterson.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Rome_(1527)
The press need not take the fake and go back too it.