“You can’t treat Canada like a 15 year old girl trapped on an island.”
or a 13 or 9 year-old, etc.
@cdpositive.bsky.social:
For 34-felon, any distraction (from Iran, Epstein, national debt, ICE, etc.) will do and if it worked the first time, why not do it again?
They are running out of options, so it’s Canada’s re-turn on the wheel.
@charlieangus104.bsky.social:
Canadians are unified as Trump scrambles to explain why an economically weakened USA just burnt their bridges with their last reliable trading partner. America’s word means nothing and no one will trust them. Way to go Donald.
@maysurvivethis.bsky.social:
Sane Americans know that Canada is and always has been an ally. Please make him regret messing with you!
@charlieangus104.bsky.social:
Convicted sex predator runs afoul of the Wall Street Journal over his loser attempt to bully Canada. It’s only just begun Donald.
We’re all Canadians now by Ann Telanes, Aug 24, 2026
@trapdinawrpool.bsky.social:
Note to the world, it’s not Carney standing up to the US, it’s Canada and Canadians doing that.
No need to cut off energy to USA; put fair export taxes on it and dramatically raise the price. The USA deserves however, to lose our energy, permanently.
@quillipede.bsky.social:
Yep, let’s do it. Rescinding the DST was one of the earliest moves Carney made that told me he lacks a serious understanding of non-economic forms of power or the power structures we’re grappling with in our relationship with the US.
@chinagirl47.bsky.social:
Unfortunately,this is NO LONGER just aTRADE war.Trump is trying economic terrorism to take over Canada, force us to lose our FRENCH and INDIGENOUS cultures which we will NEVER DO and become the 51st state… NEVER !!! SADLY, our FORMER ally will NEVER be trusted until the MAGA NAZIS are ousted.
@therealmrsweary.bsky.social:
Dad didn’t talk about the war much but one tale he told repeatedly was how his regiment (the Black Watch) captured a hill position and gave it to “the Yanks” to look after.
They lost it
Black Watch took it
Yanks lost it
Black Watch took it
Yanks lost it
Black Watch took and kept it themselves
@redsnoopy69:
Its very important to remember the majority of conservatives in Canada are pro-Trump/MAGA…
@r.1599:
Ten seconds of satire, followed by a four-minute delivery of 100% accurate facts.
@Mrs.Terrebonne:
Sorry but the Strait of Our Moose is obviously Canadian!!!
Elbow’s Up!
@secularmoi.bsky.social:
Mark Carney has no elbows. Where has all the posturing gotten us?
50% of a bridge we paid for and will continue to pay on, our children will pay, our grandkids will pay for it. We will make interest payments into perpetuity. There is no more money to give. The bank is closed.
@204queenb0574.bsky.social:
Carney sold himself as the only one who could get us a deal. Trudeau got a deal with the same president. The same deal Trump is now pissing all over. Negotiating with a bully was never going to go in our favour. He needs to put the DST and streaming taxes back in place and throw out the bridge deal.
@204queenb0574.bsky.social:
The concessions made didn’t get us a thing so all concessions must now be rescinded and put as right back to where we started. Why should we allow the US to keep what they extorted?
@secularmoi.bsky.social:
Exactly. Carney & PMO said the total cost of the deal would cost taxpayers a “mere: $320 m over it.
Real cash flow doesn’t care about paper pencil pushing.
If real bridge traffic beats the low early estimates, the cash going out will exceed the on paper baseline.
That leaves Canadian taxpayers carrying the debt burden while interest piles up,. It makes the 50% revenue split appear deceptively smaller on paper than what it actually costs in reality.
Again, Compounding (inferred interest) Carney mislead the public. How many times have the taxpayers been lied to?
The cult is economically illiterate. They hear it from Misleading Mark’s silvered tongue & that is the economic truth even though it stands polar opposite of economic reality.
His subsidy magic act is another misleading tactic. He moved subsidies, a daily operating expense into Capital Investments. So the payoffs are hidden from the public.
He conflated a slush fund with a Sovereign Wealth Fund.
@davidhamer1951.bsky.social:
Let’s reinstate the digital services tax and revive the CRTC’s framework for Netflix et al to fund Canadian content. And reaffirm internet giants’ obligation to compensate Canadian media for stolen work product.
@solertree8653:
America: “You dare question my honour?”
Everyone else: “We’re not questioning your honour, America. We’re denying its existence.”
@daver29:
A dying empire is dangerous for everyone.
@davidwcochrane.bsky.social:
21 days before the 25th anniversary of September 11th, the United States imposes 50% tariffs on the country that gave its citizens refuge during the worst terrorist attack in US history.
@nancym1.bsky.social:
A deal with the US will be a deal with the devil. How much of our soul are we willing to sell?
@angella.bsky.social:
And even though Carney’s rhetoric is about a trade war, I think walking away is still part of negotiatingme too; I don’t trust Herr Carney – worse than Harper, for one second, and he’s hoping the Americans will roll back the worst of their demands. This matters, because retaliation will likely be more cautious than the Canadian public mood is calling for.
@bhaggart.bsky.social:
Québec has now saved Canada from disaster at least twice in the past decade. Dairy farmers and supply management kept Maxime Bernier from winning the 2017 Conservative leadership race. And now Québec language laws are helping keep Canada independent.
