— Feature, Musings —03.29.2025 11:15 AM
My latest: now what? What next?
Mark Carney looks grave.
“The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over,” the Prime Minister of Canada says, and his words hang in the air like static. He pauses.
“It’s clear the US is no longer a reliable partner. It is possible that with comprehensive negotiations, we could reestablish an element of confidence but there will be no going backwards.”
And with that, a unique relationship that has endured for 158 years – a relationship that has survived war and pandemics and terror attacks – came to an ignoble end. With a whimper, not a bang, at a hurriedly-convened press conference in Ottawa. Called to answer to Donald Trump’s destructive and reckless tariffs on the auto industry.
Carney’s words went around the world. “Canada PM Mark Carney says old relationship with US ‘is over’,” BBC headlined their report. “Old US-Canada relationship is ‘over,’ warns Canadian prime minister,” said CNN’s bulletin. “Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says ‘old relationship’ with US ‘is over’ amid tension over Trump tariffs,” said Fox News.
Partisan Liberals gleefully celebrated Carney’s statement, posting online that he looked and sounded Prime Ministerial. And that much was true: Carney did look and sound like Prime Minister, for the first time in the very short time he has been in the job.
But it wasn’t anything to celebrate. It was deeply, profoundly sad. And, importantly, Carney’s declaration will be difficult – verging on impossible – to walk back. For him or a successor.
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Well, like it or not, there’s a powerful political machine in the United States that thinks tariffs are a good idea. When Trumps gone, his underlings, people like JD Vance will take over the movement – so there’s a heightened threat of tariffs coming from a powerful political machine that isn’t going anywhere – even if they lose they’ll always be there pushing for tariffs. So, our reality has changed for good, even if, in time, a president from the United States tries to rekindle an old friendship – that machine will always be in the background – so we have to get what we can out of the States in terms of trade, and then look elsewhere – like Europe, Britain New Zealand, Australia and more. Carney just stated the obvious, and the reality that we have to depend more on internal trade for starters, and then grow our sphere to encompass more of the world. He just pointed out what’s obvious – the Americans aren’t reliable partners anymore – we have to forge our future through new waters.
Curious,
All good and well, but let’s face reality: the American market, by necessity, will always be at least fifty percent of our export market. Otherwise, our manufacturers can’t survive.
Our relationship has been severely strained before. Read a history book. If Justin’s dad had followed through with what he planned to do the last time this happened(his plan was to expand trade with Europe) maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation.
Profoundly sad with a hint of bullshit. We still work with Americans at 1 CAD in Winnipeg with no hostility, we still have joint exercises with the Americans. Jesus there’s a a war in tue Ukraine and Russia is still sending rockets to the space station. Is our relationship heavily strained under Trump. You bet. Is it the end of our relationship. Nope sorry. Just alittle bit of misguided manifest destiny. It’s partly our fault for not moving beyond an almost depend trade relationship with one country. (All parties responsible I’m afraid to say). IMHO
The Donald, heaping good will on Carney, has me concerned.
Trump only does this when he has totally secured the upper hand
Or when he’s looking at the markets, and polls suggesting this spat with Canada is damaging him – or maybe he’s luring us in, getting ready for another big move – maybe it’s that Justin’s gone and the snarky 51st state was just a jab at Justin, stemming from a dislike – Nobody knows what the fuck he’s doing, or what his plans are – watch what he does, like Warren says, not what he says.
Warren,
Now, this is interesting. I will want to see confirmation of Abacus’ poll before I see the possible beginnings of a second polling trend.
Abacus: Tie
Nanos: Liberals +5
Mainstreet: Liberals +3
Liaison: Liberals +8
Also Ronald, it’s close in terms of polling numbers, but the vote distribution paints an even grimmer picture for the conservatives – and in Alberta I hear from NDP that they’re voting Liberal, so strategic voting is also taking hold. Poilievre is in trouble.
Warren,
Ipsos: Liberals +6.
Interesting how all the anti firearm people I work with are now asking how to get a gun. Do we now all exist in clown world or are they just hypocrites?