CAN-USA Tariff Strife (split from various pol threads)

[JLB50]

Make no mistake, Trump is out to hurt Canada. He wants to break us so that we accept assimilation into the U.S. He also wants to break Panama through threats of force. And, similarly, Greenland (Denmark). This is not just about Canada and a new free trade deal. He is pushing for 5% defence spending for NATO…something that would break up the alliance.

In the meantime, he hardly has a bad word to say about Putin or his “Rocket Man” buddy in North Korea. He is giving the mega-billionaires more control and power than ever before using the old notion of “trickle down” economics to make the lower classes think they’re going to significantly benefit.

I was not happy at all with what Canada’s LPC or America’s Democrats have done in recent years. And the people of both countries have expressed their need for change. But Trump is only out to satisfy his sick ego.

The other night I was watching the news when I got a telephone call from a friend. While talking to him I had the tv on mute as coverage began of Trump. Even without hearing what he was saying, I could see hatred and anger written all over his face. Which reminded me of my days in the ad agency business (long ago) when tv commercial directors would come in and show me their reels of commercials they had done. After seeing one commercial after another filled with music and smooth voice overs, I did something that would often make the directors squirm…I would turn off the sound and concentrate solely on the editing and basic structure of their commercials. One can learn a lot by disengaging the senses.

I know that many here may disagree with me as to the significance of what Trump is doing. But he is not just shaking things up. I say again that he is out to seriously hurt or destroy us as a nation. Regardless of what we do. At best, he is a bully. And one should not kowtow to a bully. It only makes them worse.

 

[Good2Golf]

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, you and everyone else here.

I know that many here may disagree with me as to the significance of what Trump is doing. But he is not just shaking things up. I say again that he is out to seriously hurt or destroy us as a nation. Regardless of what we do.

Personally, I’m not sure that’s the case. Is his negotiation style pretty? No, but it is transactional-style negotiation. Canada has an enormous amount of housecleaning to do to get its own affairs in order. Things like actually passing foreign influence registry, like all the other G7 nations ALREADY have, might be a positive action in improving Canada’s relationship with America.

At best, he is a bully. And one should not kowtow to a bully. It only makes them worse.

So insulting him (as Trudeau openly did shortly after the November election) is a way to deal with bullies? Some might say that’s more akin to throwing gasoline on a fire.

 

[suffolkowner]

I'd like to see a government mandate to go full on crazy in development of nuclear energy. Pocket reactors, refurbished nuclear power plants, new plant production. Im not sure what the problem is, but small local reactors should be an easy fix. The USS Nautilus, ran a nuclear power plant in 1957. Today, a Ford class carrier is capable of 170,000 kilowatts that can supply a city of hundreds of thousands. Even though they are highly inefficient for that purpose. We keep all our uranium for ourselves.

Well, one can dream I guess.

Ontarios the testing ground right now. It most cases it seems like if you are going to build a nuclear plant you might as well go full scale for the cost involved

 

[Good2Golf]

Ontarios the testing ground right now. It most cases it seems like if you are going to build a nuclear plant you might as well go full scale for the cost involved

SMRs are very reasonable balances between capacity and construction/management costs. Ontario is leading, but several provinces are participating in SMR development.

A strategic plan for the deployment of small modular reactors

Read the plan prepared by the Governments of Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

www.ontario.ca

https://smrroadmap.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BRIEF-SMR-Roadmap-Brochure-EN-2018-11-05-1.pdf?x93402

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Personally, I’m not sure that’s the case. Is his negotiation style pretty? No, but it is transactional-style negotiation. Canada has an enormous amount of housecleaning to do to get its own affairs in order. Things like actually passing foreign influence registry, like all the other G7 nations ALREADY have, might be a positive action in improving Canada’s relationship with America.

We're dealing with a guy who made a billion dollars in the cutthroat world of New York real estate. We have to learn how to negotiate with the big boys. I'd have Mr Wonderful give it a try before anyone on Team Red.

 

[Remius]

Pierre Poilievre says he would retaliate against Trump tariffs, reduce inter-province trade barriers if elected

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he would retaliate against U.S. tariffs if he was elected prime minister, potentially matching them dollar for dollar.

www.ctvnews.ca

So more substance from PP.