@shawnmicallef.bsky.social:
The idea of Trump trying to take on Quebec language laws. Sleeping giant awakes etc. Comical.
@mjfrog.bsky.social:
This is Lutnick’s work. He was so full of himself after the Gordie Howe Bridge heist he had to push for more (than the tentative deal).No, it’s Carney’s fault. He’s non stop given Trump every ridiculous theft and abuse demanded when he knows damned well one never appeases Nazis. I believe Carney is on Team Trump, and this latest spat is play acting to abuse Canadians into submission. Carney is a monster, I trust nothing he does or says.
@nataliebrender.bsky.social:
Now that Canadians are past the first wave of relief it’s time to backtrack 24 hours:
What was all that PMO signalling about this week re. the govt’s willingness to trade away our digital sovereignty for steel & car tariffs? We were saved from that only because the US went too far?
@canadiancynic.bsky.social:
Stuff Mark Carney could do right now if he wanted to:
- move the entire federal government off of Twitter
- stop subsidizing foreign-owned media outlets
- revoke charitable tax status of right-wing think tanks
If he can’t even do stuff that simple, why should we trust him?He won’t do those rational things because he’s on team Trump, he’s on Nazi Twitter because he’s likes Nazis and is one himself, he’s not a liberal, he’s more to the right than Steve Harper so will never harm anything right wing, and wants Canada to be the 51st state, but on his terms not Trump’s.
@redsnoopy69:
It’s because of Brian Mulroney and the original Free-Trade agreement that Canada finds itself in the position it is in today.
John Turner was quite correct when he told Mulroney:
“You have sold us out.”
@darbyTL:
Hear, hear👍🏽And the destruction of Canada continued under Harper’s leadership as he sold out Canadian assets, changed the foreign investment/ownership dynamics & devolved Canadian ownership of its homegrown media ‼️Let’s not forget the ‘bailouts’ for GM, Chrysler, et al.
@barbarafriesen:
Mulroney got his bag of money… now his kids are RW maple magas
@Dee74692069Ruby:
I well remember the cogent arguments against NAFTA – particularly the loss of manufacturing jobs overseas -all of which came to pass. This was the beginning of the globalization movement in Canada designed to benefit multi-national corporations seeking cheap labour.
@northernpoppet.bsky.social:
America has always coveted our nation.
Mulroney sold Canada out with NAFTA.
It’s always conservatives/Repuglicans that sell out their countries and people, like Trump is doing now, and did in his first term, serving Putin and Netanyahu. A buffoon rapist pedophile convicted felon serving war criminals. Like Herr Harper and Mulroney did, and Carney is doing.
Now we are reclaiming our nation.
We are a trading nation and integrating with the US is not on anyone’s BINGO card.
We will sell you products but that is all.
@JKeeganParis:
Mulroney never did us any good. I will never forget Meech Lake.
@kylefromtheeast.bsky.social:
I wonder if Carney would’ve signed the deal of he wasn’t staring down the barrel of multiple by elections….
@jekeep.bsky.social:
Doesn’t matter. Caving on language laws would’ve triggered a national unity crisis, and his own party and cabinet would’ve turned on him to oust him as leader to avoid losing Quebec for at least a generation, if not forever.
Even trying to sign such a deal would’ve been instant political suicide.
@tryangregory.bsky.social:
Exactly. At that’s what it took for him to not cave for once.
@sashaf.myatproto.social:
Carney is using Trump to consolidate his own political position and capitalist agenda. That’s all he’s doing, which is all he’s ever done. People are saying he’s finally doing something, but nothing has changed. He’s still cultivating emergency and uncertainty to get buy-in for his dystopian vision.
He preys on your fear, stokes nationalist sentiment, and then pushes through extremist reforms that no one will notice because they’re too busy frothing at the mouth with Canadian jingoism.
So many people congratulating Carney on making the right decision, but this exact scenario—that the American fascists would renege on any negotiation and make their demands anyway—was 100% predictable years ago. I, for instance, said many times that this would happen.
It is unethical to negotiate with fascists, and it is ludicrous to make a deal with someone who reneged on the last deal.That’s one of the many reasons I think Carney is on team Trump, working for the ugly uber rich, not Canadians.
In the meantime, Carney has made concession after concession to the fascists.
@tryangregory.bsky.social:
Trump made demands that not even Carney could cave on. That’s it. Now we’re back to tough speeches and elbows up rhetoric after a year of capitulation and non-stop concessions. Make sure Carney knows we’ve had enough of Vichy and are ready for Vimy.
Canadians are not rallying behind Carney. Carney was behind Canadians and is only now catching up.
USians making it about themselves: “Half of us didn’t vote for this! Be nice to us!”
The world: “Half of you did vote for it. Twice. And probably will again. And your institutions and supposed opposition party do nothing to stop it. Sorry not sorry if your feelings are hurt.”
The Carney fan delusion is still going strong. Back in reality, Carney did everything he could to get more integration with the US.
Let’s see the deal that Carney was prepared to sign.
@mikevlasic.bsky.social:
I suspect the deal he was ready to sign would be even more catastrophic than his deceit over the Gordie Howe Bridge ‘deal.’
