Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Saturday, February 15, 2025
I Can’t Afford to Be a Patriot Because of the High Cost of Food
I Can’t Afford to Be a Patriot Because
of the High Cost of Food
By Dale Jodoin
I Can’t Afford to Be a Patriot Because of the High Cost of Food
Patriotism is a powerful thing. It’s the belief in one’s country, the pride of being part of something greater. But in today’s Canada, patriotism is becoming a luxury—one that fewer and fewer people can afford.
The cost of living has skyrocketed. The middle class is shrinking. The elderly, the working poor, the young people trying to start their lives—everyday Canadians—are being crushed under the weight of taxes, inflation, and government policies that seem more interested in ideology than survival. Because of eight years of Liberal government, backed by the NDP, prices have gone through the roof for everyone. Their green tax has made it impossible for people to live the way they used to. Groceries, gas, heating—everything costs more, and there is no relief in sight.
What does it mean to be a patriot when you can barely afford to live?
No Room for Fresh Produce in the Budget
A woman in her fifties walks into the grocery store, her list short but her worries long. She used to be able to fill a cart with fresh vegetables, local dairy, and quality meats. Now, she picks up a cucumber, looks at the price, and puts it back.
The irony stings—Canada grows some of the best produce in the world, but she can’t afford to buy it. Instead, she settles for imported fruits and vegetables from Mexico and China. They’re not as fresh, not as nutritious, but they’re cheaper.
“I thought I’d always be able to afford good food,” she murmurs. “I never imagined it would come to this.”
A Young Worker Forced to Buy Foreign
A young man just starting out in the trades needs work boots. He’s landed his first real job, and he’s eager to contribute. But when he checks the price of a Canadian-made pair, he feels sick—over $300, more than half his paycheck before taxes.
He wants to support local businesses. He wants to wear something made in Canada. But he can’t afford it. Instead, he buys boots from a Canadian retailer that imports them from China.
“I didn’t want to, but what choice do I have?” he says. “I need boots to work, and I don’t have the money for the good ones.” It’s an ugly truth—many who declare themselves patriots, who say they buy only Canadian, unknowingly (or unwillingly) support foreign manufacturing because their wallets don’t give them a choice.
Elderly Couple Forced to Choose Between Food and Heat
In a small home, an elderly couple sits at their kitchen table, the room colder than it used to be. They’ve lived here for decades, paid their taxes, and contributed to their community. But as property taxes increase and their fixed income stays the same, every month becomes a battle of choices.
Do they pay the heating bill? Or do they buy enough groceries to last the month?
The old man fights back tears. He eats less so his wife can eat more. She notices.
“We worked all our lives for this?” she whispers.
The Gas Prices That Keep a Single Mother from Earning
A single mother wakes up before dawn, ready for another long day. She has a part-time job but relies on Uber to make ends meet. Every night, she calculates whether the cost of gas is worth the extra fares.
It’s not just gas—it’s insurance, maintenance, and the price of everything going up. But without her car, she has no way to make the extra money her family needs.
She looks at her earnings after another night on the road, subtracting the cost of fuel. Barely enough.“I’m doing everything I can,” she says. “But it’s never enough.”
The Dollar Store Economy
More and more Canadians are finding that the only place they can afford to shop is the dollar store. Discount shops, bargain bins, and clearance sections have become the grocery aisles of the working class. Gone are the days of filling a cart with fresh meat, dairy, and produce. Now, they rely on canned goods, processed foods, and whatever is on sale.
And when they shop at grocery stores, they see another problem—shrinkflation. Prices are rising while portion sizes shrink. A loaf of bread that used to last a week now barely makes it through a few days. A box of cereal that once served a family is now half the size but double the price. “They’re charging more and giving us less,” a father of three says. “But we can’t do anything about it.” But now, things have gotten even worse. There are Canadians who can’t even afford to be dollar store people.
The 2 Million Who Rely on Food Banks
The situation is so dire that over 2 million Canadians now rely on food banks just to get by. These are not just the homeless or the unemployed—many of them are working families, retirees, and even professionals who simply cannot keep up with the rising cost of living.
Food banks, once a safety net for the most vulnerable, have become a necessity for the middle class. People who never imagined they would need help—who spent their lives paying taxes, working hard, and believing in the Canadian dream—now stand in line, waiting for a bag of food to get them through the week. “I was raised to believe that if you worked hard, you’d be okay,” says a father of two. “But here I am, picking up a food hamper because my paycheck doesn’t cover everything.”
The Government Says It Cares—But Does It?
