Interesting article as always, Jay. I admit I don't know lots about Canada other than you are loaded with natural resources, so not selling your natural resources leaves you with what? I know you have some manufacturing, but certainly not enough to absorb all those displaced by the shutdown of deals with Germany and Japan. Also, to be fair, and this is in most countries who primarily have two main political parties, the politicians aren't really working for the common man. Nor will they ever again. At least in the American Congress, we have one politician, Congressman (Representative) Thomas Massie. He does his absolute best to make the Congress adhere to the Constitution and votes against all foreign aid. Unfortunately, he is one out of 400+.
I agree with you on the Fentanyl and CIA all the way. Besides, if you are stupid enough to try drugs, even without Fentanyl, there were always risks of other ingredients, super high potency, etc. Answer is simple; don't do drugs. I was never tempted; I was crazy enough without drugs to totally mess me up.
I wish Canada well. I hope Trump's silliness about the 51st State is soon forgotten.
An entire generation in Canada has been brainwashed to believe that liberal idealism and Western exceptionalism can trump the realities of being able to sustain an economy that can provide for a reasonable standard of living and a social net that can meet minimum standards of housing, feeding and healing sick people.
Instead, we have been led down the path to believe that as long as we are able to hide under the skirts of the US, we can ignore the need to engage in an increasingly multipolar world while we focus on soft selfish woke issues that do nothing to maintain our international competitiveness and strategic positioning in the global economy.
That has now all come back to roost, Not only have the Americans called us out on our weaknesses, we now face an uphill battle to win back the trading partners that we spurned under our better-than-thou narrative.
We need a radical change of government with leaders who understand geopolitical realities and who can turn Canada's advantage of possessing ample natural resources into demonstrable economic strength and productivity increase. We don't need any more political science grads who can't understand the basics of international industrial strategy leading this country. We also need Canadians themselves not to buy into giving their votes to politicians who promulgate a warm and fuzzy narrative when they should be asking them the hard questions as to whether the $$$ payoff to their sweet narratives are indeed realizable,
I of course have my usual different view of things. Weird? Maybe
I believe Trump is the best thing that has happened to Canada in my 83 years. Why? IF, we use him as a Catalyst for much needed change this country will be miles ahead.
In the last month:
-Trudeau is history
- We have thrown $1 billion to strengthening our border
- We have finally decided to do something about cross Provincial road blocks
- We have decided to build our military in our arctic.
- We have joined Finland, and the US mountain division in sending troops to the arctic.
- we have decided to appoint a Fentanyl Czar.
- We have decided to try and diverse our trading partners
My comment to Trump Bring it on.
Now on two issues I disagree with my friend Jay on.
Fentanyl is killing thousand of our kids and Mex. Kids and Trump is the only leader bringing this to the table. I sat with a 6'3" 240 lb 44 year old relative last year who started to cry over all of his friends who have died in the last three years with this drug.
Now on the borders our Northern border with Russia. They have built at least 5 major military bases there in the last 10 years. They are building several ARMED ice breakers for that area. You guess why they need arms on them. I spent time on the Canadian early warning systems and have a bit of an idea.
On the Mexican border. One of Trump's topics with Mexico was the lack of action on the Mex. southern border where many many thousands of people from around the world are using that border to enter Mexico and then to their Northern border. This is not the Mexicans coming to the US but all over South America, Asia and the middle east.
Just who is actually the so called "enemy" in the Arctic. You know that Russia signed the Law of the Seas' treaty along with Canada and a large majority of the rest of the world. That treaty goes a long way to diplomatically settling potential Arctic disputes by tieing international ownership of underwater resources to the configuration of continental shelves. Guess which nation didn't sign, your are right, the US! No, it wants to be able to steal whatever resources are discovered there for itself, no matter what the treaty says. After all might makes right. It is not Russia that is clamouring for our Arctic lands, but the US. The US wants to cut Canada off from its Arctic Islands by creating an international waterway across the whole width of our northland, and have you noticed the US is calling our Arctic possessions the "North American" Arctic Islands rather than Canada's Arctic Islands? So who is the enemy of Canadian Northern sovereignty? It sure doesn't look like Russia to me!
You know very well that is a one off and a response by Russia to the US attempt to remove Russia's only military base on the Black Sea. There was no problem before the US expended $5billion to create regime change in Ukraine. Everything today in the area is a direct result of that.