The rapist sure hates women, especially if they dare be journalists and ask him valid important questions
@mekka.mekka-tech.com:
Canada doesn’t need to run into anyone’s arms. The whole point is that Canada is a sovereign nation. It stands on its own feet and won’t be bullied by anyone.
Not by the US. Not by China. Not by the EU. Not by Russia.
I said what I said.
@journodale.bsky.social:
Americans writ large don’t see us as a real country. We’re an abstraction for them to project their domestic politics onto. That’s why we have no real allies amongst American politicians, and why I have zero time for them proclaiming how much they “stand by us” while doing exactly nothing about it.
@nickidoyle.bsky.social:
Okayyyy.
If the position is that “messaging is precious” ie get the rights ads in the right markets on the right day and win a a few seats and that’s the extent of the reaction then the US is well and truly and fucked and Canada has ZERO allies inside that bullshit house.
Fuck. All. Of. You.
@journodale.bsky.social:
Note that we are not unique in this way. I have listened to Europeans complain that Americans treat their real history with real people as fairy tales, and that their cultures and languages are again, mere abstractions for them. It’s one hell of a world view to inhabit.
@tryangregory.bsky.social:
And this is one reason we do not in any way believe everything will go back to the way it was when Trump is gone.
@brettfavaro.bsky.social:
One thing that’s very scary about US aggression towards Canada is how every time it happens, Americans liberals don’t really seem to treat it as a major issue.In my view, the dems are as corrupt as the Repugs, but are not a pedo rapist party. The majority of dems only care about themselves, they don’t give a shit about other countries except in terms of what deals and freebies they can get
Have the Dems come out forcefully about Canada? All I ever really see are Dem governors asking us to go there on vacation.
@georgethomas.bsky.social:
I don’t think anything he’s done has been as depressing to me as his treatment of Canada. The U.S. and Canada have been as close as two countries can be. For decades. And there is no rational justification for it. It breaks my heart.
@nicolenab.bsky.social:
No, what hurts more is that regular Americans are ok with him doing that.
I think it’s because Herr Carney is on Team Trump, an eager Nazi Zionist, racist, misogynist, pro mass murder of kids and others if they’re not white, greedy old white man who serves the raping rich. If Carney put export taxes on oil, gas, bitumen, potash, critical minerals, he’d be cutting into profits of his rich corporate, investment, and banking pals. Ultra gross, because it makes Carney an avid traitor, just like Danielle Smith. Both need to get fired, pronto, they are working to help USA destroy Canada.
@karanicolas.bsky.social:
It just doesn’t make sense to me. There’s certain Canadian products that the U.S. can’t walk away from: energy, potash, etc. Trump exempted them for exactly that reason.
Applying taxes there would take revenue directly from American consumers, as opposed to tariffs which hit Canadians.Carney has made it clear to me that he hates ordinary Canadians.
@anakhari.bsky.social:
Time for Canada, Japan, China and others to cash in their US Treaury Bionds Drive this administration into bankruptcy, just like Donald’s casinos.
@eotswotm.bsky.social:
I’m noticing my local grocery store is switching from US brands and stocking Canadian brands instead.
One less label to read!!!
@kayiso64.bsky.social:
[Trump] thinks he’s Russia!
Trying to strip the french language away?
Are you f*ing kidding me?
No More Canada!
@cbowdidge.bsky.social:
He views us the same way Russia views Ukraine
@trapdinawrpool.bsky.social:
Seeing Carney labelled as the leader of the anti Trump resistance is laughable given he was fully prepared to sell out to the US until the domestic political price became too much to bear
@gabituto.bsky.social:
She can F the hell off. I’m sure she has seen the points of negotiation that led to the cancellation of talks..she’s truly an American wannabe. God, she needs to be ousted onto her as$ and out the door.
@karenbdc.bsky.social:
Even Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe said the right things & did it strongly. For a time, he was aligned with her but that seems to have ended.
She’s just alone f****** everything up on behalf of her foreign backers
@emmettmacfarlane.com:
Danielle Smith is a Trumpian and a traitor.
@amirattaran.bsky.social:
Danielle Smith showing whose side she is on:
“I will be urging the federal government to restart negotiations as soon as possible.”
@jonnywakefield.bsky.social:
Danielle Smith on banning U.S. alcohol sales:
A: “Part of the reason why we’ve had a light touch of tariffs in AB is that we’ve engaged in a very constructive diplomatic relationship with the US … 97% of our products go across the border tariff-free, and we have not done nasty ads in the US.”
@mccondach.bsky.social:
And now she’s musing about taking US booze off the shelves in AB. That’ll play well with the separatists she plays footsie with.
@deonandan.bsky.social:
Canadian Conservatives have been weirdly silent about the US trade war thing. Guess they’re still awaiting narrative instructions from Moscow.
@accomplishedseer.bsky.social:
This is why I say the Republicansand Carney et al represent the criminal class. Are part of the criminal class.
@catlady49ers.bsky.social:
Pardoning them proves they are guilty.
@amirattaran.bsky.social:
The Canadian and Iranian part of me feel blissfully in sync against the 🇺🇸 enemy today.
Why is Trump silent instead of tantruming about Canada? Threatening to bomb it or destroy its civilization? Only because it’s kind of White. Otherwise he would.
Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social:
This isn’t the first time the USA has placed 50% tariffs on Canada. In 1890, the USA’s Tariff Act was touted as a way to build up American industry, but the true goal was forcing the annexation of Canada. It backfired and made Canada stronger. This is the story.
Put forward by William McKinley, who was a Congressman at that point, the Tariff Act put duties across imports ranging from 38% to 49.5%. McKinley was called the Napoleon of Protection. While some items had tariffs eliminated, most had tariffs increased.
One reason for the tariffs was to force the annexation of Canada. The McKinley Tariff declined to make an exception for Canadian products. It was hoped this would make Canada more reliant on the US market, and push Canadians to become the 45th state.
Secretary of State James G. Blaine believed that annexation would eliminate competition with Canada over fishing and timber rights. Blaine co-authored the Tariff Act. He stated of annexation: “a grander and nobler brotherly love, that may unite in the end”Typical of assholes
British politician Lyon Playfair saw the Tariff Act for what it was. He called it a covert attack on Canada, Both Britain and the United States believed the Tariff Act would drive Canada to join the United States. In reality, it had the complete opposite result.
The Tariff Act pushed Canada to align itself more with Britain. People began to rally behind their “love for Queen, flag, and country”. Sir John A. Macdonald used the tariffs as a rallying cry in the 1891 election and was able to win another majority government. ya, but he was one of the worst asshats in Canadian politics, until Herrs Mulroney, Harper and Carney came along
Within two years of the Tariff Act, agricultural exports from Canada to Britain rose from $3.5 million to $15 million. Produce and animal exports to Britain also grew from $16 million to $24 million during that same period.
Minister of Trade and Commerce Mackenzie Bowell said: “The McKinley Bill, instead of destroying the trade of this country, has only diverted it from the United States to England.” Meanwhile, American consumers dealt with a sharp increases in prices.
The Republicans lost the 1890 Congressional elections, losing 93 seats while the Democrats gained 86. In 1892, the Democrats gained control of the Senate, House and Presidency. They then replaced the Tariff Act with a new act that lowered tariffs.
“Tariff is a Tax”
I hope you enjoyed that look at the McKinley Tariffs and the impact on Canada. If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at buymeacoffee.com/craigu *sources in next post*
Craig Baird is creating Canadian history content
Hello!Bringing Canadian history to people is my full-time job through my podcast Canadian History Ehx, and on social media.I love Canadian history and I share my passion with my listeners and viewers.buymeacoffee.com
*sources* US Global Investors: buff.ly/h76IAoZ TIME: buff.ly/qHYpqI4 Canadian Geographic: buff.ly/swutmD0 Forbes: buff.ly/GzZTyYI
ChelseaNH @chelseanh.bsky.social:
How could Canada respond? ‘Canada could become a global high-tech export powerhouse, selling “complementary” goods that disenshittify all the worst practices of US tech monopolists, from car parts to insulin pumps.’ pluralistic.net/2025/01/15/b…
Pluralistic: Canada shouldn’t retaliate with US tariffs; Picks and Shovels Chapter One (Part 6 – CONCLUSION) (15 Jan 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorowpluralistic.net
Greedling @greedling1729.bsky.social:
Exactly! Canada might as well go all the way and suspend US patents too www.cigionline.org/articles/can…
@capitalistfool.bsky.social:
“While the US has advanced its intangibles economy through patents, it has constrained Canadian economic sovereignty through trade deals that require Canada to give US companies greater patent rights. Canada can regain some of this lost sovereignty by working around US-controlled patents.”
@kikkiplanet.bsky.social:
How the trade negotiations between Canada and the USA went sour.
Note the last paragraph on slide 2, specifically. The Americans were never working for a trade deal. They were demanding the right to abuse Canada whenever Trump is in a mood. #cdnpoli
Canada will not be bullied by President Chicken a la Orange & his side dish of sycophant simps.
We are a proud people. We are a fair people.
And we are nice, until we are not.
We are the true North, strong and free.
We will not be bent, nor broken.
FAFO.
@fifthdentist.bsky.social:
So this was not even a deal. It was a demand.and abuse, horrid stress and endless lies. Trump’s a rapist, of women, kids, environment, other nations, and the poor (he steals from them to give to the billionaires who helped put him into power along with Putin).
Trump brags about what a great deal maker he is, but, he has no idea how to make deals, he only knows how to rape steal lie, abuse others, go bankrupt, and with his tacky taste, how to ruin beauty, art, culture, history and music.
Canada saw through it.
@bungdan.bsky.social:
The US demanded the Canadians put in writing that they’re suckers. The Canadians declined. The end.
@ladymitopinion.bsky.social:
I wonder if the farmers will ever figure out that Republicans just want their farms
@skowalchuk.bsky.social:
Well said. We’re not fucking idiots.
Trump thinks he’s dealing with gangs of New York, all pose and no depth. What a low IQ punk! Natalie and his grifting psychopaths might be telling him that he’s a master negotiator but the truth is that no sane person in the world trusts a USA lead by the crooked convicted rapist, 🤮
@falseidolsart.bsky.social:
They also want “French to end.”And end Canada trading with other countries which would make us the 51st state, and get all our coal, oil, gas and critical minerals for far below market value. Trump and his pedos just want to rape everyone
@thebreakdownab.bsky.social:
What was the US demanding?