Politicians claim to fight for the middle class. They make speeches, shake hands, and promise relief. But while they debate, real Canadians are drowning.
The Prime Minister, the NDP, even so-called conservatives—they all claim to care. But what have they done? The unions fight for their members.
The wealthy fight for their tax breaks. The fringe groups fight for their causes. But who is fighting for the everyday Canadian?
The Patriotism Paradox And here lies the greatest irony: many of those who call themselves patriots, who say they “buy Canadian” and “support local,” don’t even realize that most of their purchases come from overseas.
The hat that says “Proud Canadian”? Made in China.
The t-shirt with the maple leaf and the word “Patriot” across the chest? Stamped with “Made in Bangladesh.” The boots, the clothing, even the flags waved at Canada Day celebrations—so many of them come from foreign factories because it’s simply too expensive to buy Canadian.
People don’t do this out of disloyalty. They do it because they have no choice.
No End in Sight
There’s no light at the end of the tunnel. The cost of everything continues to rise—housing, food, fuel, taxes. And while politicians sit in their comfortable offices making decisions that push people further into despair, real Canadians are left behind. The ones who suffer the most are the people who once built this nation. The workers. The farmers. The elderly. The middle class. There is no relief. No hero comes to save them. Just another winter of impossible choices. Another year of tightening belts that are already suffocating.
The dream of being a proud, patriotic Canadian still burns in their hearts. But in their empty wallets and cold homes, they wonder—can they still afford it?
Everyone knows somebody like them. A friend, a neighbor, a family member. These are the stories of real Canadians. And the saddest part? Their struggles are getting worse.
Making A Difference
Making A Difference
By Joe Ingino
B.A. Psychology
Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers
ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Articles
Published Columns in Canada and The United States
Everyone likes to complain. But far from few actually stand up against all odds and do something about it. We are upon a call to action by our Provincial elect. Out of the blue Ford calls and election as to expect to solidify the seats of conservatives across the Province. A bold move, that test the will of taxpayers at large. By now you all may be aware that I put my name forth Ontario New Blue Party as your Oshawa candidate.
If we learned anything from the recent U.S. elections. It is time to put new blood in office. Stop electing - re-electing careered politicians that once they get in they sit on their hands.
The U.S. took the right lead. Elect someone from outside the establishment. A successful business person with a proven business track record. Someone that knows the value of a dollar and the commitment to sacrifice in the name of humanity.
As a candidate. I will not profess to know everything. But what I know I know it well. I may not have all the answers. But I have the solutions to real problems founded on experience. this is why I am running. We have millions of dollar coming to Oshawa through the Province and in my opinion they are wasted.
The sitting NDP MPP has let jobs slip out of Oshawa and is content with token jobs in return. The MPP in my opinion is not approachable, arrogant and ignorant of the billions of dollars sitting on the side lines wanting to come to Ontario. To Oshawa.
For the past 4 years she has yet to return a phone call to her local City newspaper. French as the City of Oshawa candidate has never visited me or any local business that I know off to ask what our needs may be from the Province.
I think it is time to stop the waste of tax dollars we are paying this MPP and elect someone that has first hand experience in the downtown. Someone that has brought to Oshawa the only successful shop local campaign as seen by the many signs posted on local downtown shops. All I am asking for an opportunity to serve you. I will not promise you anything but instead deliver the assurance of working with the municipal government to put and end to people living on the street. I will deliver good paying jobs by approaching developers, business owners and the right type of industry to come to Oshawa. I will aggressively look for funding to better all aspects of Oshawanians. I will develop special partnerships, sponsorship with corporations and those directly involved in finance to assure that our downtown may thrive again. To get rid of crime by working with DRPS for more funding. I will work hard to influence an Ontario balanced budget. I will assure every citizens that all calls will be answered and returned. I promise to bring government back to you. To uphold decency and dignity. To protect our identity and bring back economic pride to Oshawa. Now it is your choice.
You have a choice to make a positive difference in your life.
United States Tariffs the Saga Continues
United States Tariffs
the Saga Continues
by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC,
FEC, CET, P. Eng.
Former Member of Parliament
Pickering-Scarborough East
Canada has received a 30 days reprieve until 4 March from the 25% tariffs the Trump administration threatens to impose. However, the situation is far from good, while politicians in Canada are involved in elections at various levels.
Ontarians have been called to the polls on February 27 to elect a new government, while the Governing Liberal party is involved in a leadership contest in order to elect a new Prime Minister of Canada, who in turn, will be facing an imminent election. These electoral diversions cannot help but seriously affect sound national judgement.