Superb Jay! I remember what Elon Musk stated recently about the United States. It will be bankrupt if we continue on the path of the past. I suggest you write about the portending of this truth! Remember Argentina and Germany of the 30's. Economy's collapsing and global chaos ensued. The late great United States???
The so called "patriotism" we are witnessing these days in this country consists people booing anthems......this is about as deep as it goes.
When push comes to shove most don't have the where-with-all to stand up against any threat short of denouncing Trump, Musk or any others that dare to upset the complacent and apathetic way of life many Canadians choose to live. This threat isn't going away.
Your words sum it up and for those willing to have a look at this from a different angle and prepare for changes - that have come throughout history in one form or another - there can be significant growth. For those not willing to consider other options...best of luck.
While his answer to Canada's economic predicament is a good one, his acceptance of Trump's way of dealing with the rest of the World, calling it normal, is not. The US has become untrustworthy and belligerant in the extreme. It has lost its soft power and as a result musy depend on hard military might. Once it does that, its national security risks become sky high.
Trump is doing what no Canadian PM has ever done. Which is to promote Canada to its fullest extent
It is sickening to see more then half the population loves to Clsim Canada is the Best but at every opportunity will destroy any possibility of Certain areas of the Country Developing the Unreal Natural Resources we have
And become the Richest Country on Earth
To be a doormat is not to be Celebrated last time I Checked!!!!!
I think there is another light that needs to be turned on to reveal another source of cockroaches. It is obvious that this country has every resource imaginable to be a powerful player across the planet. And yet as you said we hamstring ourselves all the time. Now if we were to elect a government that was finally prepared to do what it takes and make us a country that can trade with the world and not rely on a single player to keep us alive, I think that other light would be turned on. I know we seem to be good at destroying ourselves, but I think in this scenario we would discover that there are many domestic and foreign entities that want us to remain subservient and have been in the shadows for decades making sure we stay that way. I would like that light turned on and expose them for who they are. I would like them named and maybe, just maybe Canadians would circle the wagons and recognize we have been placed (or placed ourselves) in a feedlot. It's just my opinion and Im very comfortable changing it if I'm wrong
The goal of Eastern Canada has always been to keep the west subservient to the East and supply them with money and goods. As we have broken the chains of the Wheat Board, and the Crow Rate, and now are fighting to end the mega sacred cow of Equalization this threatens the east as never before
Every single political party will support the status quo except the PPC..
Ok Jay...1) yes 2) yes 3) yes .........and NO !!!!! Yes agreed to learn/develop/grow our strengths, wholeheartedly .
And I so appreciated you peace "Its not the Economy Stupid " bullseye !!!!!!!!
But a hard No to
Democracy is HARD !!!!! ( but look at the alternative ! ) ...Politics is HARD and in this environment it is now ridiculous ie the" promises " needed to be made just to get elected so nothing can changes Agreed ! AND who in their RIGHT MIND would want the JOB ??? Who of quality, when they are treated like viruses under a microscope with their lives and families threatened ?
That is the new wild wild west. Yes it is the underbelly brought in by a Trump ideal...
On to, survival of the fittest because there, "ya know....There is a New Sheriff in Town " ......
Again I agree this might propel us to growth and probably strength and perhaps unify us. Good things come out of bad situations. The good is the Yin...
the Yang is going to be possible WWIII and that is not unrealistic. HISTORY. To destabilize the Globe , take LAND - offer Ukraine to PUTIN while demanding their valuable minerals for back payment for defending Democracy for ALL ? The list of the "strong man" is LONG and repulsive. Trump always tells you what he is going to do...you just don't know which one he is ABLE to get away with, yet. Plus outright and obvious alliance with Putin and possibly Xi as well ( see Timothy Snider's piece today: Alternative Action for Dictators. ) There goes your freedoms ! And when they are gone, all will again agree they WERE worth more than money can buy. Ask anyone in 1945 or ask someone in Russia IF they have/were allowed to visited the USA or a FREE Country.... for an allowed amount of time. So if we all survive, and peacefully ....that is wholly depending on Putin and Xi...NOT Trump ! Trump, I think, has made a deal long ago with Putin for himself. He is giving them free rain, but again...I defer to the expert Tim Snyder. We agree on most within Canada, but for the Globe, I agree with Ann Applebaum...and HEATHER COX RICHARDSON....this is not a drill !!..The sparks are everywhere, and money wont help you if.......