Control over our trade deals with other countries.
But while demanding increased “sovereignty” for Alberta in Canada, Danielle Smith and the UCP would have had us stay at the table for that?
Deputy Chief of Staff to Danielle Smith argues that Canada should have stayed at the table when the US was not only negotiating in bad faith…
But effectively demanding a veto over Canada’s economic sovereignty.
BTW has Pat come out against separatism yet?Pat and Danielle are idiotio asshatios
@mgrasdal.bsky.social:
If it’s not obvious by now, it should be. Trump wants Canada as a colony to the US and Smith wants to aid him in that effort.
@earthox.bsky.social:
Collaborators seldom end well.
@yknot05.bsky.social:
Trump was the guy who instituted the tariffs, then kept raising them? What the hell is Smith even writing about about tariff free – Trump doesn’t have a leg to stand on. But she DID spend time in Mar-a-lago with him so who’s side is she really on?
@ratliw.bsky.social:
Smith is a Quisling who dreams of the powers given to fascist US cabinet members. She is actively working with enemies of Canada in a deliberate effort to destroy our sovereignty regardless of how it happens. She and her entire cabinet are working for MAGA and against Canada.
@tryangregory.bsky.social:
Screw counter-tariffs. Export tax on energy.Carney is Harper2. He’s on Quisling Team Dani. His lovers are American oil & gas, American AI, American military companies, the rich, Israel and the IDF. He hates safe water/safe air/safe food/safe homes/safe climate/privacy/our charter rights (he loves them of course for himself and his loved ones but not the rest of us), and hates protections for listed species, the environment, communities and families, especially non white ones, and most especially hates Indigenous. The world is suffering horrifically from human over population and pollution driving climate chaos; Trump and Carney are making that suffering for all life on earth, much much much worse. Carney gave and gave and gave Trump everything he demanded, I think because Carney loves what Trump and the Repugs are doing to the world. Carney’s angry now, because he’s been made a fool; Trump doesn’t give a shit about what Carney gave, Trumps and his Nazis want it all.
@teamcanadaforever.bsky.social:
Always a good reminder from David Cochrane.
“America isn’t the way it is because he’s president. He’s president because America is the way it is”
— David Cochrane
CBC Power and Politics
@abelincolnghost.bsky.social:
Trumpism is the latest reincarnation of the fascist anti democratic proslavery forces – slave patrols, the Confederacy, KKK, GOP, MAGA…current dictator is a reflection of the true mission of MAGA – hate is their North Star along with the reestablishment of serfdom, wage slavery and caste system.Herr Carney, racist misogynistic old rich religious white man, is of the same KKKlan, but, educated, well mannered, not vulgar like Trump, the GOP and Canada’s Maple MAGAts (the Fucker Truckers, prev Yellow Vesters, now Separatist Religious Terrorists).
@tindizzy.bsky.social:
Seems to be a ‘distinct’ Alberta cultural feature to be expected to laud abusers and lick their boots.that’s because many Albertans are oil corrupted Repuglicans
@akurjata.ca:
Carney says the US tried to restrict Canada’s ability to make trade deals with other countries as a requirement for negotiation. Sources tell CBC this included making Canada impose new tariffs on other non-US trade partners in compliance with the United States
@thedude-iam.bsky.social:
As he said, their signature is written in pencil. And we don’t negotiate with terrorists.
@talieroy.bsky.social:
Now it’s time to get the Gripen!!!
@parismarx.com:
it would be a good day for mark carney to finally cancel the f-35 fighter jet contract
@canadiancynic.bsky.social:
Can someone ask Mark Carney whether he’s still committed to buying a fleet of F-35s? And whether he still thinks his capitulation on the Gordie Howe bridge was such a good idea?
Before we all go praising Mark Carney’s rhetoric, can we appreciate that he always talks a good game just before he screws us over?I think he and Trump are on the same team, rape and destroy Canada to give to the rich. Hideous.
@sashaf.myatproto.social:
It’s so wild. Carney and Trump agree on almost everything, and the only thing that really keeps them apart is that each’s power relies on cultivating, respectively, Canadian and American nationalism. But they each do so (and here’s the kicker) for the sake of an international capitalist class.
Why is military is so close to place we are ‘at war’ with by Yves Engler, Aug 23, 2026
Carney is suggesting Canada has been attacked and we’re at “war”, but the PM won’t even pause military overflights, officer exchanges or training missions with the attacking country.
At a press conference to announce the suspension of trade talks with the US and the imposition of countervailing tariffs, the prime minister was asked: “Why does it feel like, today, Mark Carney is going to war, trade war?” He replied, “You’re at war when you get attacked. We got attacked.”
The New York Times took the PM at face value. Their article was headlined “‘Attacked’ by Trump on Trade, Canada Is ‘at War’ With U.S., Carney Says”.
Will Carney translate the rhetoric into action? Will Carney pause officer exchanges, training missions and joint naval deployments? Stop US warplanes flying over Canada? Or cancel any of Canada’s 500 military accords with US?
Last April former defence ministers Peter McKay and David Pratt wrote, “It is estimated that since the 1940s, the two countries have signed more than 2,500 agreements covering North American security, defence, research, communications, logistics and maritime operations.” A decade ago, the Department of National Defence suggested there were 500 active accords, noting there are “eighty treaty-level agreements, more than 250 memoranda of understanding, and 145 bilateral forums on defence” between the two countries’ militaries.