Therefore, the tariffs are still a menace for Canada and strong leadership will be essential in negotiating with the Trump administration.
Ontarians are looking for their leaders to stand up for them, and secure the best possible options. Dealing with tariffs, border-state diplomacy, ad campaigns aimed at American voters, and business-to-business pressure are all necessary tactics.
The fear of ordinary Ontarians over this eventual tariff war must be addressed. That is where Ontarians are looking to their own province’s leaders to protect them.
Ordinary people are not worried about theoretical macroeconomic shocks. They are concerned about the price shock of suddenly paying a lot more for gas, groceries and other imported products. That is what keeps them up at night.
With the provincial election campaign in full swing, I am just wondering how Premier Ford’s caretaking government will be able to deal with this very serious issue. If it is mishandled, it will affect the wellbeing of the people of Ontario and Canada as well.
However, nothing will matter as much as Doug Ford’s ability to convince Ontarians that he is the best candidate to protect their pocketbooks from Donald Trump ‘s actions.
Elections are not won on hypotheticals; they are won on trust. Moreover, right now, Ontarians do not need a leader who promises to “figure it out”
when the storm hits. The storm has already hit. They want someone who has been through the storm before and knows how to steer the ship.
Calling an election when the Province of Ontario already had a majority government, shows very poor leadership, especially when the government should be fully focused on this potentially major economic problem. Looking good in the polls now, can easily backfire.
At the same time, the governing Liberals are involved in a leadership contest that will be decided on March the 9th, and is very likely to be succeeded by a federal election. All these electoral issues obviously jeopardise the full attention that should be dedicated to the very likely trade war with the United States.
It seems clear that the Trudeau government mistakenly believed it could persuade Trump to change his mind. Therefore, they made no preparations for this looming eventuality between late November when Donald Trump first raised the prospect of tariffs on Canada, and when he officially announced them.
Now that we have gotten this 30-day reprieve, we cannot afford to waste this time too. Although the temporary agreement is ostensibly focused on fentanyl and border control issues, Trump’s social media post emphasized that the delay was meant to see “whether or not a final economic deal with Canada can be structured.”
This post strongly suggests that all of this turmoil will culminate in the imminent renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) under the threat of imposing tariffs, withdrawal from the agreement, or some combination of the two.
Canadian policymakers need to be ready. They should be devising a renegotiation strategy over the next 30 days, which accepts that any negotiation is going to be suboptimal. It will be conducted under a state of duress and the lesson of the past weeks is that there is no guarantee that Trump will ultimately honour an agreement. Yet it is still in the country’s best interests to try to maintain a free trade agreement with the United States.
Canada must therefore have a clear understanding of its own priorities in advance of the USMCA’s renegotiations. The US administration’s lack of clarity on what it precisely wants can actually be an advantage.
Canada has a chance to shape the negotiations and fill-in-the-blanks of America’s policy goals. By exercising first-mover advantage, Canada could set out a new vision for a North American economic and security partnership.
Such a proposal must be cognizant of the administration’s understanding of the end of unipolarity and the requisite adjustments to America’s economic and foreign policy.
Trump’s top advisors firmly believe that the U.S. can no longer accept the asymmetric economic and security arrangements with its allies that have marked the past several decades. Those in its orbit (or bloc) will face greater expectations than ever before. Canada will need to bring more to the relationship.
This requires Canadian policymakers to reach beyond the typical playbook. Radical ideas like economic union or a common border adjustment policy should be considered, for example.
The same goes for a bilateral arrangement on drug development costs and consumer prices. Alternatively, even shared border patrols and Arctic defence bases.
Are Canada’s politicians ready to think outside the box?
Pickering's Public Forum turns into a racist, pornographic nightmare!
Pickering's Public Forum turns into a racist, pornographic nightmare!
By Lisa Robinson
On Wednesday February 12, 2025, which was meant to be a transparent, inclusive discussion on our Climate Adaptation Plan for all ages degenerated into an unmitigated horror show. Instead of fostering meaningful community dialogue, the City of Pickering’s virtual Open House became a stage for racist slurs, repeated displays of swastikas, and graphic pornographic content—images that no one, especially an event for all ages, including children should ever be forced to endure. The flagrant failure of City staff is at the heart of this atrocity. With full control over the meeting, they did nothing to immediately shut down the broadcast. By neglecting to disable participants’ microphones and cameras, they provided a free rein for these perpetrators to spread hate, and explicit disgusting pornographic content, leaving our community exposed and traumatized. I can honestly say that I will never be the same after witnessing such a disturbing and deeply traumatizing event.