Echoing what I said about finding other sources to sell our stuff if the US is going be unreliable and is all about retaliation if needed .

Good. Strong stance in his part.

 

[Good2Golf]

Pierre Poilievre says he would retaliate against Trump tariffs, reduce inter-province trade barriers if elected

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he would retaliate against U.S. tariffs if he was elected prime minister, potentially matching them dollar for dollar.

www.ctvnews.ca

So more substance from PP.

Echoing what I said about finding other sources to sell our stuff if the US is going be unreliable and is all about retaliation if needed .

Good. Strong stance in his part.

Pretty sound concepts in his message.

 

[Kirkhill]

I suspect that's one reason someone from Big Uranium is at the latest convening table assembled by Team Red Ottawa.

Interesting mix on where the US gets uranium according to the US's energy info-machine: "In 2022, 95% of the uranium purchased by U.S. nuclear power plant operators originated in other countries. Canada, which has large, high-quality uranium reserves, was the largest source of uranium purchased by U.S. nuclear power plants in 2022 at 27%. Kazakhstan was the second-largest source at 25%, followed by Russia at 12%."

Given the stats, for all of Canada's faults, there's more unstable & unreliable places to get uranium.

Then again, all of Canada's uranium comes from SK, comes from SK, who's taking a bit more of AB line (but not quite as loud, and a bit more "we want to be part of the team") on their exports. This from CBC: "... Moe said he's looking at all powers available in provincial jurisdiction to reduce any export tariff on Saskatchewan goods, should they be implemented by Ottawa ..."

Where AB's territorial about its petroleum, SK sounds like it could be just as territorial about uranium. We'll have to see how "Team Canada" they remain.

Moe is also protective of his potash.

Canada considers export tax on major commodities oil, uranium and potash if Trump imposes 25% tariff

Federal government is looking at a number of ideas, but not close to selecting which to adopt, senior government official says

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

[CBH99]

Make no mistake, Trump is out to hurt Canada. He wants to break us so that we accept assimilation into the U.S. He also wants to break Panama through threats of force. And, similarly, Greenland (Denmark). This is not just about Canada and a new free trade deal. He is pushing for 5% defence spending for NATO…something that would break up the alliance.

I read your whole post, and can easily respect your position & can see how one can get there. (Quite easily, actually...)

I don't think Trump is out to get Canada. I don't think he wants us to fail as a nation, or become so broken & mismanaged that we just succumb to the idea of becoming the 51st American state.



But he was voted in with an overwhelming mandate to put America first, to grow the American economy, protect Americans' safety, and get things under control.

He openly campaigned on generating large amounts of revenue by introducing tariffs, and using that money to start paying down the national debt. And thats exactly what he is doing.

He isn't asking for much from us. Get control of our immigration, tighten up the border on our side, and do what we can to limit the amount of fentynal crossing the border from our side.

These are things we should have already been ontop of - no excuse for us to have not been, other than shitty leadership at multiple levels.


Reform our bail policies. Bring back mandatory minimum penalties.

Review what ingredients go into producing fentynal that aren't currently banned or restricted, and find ways to limit those ingredients from entering the country even further (perhaps increase inspections or detection capabilities at the ports, etc etc)

I disagree with Trump when he says we have nothing they need - thats nonsense, and I think we all know it. But if he doesn't want to have to worry about their northern border, and wants us to get back on the saddle & become a reliable security partner again, that's something we should be doing anyway.




As for Trump asking all NATO members to pay 5% of their GDP to defence, we all know that isn't going to happen. Heck Poland is modernizing it's military at a breakneck pace and it's only spending roughly 3.1%...


My 2 cents anyway

 

[MrWhyt]

He openly campaigned on generating large amounts of revenue by introducing tariffs, and using that money to start paying down the national debt. And thats exactly what he is doing.

and he still doesn't know what a tariff is.

 

[QV]

and he still doesn't know what a tariff is.

These irrelevant snipes are amusing.

He’s now #47 after the greatest come back in political history. He has fundamentally shifted the priorities of the west. He has every world organization and country waiting nervously to hear what he says or does next. This is all true whether you like him or not.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Excellent edition

A lot of people will hear things said on these forums for some time

 

[Jarnhamar]

These irrelevant snipes are amusing.