Through NORAD, other bilateral military accords and soldier exchanges hundreds, maybe thousands, of Canadian troops are directly assisting US military operations around the world every single day. Canadian Colonel Alain Lafrenière was recently Deputy Mission Commander of US Navy exercise Pacific Partnership 2026 and Canadian Colonel David K. Turenne oversaw core air operations at the massive US military base in Qatar during last summer’s US/Israeli attacks on Iran.
A year ago, the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and Just Peace Advocates promoted an email petition campaign calling for a pause in officer exchanges with the US until Trump stopped threatening to annex Canada. Several thousand individuals sent emails to the defence minister.
Polling demonstrates that Canadians want to get tough on the US. According to a poll released by The Maple in April, 55 percent say it should be illegal to join the American military ( https://www.readthemaple.com/55-of-canadians-think-serving-in-u-s-military-should-be-illegal/?ref=maple-digest-news-newsletter ) .
The public is onboard for pausing officer exchanges, military overflights, training missions and military accords with a US military led by an annexationist president. Will Carney act?
@jtfdenver.bsky.social:
Most Americans are embarrassed by Trump’s behavior towards Canada.
@allnewsux.bsky.social:
They sure don’t act like it…spineless Americans need to look to Albania & South Korea for lessons on how to protest & revolt
@cbenny.bsky.social:
Totally agree
Americans are fucking self centered shit heads
And it’s getting worse
@mariootsa.bsky.social:
Insulting and disgusting behaviour
@kennedytcooper.bsky.social:
who gets total immunity for their involvement in fascism:
some police dogs
some police horses
that’s the list
@dawnhinze.bsky.social:
What a clown. Let the US economy collapse under its 40 Trillion debt!
@bencollins.bsky.social:
Inventing an iceberg lettuce, jalapenos, eggs and blueberries dish called Roulette Salad.
@micropainter.bsky.social:
Buy Canadian and Travel Canadian don’t just make a statement; they strengthen our economy and support our local businesses, makers, artisans, musicians, authors, etc.
Gloves off, Canada. Not to fight, but to help each other get through this.
@savingdemocracy101.bsky.social:
You can travel outside Canada, just don’t travel to the Nazi States of Murica or get connecting flights if possible. Never, ever support any US businesses.
@smsaideman.bsky.social:
Will write later about the un-deal, but bargaining with Trump is always treacherous since he will never keep his word.
In a situation of he said, she said, believe the Canadian reps as the Trumpers are lying sacks of lies.
@emmettmacfarlane.com:
Welcome to the war, Prime Minister. It’s a year and half old now, but glad you finally noticed.
@carlquintanilla.bsky.social:
“.. You’re at war when you’re attacked, and we got attacked,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa.
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social:
I wonder if President Zelensky had some advisors saying “sir, we cannot hurt Russian GDP more than they hurt ours, therefore we should submit to all demands”.
Maybe, but they sure weren’t in this picture. He didn’t listen to such nonsense.
We haven’t been invaded. But we are under attack….
….and to be clear, the attack on Canada is not simply a “trade war”. The US ripped up the Gordie Howe Bridge deal and expropriated the revenue stream.
That’s not a trade war; that’s simply gangsterism. And that repeats on many other non-trade fronts.
Some economists point out that measures we take won’t hit US GDP nearly as much as US measures hit our GDP. That math is correct.
Those economists then assume that US policy decisions are based on GDP and advise complete capitulation.
That is terrible policy advice based on a risible assumption.
@kevinmilligan.bsky.social:
Note, as one example, the ‘booze on shelfs’ tactic. I don’t know what % of US GDP was affected, but it is very small. YET it was at the top of the US list of demands. Why? Lobbying? “Campaign donations”? Political pressure? I don’t know.I think it’s because Trump is a sadist and bully, like his partner, quisling Danielle Smith. He can’t tolerate others saying no to him, which is why he rapes and mass murders those he thinks are inferior (women, kids, and non whites), and he can’t tolerate anyone having more power than him. Canadians delightedly taking American booze off the shelves bit his penis.
What I do know is the tactic affected US negotiations.
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/spee…
I note in PM Carney’s transcript from today that he recognized going into negotiations that US “signature was written in pencil.” Good line!
This is why I am glad we walked away. Making any concessions to an unreliable counterparty is bad.
US word is worthless.
So, stop analyzing this as a “trade war”.
Winning a battle like this is about inflicting pain where it hurts them (wherever that is).
But it is also about showing superior resolve to tolerate pain on your side.
Yes, you have to throw a good punch. But winning means you need to show you can take a punch too.
So, what should we do?
- Start with understanding this is not a ‘trade war’.
- Identify tactics that hurt the US in ways that will be noticed and felt. (Throw your GDP calculator away.)
- Demonstrate impenetrable Canadian resolve.Alberta and Saskatchewan fuck that up; instead of strengthening Alberta, Smith is too busy catering to her racist misogynistic separatist religious terrorists. That $140 million wasted on her feeding hate against non whites (immigrants) and egging on destroying Canada with her referendum. That money is better spent on helping the many needing help, but Smith is too cruel for that, cruel like her orange rapist convicted felon pedo hero.