As if this horrific incident were not enough, the hypocrisy of the City of Pickering has reached a new low by launching a calculated attack on my integrity. Recently, they have been trying to falsely accuse me of “aiding and abetting harassment” solely because I publicly condemned hateful remarks made on a podcast. Let me be absolutely clear: I denounced a hateful remark both in an email to my colleagues and live on his podcast, repeatedly stating that I do not condone what the host said or any form of violence. To further clarify, I never even heard the remark because I was taken off the podcast the time it was made, and the announcer explicitly declared that his words were entirely his own and not reflective of my views. Again, I want to be clear – I have never met this person before. I had no prior knowledge of them, no connection, no relationship of any kind before that podcast. I simply participated as a guest, unaware of what they would say or do. Any attempt to suggest otherwise is false. The absurdity of twisting my decisive, public denunciation into grounds for an investigation is a deliberate act of public mischief—a manufactured narrative designed solely to silence me and try to remove me from Council for consistently speaking the truth and calling out the corruption that I have witnessed during my tenure.
If the City of Pickering is so quick to claim that I was aiding and abetting harassment—an act over which I had absolutely no control and one that I condemned publicly—then it is only logical that they should be thoroughly investigated for aiding and abetting racist slurs, hate symbols, and the distribution of pornography. Their failure to secure a safe space during the meeting, by not disabling participants’ cameras and microphones, allowed these heinous acts to occur. Yet, instead of acknowledging this gross negligence, the Corporation of the City of Pickering is busy fabricating false narratives and even pressured me into removing video evidence that serves the public interest. Not only have they not even issued an official apology to me or anyone else who witnessed this appalling incident, but they are also desperately trying to suppress the truth about what really happened. This is nothing short of a cover-up, a sham attempt to shift blame away from their own undeniable failures.
I call for immediate answers. Who was responsible for moderating the meeting, and why was it not shut down the moment hate speech and explicit content erupted? Which members of leadership were aware of these events—and when did they finally act? Will the same unfounded legal standards now being used to target me be applied to those whose gross negligence allowed this atrocity to occur? I am not only traumatized by what I witnessed but I am also appalled by the lengths to which our City’s leadership will go to suppress the truth.
Our community deserves a safe, respectful public forum and leaders who take responsibility, not ones who attempt to rewrite history to deflect their own failures.
A police investigation is now underway, and I will not rest until every individual responsible for this disgrace is held accountable. The City of Pickering must stop shifting blame and begin addressing its own gross negligence for the sake of transparency, accountability, and the wellbeing of our community.
I am Councillor Lisa Robinson, The People’s Councillor!
Employers Are Not in the 'Give a Chance Business'
Employers Are Not in the
'Give a Chance Business'
By Nick Kossovan
Many job seekers become frustrated and angry because they believe employers should take a chance on hiring them. Most job seekers fail, or refuse, to grasp that hiring is a critical business decision involving an investment of their time, money, and trust—the stakes are high. Great hires can propel a team forward, while bad hires can create setbacks, disrupt a company's culture, and waste resources.
When a hiring manager assesses a candidate, they're not just asking, "Can this person do the job?" they're also asking:
· Will this person stick around?
· Will they be manageable?
· Will they fit into the current team and culture?
· Will I regret hiring this person six months from now?
A common phrase among job seekers is "Give people a chance." Expecting employers to take a chance on you and blaming them when they don't displays a sense of entitlement. Employers aren't in the business of giving chances. Business survival requires being risk-averse. Minimizing hiring risks is in a business's best interest. In this respect, it's the job seeker's responsibility to demonstrate why the reward of hiring them outweighs the risk.
The job market is a battlefield where there are many job seekers who, admittedly, out of desperation, are, to put it mildly, "not playing fair." An employer's hiring decision isn't merely about filling a vacancy. The person hired will, to some extent, affect their bottom line, team chemistry, and long-term goals. I've seen, as you likely have, how hiring the wrong person can lead to productivity losses, decreased morale, and budget wasting. You can't fault employers for selecting employees cautiously; you would, too, if you owned the business.
On the other hand, employers can be regarded as 'givers of low-risk chances.' No matter how much due diligence an employer does to mitigate hiring risks, they're still taking a chance—a risk—on the candidate who they deemed to be the most qualified, will deliver the results the business needs, and will fit their culture. Despite employers designing their hiring process in ways they believe will mitigate hiring risks, hiring people doesn't come with any guarantees. The best an employer can do is hire the candidate they believe poses the lowest hiring risk.