He’s now #47 after the greatest come back in political history. He has fundamentally shifted the priorities of the west. He has every world organization and country waiting nervously to hear what he says or does next. This is all true whether you like him or not.

Hes definitely getting stuff done.

Improving Canadian border security and pushing us to improve our National Defense.

At the end of the day strength matters in all things. It's not so much a case of standing up to a school yard bully, it's standing up to Mike Tyson in the ring; it's a smart thing not to find yourself there in the first place.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Pierre Poilievre says he would retaliate against Trump tariffs, reduce inter-province trade barriers if elected

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he would retaliate against U.S. tariffs if he was elected prime minister, potentially matching them dollar for dollar.

www.ctvnews.ca

So more substance from PP.

Echoing what I said about finding other sources to sell our stuff if the US is going be unreliable and is all about retaliation if needed .

Good. Strong stance in his part.

Great hearing more details - and decent approach.

It’ll be interesting to see how he would herd the still-varying Premiers for a fully Team Canada go. Current management can’t handle the leash at this point.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Hes definitely getting stuff done.

Improving Canadian border security and pushing us to improve our National Defense.

At the end of the day strength matters in all things. It's not so much a case of standing up to a school yard bully, it's standing up to Mike Tyson in the ring; it's a smart thing not to find yourself there in the first place.

Why does Trump telling us to act like a first world, independent nation and good neighbor equate to be being a bully ?

We've been a judgemental, loud mouthed laggard of a neighbor and ally for years, were just getting called out for it now. The truth hurts Canada, get over it.

Notice how no one is rushing to our defence?

 

[The Bread Guy]

Excellent edition

A lot of people will hear things said on these forums for some time

This is one of my few go-to fave podcasts these days.

A few others - this one with rabid partisans from all 3 parties represented "putting the cuss into discuss" on "The Curse of Politics" (as well as a longer-single-guest interview pod, and - for now - a weekly podcast on Team Red's Running of the Snakes Leadership Race - that one has young Red partisans who bring former campaign experience into the mix discussing the week's developments) ...

Air Quotes Media

Politics from the inside, out. Get beyond the talking points and explore the big ideas changing our politics, culture and the world. We’ll hear from the players in the game in a way that traditional media can’t deliver: unfiltered and without limits. It’ll take all of us—listening to each other...

www.youtube.com

... this one with two guys taking more of an old-school approach to politics and journalism ...

The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

An insiders look at journalism, politics, and people with Peter Mansbridge. Listen on SiriusXM Canada or subscribe to the podcast on your favourite streaming platforms. Peter Mansbridge is an award-winning journalist, a Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the...

www.youtube.com

... and these guys who follow polling like your favourite colour commentator follows sports stats (with occasional episodes in French, with both of them being native speakers).

Éric Grenier

Insights and analysis about Canadian elections by Éric Grenier of The Writ, and home of The Numbers and Les chiffres podcasts co-hosted with Philippe J. Fournier.

www.youtube.com

Less frequently, but more than zero, I like this one with a host who you may not always agree with, but isn't afraid to push ...

Canadaland

Canadaland is a news site and podcast network funded by its audience.

www.canadaland.com

... and this one with CTV's Vassy Kapelos, who's not afraid to push while also not being a dink.

CTV Power Play – Vassy Kapelos – CTV News

Vassy Kapelos hosts Power Play on CTV News Channel, talking to people and players who dominate the political scene in Canada.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[JLB50]

These irrelevant snipes are amusing.

He’s now #47 after the greatest come back in political history. He has fundamentally shifted the priorities of the west. He has every world organization and country waiting nervously to hear what he says or does next. This is all true whether you like him or not.

Very true about people nervously waiting to hear about what he does next. Kind of reminds me of Europe in the late 1930s and a certain leader with a funny moustache. Having immense power doesn’t necessarily put a leader in a position of moral authority. In fact the opposite could be true. “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” - Lord Acton. (The long form of that quote is even more scathing).

QV, I’ve agreed with you on some things, especially involving Trudeau, but I do feel that despite his admittedly tremendous political comeback, Trump is mentally unbalanced, has cheated business partners (very well documented), has committed crimes against women and is going to cause this world far more harm than good. And, yes, he will do at least some good to maintain his popularity.