Jay, I love the way you write—well-ordered, digestible, and thought-provoking.
That said, this one had my head exploding.
“We” didn’t turn away Germany and Japan. “We” didn’t fail to see a business case for selling our resources. That was entirely our Prime Idiot. Not you. Not me. Not we. My outrage was, and still is, there.
But let’s not cheer on an unintelligent fraud as he shreds a 200-year friendship, reneges on USMCA (which he negotiated!) and actively works to cripple Canada. That’s not strategic—that’s amateur.
Good call on who controls the U.S. border. You might be interested in Sam Cooper, a brilliant Canadian journalist exposing how Canada is captured by foreign crime syndicates—though, of course, no one is listening.
If you’ve got 30 minutes, here’s a recent interview:
The Halogen lights are now on full bright....and Trump and Putin are "out of the closet" Their plan likely hatched in 2015/2016 or before, is now 90% fait accompli. This is 'not Kansas any longer' .......now what ? ? ?
Jay...you must listen to Macro Voices # 467 (if not take down yet ) with Jim Bianco of Bianco Research... on his take on the projections of the "great" economic PLANS called the Mar a Lago Accord. Because all great works are names after places. Sobering and more realistically - terrifying ... any logical thinking person knows the other Democracies will NOT allow these strong arm policies but if we do not we will be "punished" with more tariffs or sanctions
- about 30 UNCOMFORTABLE minutes......but knowledge is still power
If you can’t beat them join them.
Interesting article as always, Jay. I admit I don't know lots about Canada other than you are loaded with natural resources, so not selling your natural resources leaves you with what? I know you have some manufacturing, but certainly not enough to absorb all those displaced by the shutdown of deals with Germany and Japan. Also, to be fair, and this is in most countries who primarily have two main political parties, the politicians aren't really working for the common man. Nor will they ever again. At least in the American Congress, we have one politician, Congressman (Representative) Thomas Massie. He does his absolute best to make the Congress adhere to the Constitution and votes against all foreign aid. Unfortunately, he is one out of 400+.
I agree with you on the Fentanyl and CIA all the way. Besides, if you are stupid enough to try drugs, even without Fentanyl, there were always risks of other ingredients, super high potency, etc. Answer is simple; don't do drugs. I was never tempted; I was crazy enough without drugs to totally mess me up.
I wish Canada well. I hope Trump's silliness about the 51st State is soon forgotten.
An entire generation in Canada has been brainwashed to believe that liberal idealism and Western exceptionalism can trump the realities of being able to sustain an economy that can provide for a reasonable standard of living and a social net that can meet minimum standards of housing, feeding and healing sick people.
Instead, we have been led down the path to believe that as long as we are able to hide under the skirts of the US, we can ignore the need to engage in an increasingly multipolar world while we focus on soft selfish woke issues that do nothing to maintain our international competitiveness and strategic positioning in the global economy.
That has now all come back to roost, Not only have the Americans called us out on our weaknesses, we now face an uphill battle to win back the trading partners that we spurned under our better-than-thou narrative.
We need a radical change of government with leaders who understand geopolitical realities and who can turn Canada's advantage of possessing ample natural resources into demonstrable economic strength and productivity increase. We don't need any more political science grads who can't understand the basics of international industrial strategy leading this country. We also need Canadians themselves not to buy into giving their votes to politicians who promulgate a warm and fuzzy narrative when they should be asking them the hard questions as to whether the $$$ payoff to their sweet narratives are indeed realizable,
Jay, you need to watch Danielle Camboni's ITM Trading vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzZKUKFkWWM&ab_channel=ITMTRADING%2CINC.
about Chinese capture of Canadian govt/state, incl Trudeau, and how big the Chinese Canada drug trade is, and the money laundering.
The fact that you don't see that as a problem makes you unfit to PM of Canada.
I of course have my usual different view of things. Weird? Maybe
I believe Trump is the best thing that has happened to Canada in my 83 years. Why? IF, we use him as a Catalyst for much needed change this country will be miles ahead.
In the last month:
-Trudeau is history
- We have thrown $1 billion to strengthening our border
- We have finally decided to do something about cross Provincial road blocks
- We have decided to build our military in our arctic.