- Negotiate, but don’t make concessions for pencil signature.
@chrisneill.bsky.social:
Also keep on building allies elsewhere, and building domestic strength (so we can keep taking the punches).
And it not being a trade war means there might be some other more political stuff that could be done, if we aren’t worrying about being called nasty. But IANAP (P left deliberately vague).
@bhaggart.bsky.social:
Random thoughts:
- Probably Carney’s best press conference. Clear in what he said and didn’t say (which is usually most interesting — nothing on digital, eg).
- If it weren’t for Québec (language, supply management), this could’ve gone very differently.
- US got greedy. Canada got lucky.
Also, uniformly great questions from the reporters present.
@maximummeh.bsky.social:
They really were excellent questions.
@bhaggart.bsky.social:
My only complaint is that there wasn’t time for more!
@cityscribe.bsky.social:
Being saved by Quebec (and First Nations) is becoming a bit of a theme in this country. It behooves the rest of us to keep that in mind when they object to whatever thing we think we want.
@aradwanski.bsky.social:
I think we may owe Lutnick a debt of gratitude for the timely reminder to our negotiators of who these guys are, and for saving us from what ultimately would’ve been a bad deal.
@bhaggart.bsky.social:
Quick stress test of Carney’s speech: Does Mark Carney still consider Palantir to be a Canadian company?
Another speech stress test: Re-instatement of the DST?
Answer: No. Big DST retcon that justified it in terms of its effect on Canadians. Which is not the justification Carney gave in June 2025 for its cancellation.
@gregbester.bsky.social:
Canada should never again go onto negotiations with another country without a public airing of our goals, objectives and possible consequences happening first. We need a Royal Commission on Canada’s future. We need to think hard about how we build a country that puts everyday folks needs first.
@bhaggart.bsky.social:
The tragedy for Canada is that we knew this in February 2025, but our leaders wasted almost two years pretending otherwise.
@brucearthur.bsky.social:
We are dealing with predatory lunatics. They do not understand much of anything beyond submission. We need to fight, or lose.
@bhaggart.bsky.social:
Can-US relations are now exactly where they were in February 2025, when Canadians to a person recognized the existential US threat and understood that retaliation, not appeasement, was the only path forward.
Instead, Carney delivered a policy of appeasement
@bhaggart.bsky.social:
Tellingly, every single one of Carney’s objectives, listed here, for Can-US negotiations is utterly detached from the reality of our situation. His quixotic pursuit of certainty has wasted almost two years and deformed the other pillars of his US strategy of reactive hedging, not transformation.
Two quick examples: Continuing to treat US tech companies like Microsoft and Palantir as Canadian; slashing government when we need more regulatory capacity to compensate for the US evisceration of its regulatory agencies.
Canada’s leaders — and Mark Carney especially — need to finally let go of the fantasy that any beneficial trade agreement with the US is possible, and reform their entire strategy. Certainty was never on the table. It’s time for Carney to stop dealing in old bromides and actually face up to reality.
@bhaggart.bsky.social:
…. his strategy — which included the explicit pursuit of a comprehensive trade agreement from day one, and appeasement in return for nothing — indicate that he wasn’t just going through the motions. A deal was the planI think Carney is as evil as Trump but not stupid, loves what Trump is doing (his destruction of the USA, serving Putin and the rich), and eagerly wants to do the same to Canada, which Carney has been since he became PM – to turn Canada into the 51st State, without it looking like that’s what he’s doing. it’s unwise to believe Carney’s words, I only watch his actions and hear his endless lies. I think Carney grossly over estimated his prowess, and underestimated Canadians wanting to remain Canadians. Carney is a fraud, a Harper con racist misogynist religious abusive shit. He hates Canada, hates safe air, hates safe water, safe hates environment, hates peace (it makes himself and his rich pals no money) same as Harper, while loving Trump’s deregulation and destruction of democracy, and American big polluters and mind, water, land, air, quiet, community destroying AI tech. Canada now needs a new one.
@williedustice.bsky.social:
If he reinstates the digital services tax and starts respecting the rights of Indigenous people I’ll start considering not hating Carney’s guts, but we know that’s not happening. I don’t give a ton of credit for walking away from a deal most of us already knew was bullshit from the start.I despise Harper and Carney; I despise Carney more because Harper doesn’t pretend to be a decent human, Carney does.
U.S. nearly encroached on Canadian sovereignty during tariff talks: Quebec premier, Fréchette says Carney made right decision to stop negotiations, announces measures to help businesses by Hayley Carolan · CBC News · Aug 22, 2026
The U.S. came close to encroaching on Canadian sovereignty during tariff negotiations, Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said Saturday.
“On the American side, there was a willingness to negotiate on issues that affected Canada’s sovereignty. I’m thinking about how we set our tariff policies” she told an afternoon news conference.
Prime Minister Mark Carney made the right call to stop talks, she said.
The Americans had proposed negotiating matters around Quebec’s French language legislation, Fréchette said, such as the requirement for French to be included on consumer devices like electronics or household appliances and user manuals.
She was surprised to hear the request came in the last day of the negotiation, she said. Trump is a gross failure as a human and business man, he can’t even speak American correctly, I bet he’s jealous others speak their mother tongue and other languages, like many Canadians do.