But take into account his threats to take Greenland and the Panama Canal by force. Some people will simply say that he is just bluffing and wants to get concessions from the Panamanians and the Danes/Greenlanders. Simply saying that takes away any moral authority America may have with respect to the sovereignty of other nations. So now that puts China in an equally moral position to invade Taiwan or fully take over its claimed Nine-Dash Line areas of the South China Sea. And then there’s Russia now in a similar position of authority to invade any of the former Soviet nations. Talk about Pandora’s box.

 

[Halifax Tar]

This is one of my few go-to fave podcasts these days.

A few others - this one with rabid partisans from all 3 parties represented "putting the cuss into discuss" on "The Curse of Politics" (as well as a longer-single-guest interview pod, and - for now - a weekly podcast on Team Red's Running of the Snakes Leadership Race - that one has young Red partisans who bring former campaign experience into the mix discussing the week's developments) ...

Air Quotes Media

Politics from the inside, out. Get beyond the talking points and explore the big ideas changing our politics, culture and the world. We’ll hear from the players in the game in a way that traditional media can’t deliver: unfiltered and without limits. It’ll take all of us—listening to each other...

www.youtube.com

... this one with two guys taking more of an old-school approach to politics and journalism ...

The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

An insiders look at journalism, politics, and people with Peter Mansbridge. Listen on SiriusXM Canada or subscribe to the podcast on your favourite streaming platforms. Peter Mansbridge is an award-winning journalist, a Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the...

www.youtube.com

... and these guys who follow polling like your favourite colour commentator follows sports stats (with occasional episodes in French, with both of them being native speakers).

Éric Grenier

Insights and analysis about Canadian elections by Éric Grenier of The Writ, and home of The Numbers and Les chiffres podcasts co-hosted with Philippe J. Fournier.

www.youtube.com

Less frequently, but more than zero, I like this one with a host who you may not always agree with, but isn't afraid to push ...

Canadaland

Canadaland is a news site and podcast network funded by its audience.

www.canadaland.com

... and this one with CTV's Vassy Kapelos, who's not afraid to push while also not being a dink.

CTV Power Play – Vassy Kapelos – CTV News

Vassy Kapelos hosts Power Play on CTV News Channel, talking to people and players who dominate the political scene in Canada.

www.ctvnews.ca

I listen to all of them with the exception of Mansbridge. I didn't like him on CBC and I don't like him in this form either. And yes I did try.

Vassy Kapelos is a bright light in the dark room that is Canadian journalism.

 

[The Bread Guy]

I listen to all of them with the exception of Mansbridge. I didn't like him on CBC and I don't like him in this form either. And yes I did try.

Vassy Kapelos is a bright light in the dark room that is Canadian journalism.

You can hear a VERY different approach to journalism between Mansbridge & Kapelos when you listen back to back, for sure. Even 9D and I sometimes call The Bridge the "Two Old White Guys and Chantal Hebert" podcast (actually often enjoy more of her takes than the two guys').

Another newer one I listen to sometimes is Michelle Rempel-Garner's ....

Michelle Rempel Garner Podcast | Substack

Top political and policy analysis from an expert in both. Your backstage pass to the corridors of Canadian power. Hosted by Michelle Rempel Garner.

michellerempelgarner.substack.com

... and while I like hearing how a smart Team Blue member sees things/thinks, I kinda like her writing and being interviewed better than her podcasts.

 

[Halifax Tar]

You can hear a VERY different approach to journalism between Mansbridge & Kapelos when you listen back to back, for sure. Even 9D and I sometimes call The Bridge the "Two Old White Guys and Chantal Hebert" podcast (actually often enjoy more of her takes than the two guys').

Another newer one I listen to sometimes is Michelle Rempel-Garner's ....

Michelle Rempel Garner Podcast | Substack

Top political and policy analysis from an expert in both. Your backstage pass to the corridors of Canadian power. Hosted by Michelle Rempel Garner.

michellerempelgarner.substack.com

... and while I like hearing how a smart Team Blue member sees things/thinks, I kinda like her writing and being interviewed better than her podcasts.

I'm pretty sure the last time I listened to a Mansbridge PC he was alone. I could be wrong. Hebert I don't mind but I find she lacks the energy of a Kapelos.

I will have to check out MRG.