- We have joined Finland, and the US mountain division in sending troops to the arctic.
- we have decided to appoint a Fentanyl Czar.
- We have decided to try and diverse our trading partners
My comment to Trump Bring it on.
Now on two issues I disagree with my friend Jay on.
Fentanyl is killing thousand of our kids and Mex. Kids and Trump is the only leader bringing this to the table. I sat with a 6'3" 240 lb 44 year old relative last year who started to cry over all of his friends who have died in the last three years with this drug.
Now on the borders our Northern border with Russia. They have built at least 5 major military bases there in the last 10 years. They are building several ARMED ice breakers for that area. You guess why they need arms on them. I spent time on the Canadian early warning systems and have a bit of an idea.
On the Mexican border. One of Trump's topics with Mexico was the lack of action on the Mex. southern border where many many thousands of people from around the world are using that border to enter Mexico and then to their Northern border. This is not the Mexicans coming to the US but all over South America, Asia and the middle east.
I could go on but enough and it is lunch time.
Just who is actually the so called "enemy" in the Arctic. You know that Russia signed the Law of the Seas' treaty along with Canada and a large majority of the rest of the world. That treaty goes a long way to diplomatically settling potential Arctic disputes by tieing international ownership of underwater resources to the configuration of continental shelves. Guess which nation didn't sign, your are right, the US! No, it wants to be able to steal whatever resources are discovered there for itself, no matter what the treaty says. After all might makes right. It is not Russia that is clamouring for our Arctic lands, but the US. The US wants to cut Canada off from its Arctic Islands by creating an international waterway across the whole width of our northland, and have you noticed the US is calling our Arctic possessions the "North American" Arctic Islands rather than Canada's Arctic Islands? So who is the enemy of Canadian Northern sovereignty? It sure doesn't look like Russia to me!
Bo matter what Treaty the Russians sign, in the past or in the future, they will not abide by it. Ask Crimea.
Russia renewed the lease contract with Ukraine for its navy installation on Crimea in 2013 if I'm not mistaken.
40 years lease. What happened 2014 ? " Colour revolution" by Soros USAID and co.
That base is the ultimate backbone of Russia's navy. Only harbor with no ice year-round.
Think about it, dear fellow reader.
You know very well that is a one off and a response by Russia to the US attempt to remove Russia's only military base on the Black Sea. There was no problem before the US expended $5billion to create regime change in Ukraine. Everything today in the area is a direct result of that.
Superb Jay! I remember what Elon Musk stated recently about the United States. It will be bankrupt if we continue on the path of the past. I suggest you write about the portending of this truth! Remember Argentina and Germany of the 30's. Economy's collapsing and global chaos ensued. The late great United States???
Succinct and well written Jay
The so called "patriotism" we are witnessing these days in this country consists people booing anthems......this is about as deep as it goes.
When push comes to shove most don't have the where-with-all to stand up against any threat short of denouncing Trump, Musk or any others that dare to upset the complacent and apathetic way of life many Canadians choose to live. This threat isn't going away.
Your words sum it up and for those willing to have a look at this from a different angle and prepare for changes - that have come throughout history in one form or another - there can be significant growth. For those not willing to consider other options...best of luck.
You have my vote.
While his answer to Canada's economic predicament is a good one, his acceptance of Trump's way of dealing with the rest of the World, calling it normal, is not. The US has become untrustworthy and belligerant in the extreme. It has lost its soft power and as a result musy depend on hard military might. Once it does that, its national security risks become sky high.
Trump is doing what no Canadian PM has ever done. Which is to promote Canada to its fullest extent
It is sickening to see more then half the population loves to Clsim Canada is the Best but at every opportunity will destroy any possibility of Certain areas of the Country Developing the Unreal Natural Resources we have
And become the Richest Country on Earth
To be a doormat is not to be Celebrated last time I Checked!!!!!