“Our culture, our language is central to our identity and it is important to exclude that from the negotiation table,” said Fréchette.
“It’s something that is crucial for us and it won’t change, even though we are threatened with different tariffs, it won’t change. We will stay the way we are.”
Quebec now faces a difficult period, she said.
- Quebec politicians, association leaders react to new U.S. tariffs Saturday morning
- Premiers back Carney as trade war with U.S. escalates
“If a particular industry is hit hard, several municipalities will be affected,” she said.
Quebec Minister of Finance Eric Girard said it is too early to know how many jobs could be lost, but he expects it to be a significant number, albeit not as extreme as what was seen during the pandemic.
Province to support exporters
Bernard Drainville, Quebec’s economy minister, announced the launch of two programs meant to keep afloat the province’s businesses in the manufacturing and primary sectors during the escalating trade war.
The first will support businesses with yearly revenue of $2 million or more in the manufacturing or primary sectors whose revenue has been significantly reduced by U.S. tariffs of 25 per cent or more.
They will be eligible for loans with a moratorium of up to 24 months and can submit their application for assistance as soon as Monday.
The other will support those that make $1 million to $2 million a year and are facing financial difficulties due to the tariffs, by offering loans with of up to $150,000 with a 13-month moratorium. Applications for that measure will start being accepted next week.
These programs will be in addition to the aid the Quebec government expects Canada to announce in the following days.
“It is the federal government that led these negotiations, and it is the one that must step up to support businesses and employees workers,” Fréchette said.
Trump is keeping Putin happy, it’s pay back time for Putin helping get Trump into power and the rest of the Repuglicans do nothing when Trump gets out of control because they are making too much money off Trump’s corruption.
U.S. trade demands aimed to reduce Canada to ’51st state,’ B.C. premier says, New 50% tariffs on variety of goods came into force Friday night after trade talks broke down by Simon Little · CBC News · Aug 22, 2026
B.C. Premier David Eby said that his government would support Canada’s counter-measures in the wake of an escalation in the U.S.-Canada trade war.
Eby spoke at a news conference Saturday in which he said that B.C. was set to be disproportionately affected by new 50 per cent duties on certain goods.
He said the proposed terms of the U.S. deal reveal the “true nature” of what the White House really wants from Canada.
“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,” Eby said.
He added that the province would not return U.S. booze to liquor store shelves until it sees major changes to U.S. softwood lumber duties.
And he said further retaliation was possible, and that “every possible weapon that can be deployed” in this “economic war” was on the table for B.C.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s new 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods took effect last night after trade talks broke down at the 11th hour.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada walked away after the U.S. attempted to make “last-minute changes” to a proposed deal.
“They asked too much and they offered too little,” Carney said, adding that Canada would match U.S. tariffs “dollar for dollar” starting Sept. 8.
Carney also vowed federal support for businesses in sector affected by the U.S. tariffs.
“We will support these businesses for as long as it takes. In other words, beyond the life of this U.S. administration,” Carney said.
WATCH | U.S. alcohol not returning to provincial shelves, Eby says:
B.C. premier says U.S. alcohol won’t return to provincial shelves amid tariffs
2 hours ago|
Duration 0:59
B.C. businesses face disproportionate impact
Among the products targeted for new U.S. tariffs is salt, something the Vancouver Island Sea Salt company is concerned about.
Owner Scott Gibson said about 20 per cent of the company’s revenue comes from the U.S.
“We will be affected if this lasts over the next several months,” he said.
“In the short term, anticipating this we have increased our stock levels in the U.S market significantly as a buffer.”
British Columbia faces the highest exposure of any Canadian province to the new tariffs.
Items under tariff threat represent more than 13 per cent of the province’s total exports to the United States, which is higher than any other province, and notably includes wood and paper.
“British Columbia is made-up of a lot of small and medium businesses, and these are the ones that just don’t have the capacity or the resources to be able to deal with this significant amount of tariffs,” said Bridgitte Anderson, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
“There are estimates that are starting to come out that tens of thousands of jobs could be lost across Canada and significant amounts of those in British Columbia if these tariffs are enacted.”
Anderson said she’s hopeful that trade talks will resume, but that in the short term, federal support for businesses must be “an important piece” of the conversation.
She added that the dispute underscores the long-term need to diversify trade with other markets.
The B.C. Federation of Labour said any tariff response must protect workers.
“Our response can’t just be about protecting corporate balance sheets. It has to be about protecting people,” president Sussane Skidmore said in a statement.
“That means defending good jobs, investing in B.C., strengthening Canadian industries and making sure workers have the supports they need when their jobs or communities are under pressure.”
Data from the provincial government shows that 51 per cent of B.C.’s exports in 2025 went to the U.S., a drop from 54 per cent in 2023.
More than half of those exports were for wood, pulp and paper, metallic mineral and energy products.
Gibson said the new tariffs are another reminder about the importance of buying Canadian.
“We’ve got the largest coastline in the world, and yet, most people enjoy imported sea salt,” he said.
“There’s still a lot of room for Canadians to take up local sea salt and that will hopefully buffer the loss in any U.S. if an agreement can’t be met.”
With files from Baneet Braich