Tariffs and War A look through the Looking Glass

Tariffs and War A look through the Looking Glass By Maurice Brenner Regional Councillor Ward 1 Pickering For those who have watched Back to the Future, you might be starting to wonder if Donald Trump used a TESLA TIME MACHINE to travel forward from 1812 to 2025. Here we are in the first week of April 2025, and it is as if we are once again playing out the same War but this time using Tariffs as the weapon of choice. While I do not support what the Trump administration has imposed around the world and in particular here in Canada nor will I ever understand how anyone would chose a mission that has isolated the USA from the world and just like in 1812 has brought us together as a diverse group Canadians, strengthening our pride and love of Country while at the same time building relationships with our allies. It has forced us to not only celebrate Canada but to gain greater independence from our cousins the USA. Canada has earned the right to be respected, the Trump Administration obviously as their forefathers did in 1812 under estimated who we are and how united we are. To understand this one only has to revisit our history, the War of 1812, a conflict that shaped who we are. The war lasted from 1812 to 1814, the United States just like Trump had a desire to expand its territory viewing Canada as weak, launching several invasions. But like today the USA underestimated Canada. In 1812 the British along with First Nations Warriors defended our boundaries against the the US forces. Similarly, today, it has fostered a sense of Canadian identity and pride, bringing together Canadians of all diverse backgrounds, who chose Canada as their homeland. The War of1812 until the Trump era had an everlasting impact on our relationship with the USA and for Centuries and Decades to follow was based on a foundation of mutual respect, peace and co-operation. So what has changed? While Canada prospered and continued on its own journey, the USA became stagnant and rather than looking from with-in, as in 1812 blamed its allies targeting Canada to the North. Rather than guns and bullets, the USA today are using Tariffs, placing high taxes on goods failing to recognize how it will harm their own Country. Obviously they never learn. Had they used their TESLA TIME MACHINE and travelled back to 1773 to “The Boston Tea Party”, they could have avoided what the consequences of their actions will be today in 2025. They in the USA will face unrest and who knows maybe another Civil War from with-in (But that is a story for another day) But now lets travel forward to 2027, the Tariff/Trade War has ended, and once again Canada and our World allies remained strong and united, while unfortunately the good people of the USA will end up paying the price as a result of a needless War, the Trump Team launched on the World and lost. YES HISTORY REPEATS ITS SELF.