I think there is another light that needs to be turned on to reveal another source of cockroaches. It is obvious that this country has every resource imaginable to be a powerful player across the planet. And yet as you said we hamstring ourselves all the time. Now if we were to elect a government that was finally prepared to do what it takes and make us a country that can trade with the world and not rely on a single player to keep us alive, I think that other light would be turned on. I know we seem to be good at destroying ourselves, but I think in this scenario we would discover that there are many domestic and foreign entities that want us to remain subservient and have been in the shadows for decades making sure we stay that way. I would like that light turned on and expose them for who they are. I would like them named and maybe, just maybe Canadians would circle the wagons and recognize we have been placed (or placed ourselves) in a feedlot. It's just my opinion and Im very comfortable changing it if I'm wrong
The goal of Eastern Canada has always been to keep the west subservient to the East and supply them with money and goods. As we have broken the chains of the Wheat Board, and the Crow Rate, and now are fighting to end the mega sacred cow of Equalization this threatens the east as never before
Every single political party will support the status quo except the PPC..
Ok Jay...1) yes 2) yes 3) yes .........and NO !!!!! Yes agreed to learn/develop/grow our strengths, wholeheartedly .
And I so appreciated you peace "Its not the Economy Stupid " bullseye !!!!!!!!
But a hard No to
Democracy is HARD !!!!! ( but look at the alternative ! ) ...Politics is HARD and in this environment it is now ridiculous ie the" promises " needed to be made just to get elected so nothing can changes Agreed ! AND who in their RIGHT MIND would want the JOB ??? Who of quality, when they are treated like viruses under a microscope with their lives and families threatened ?
That is the new wild wild west. Yes it is the underbelly brought in by a Trump ideal...
On to, survival of the fittest because there, "ya know....There is a New Sheriff in Town " ......
Again I agree this might propel us to growth and probably strength and perhaps unify us. Good things come out of bad situations. The good is the Yin...
the Yang is going to be possible WWIII and that is not unrealistic. HISTORY. To destabilize the Globe , take LAND - offer Ukraine to PUTIN while demanding their valuable minerals for back payment for defending Democracy for ALL ? The list of the "strong man" is LONG and repulsive. Trump always tells you what he is going to do...you just don't know which one he is ABLE to get away with, yet. Plus outright and obvious alliance with Putin and possibly Xi as well ( see Timothy Snider's piece today: Alternative Action for Dictators. ) There goes your freedoms ! And when they are gone, all will again agree they WERE worth more than money can buy. Ask anyone in 1945 or ask someone in Russia IF they have/were allowed to visited the USA or a FREE Country.... for an allowed amount of time. So if we all survive, and peacefully ....that is wholly depending on Putin and Xi...NOT Trump ! Trump, I think, has made a deal long ago with Putin for himself. He is giving them free rain, but again...I defer to the expert Tim Snyder. We agree on most within Canada, but for the Globe, I agree with Ann Applebaum...and HEATHER COX RICHARDSON....this is not a drill !!..The sparks are everywhere, and money wont help you if.......
Jay, I love the way you write—well-ordered, digestible, and thought-provoking.
That said, this one had my head exploding.
“We” didn’t turn away Germany and Japan. “We” didn’t fail to see a business case for selling our resources. That was entirely our Prime Idiot. Not you. Not me. Not we. My outrage was, and still is, there.
But let’s not cheer on an unintelligent fraud as he shreds a 200-year friendship, reneges on USMCA (which he negotiated!) and actively works to cripple Canada. That’s not strategic—that’s amateur.
Good call on who controls the U.S. border. You might be interested in Sam Cooper, a brilliant Canadian journalist exposing how Canada is captured by foreign crime syndicates—though, of course, no one is listening.
If you’ve got 30 minutes, here’s a recent interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzZKUKFkWWM
And before backing any particular political party, one quote from the video: “Harper is in on the joke.”
Thanks for your weekly essays—I read and appreciate them all.
Jay, you could realistically mount a campaign for the House of Commons, and after securing that... see where it takes you.
That would be great for US !
The Halogen lights are now on full bright....and Trump and Putin are "out of the closet" Their plan likely hatched in 2015/2016 or before, is now 90% fait accompli. This is 'not Kansas any longer' .......now what ? ? ?
Jay...you must listen to Macro Voices # 467 (if not take down yet ) with Jim Bianco of Bianco Research... on his take on the projections of the "great" economic PLANS called the Mar a Lago Accord. Because all great works are names after places. Sobering and more realistically - terrifying ... any logical thinking person knows the other Democracies will NOT allow these strong arm policies but if we do not we will be "punished" with more tariffs or sanctions
- about 30 UNCOMFORTABLE minutes......but knowledge is still power
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/macro-voices/id1079172742?i=1000691908224