Most job seekers focus on demonstrating their skills and experience but fail to consider how they might appear as a hiring risk, such as:
· Being underqualified or overqualified
· Posting negative comments on social media
· Exhibiting a sense of entitlement
· Having a lengthy employment gap
· Holding several short-term jobs
Applying for a job involves being compared to everyone else who applied. Put yourself in the employer's shoes. If you received over 500 applications for a Sales Director role, whom would you find "less risky"?
Candidate A: Has had four jobs in seven years.
Candidate B: Has been at their current job for 14 years.
Candidate A: Has a complete LinkedIn profile (profile picture, banner, completed sections) showing the measurable value they've brought to previous employers.
Candidate B: Has an incomplete LinkedIn profile.
Candidate A: Was referred by an employee.
Candidate B: Applied online.
Candidate A: Includes a compelling cover letter.
Candidate B: Doesn't include a cover letter.
It's the job seeker's responsibility to prove that they're worth taking a hiring risk on. You should approach your job search strategically, showing that you are not just another candidate, but one who can add measurable value to the business, such as increasing revenue, reducing costs, or solving problems. With so many qualified job seekers in the job market, why would an employer opt for a candidate with perceived risks?
If you believe employers should "give you a chance," you're setting yourself up for disappointment, leading to frustration and anger. Instead, flip the script and show employers that you're a low-risk hire who will add value to their business.
Here's how:
Build a Strong Resume and LinkedIn Profile: Numbers are the language of business; speak it! Use numbers to demonstrate your past successes and value. Employers hire results, not unsubstantiated opinions.
Leverage Networking: A warm introduction will significantly reduce the perceived risks of hiring you. Contact people in your professional network who are connected to the employer you're applying to or may know someone connected to your targeted employer. (It's a small world.)
Prepare for Interviews: Don't just respond to questions; prepare thoughtful questions for your interviewer, thus showing enthusiasm and engagement.
Follow-Up: Few job seekers send thank-you notes after interviews; therefore, doing so sets you apart. A thank-you note shows initiative, reiterates your interest, and, most
importantly, gives you an opportunity to address any concerns raised during the interview.
As for cultural fit, I believe in being yourself and letting the chips fall where they fall. Don't contort yourself, as self-proclaimed career coaches advise job seekers to try to "fit in"; if the employer doesn't see you as a fit, why would you want to join?
Employers don't owe you a chance; they owe their business and existing employees the lowest hiring risk they can find. It's on you to show employers that hiring you is a low-risk decision they won't regret making.
_____________________________________________________________________
Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com
Trudeau’s farewell: A divisive leader now calling for unity
Trudeau’s farewell:
A divisive leader now calling for unity
By Sami Parvez
Justin Trudeau has changed his tone towards Canada and Canadians following the announcement of his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister on Jan. 6, 2025. Trudeau has long been perceived as favoring only those who supported him while showing disdain for his opponents. Within his own caucus, anyone who stood up to him was shown the exit door, as exemplified by former Justice Minister and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould.
His shift in tone comes amid heightened tensions with the United States. After Donald Trump called for the annexation of Canada and imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, Trudeau called for national unity to oppose the tariffs.
“This is a moment of pride. This is a moment of pulling together. This is a moment for Canada to be solid in our identity, in our sovereignty and in our presence, for our friends and neighbours,” Trudeau told reporters during a visit to Paris for the AI summit on Feb. 11, 2025.
Since winning the U.S. presidential election in Nov. 2024, Donald Trump has pushed for tariffs on Canada and suggested it become the 51st U.S. state, citing concerns over defense spending and border security. On Feb. 1, 2025, he signed executive orders imposing a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports, with a reduced 10% tariff on Canadian energy products. In response, Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs worth $155 billion. Following a phone call between the two leaders, Trump agreed to pause the tariffs for 30 days. However, on March 12, 2025, he will impose 25% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum imports from Canada.
Trudeau’s efforts to position himself as a defender of Canada against Trump’s aggressive trade policies stand in stark contrast to how he treated his own citizens during times of domestic unrest. While he now calls for national unity, his past actions have sown deep divisions within Canada itself.
One of the most striking examples was his response to the Freedom Convoy protests in 2022. Instead of listening to the concerns of working-class Canadians frustrated by his government’s heavy-handed COVID-19 mandates, Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history. He labeled the protesters as extremists and crushed the movement through financial restrictions and police intervention.
During the 2021 snap election campaign, Trudeau told a Quebec television station that those who refused COVID-19 vaccinations were often racist and misogynistic extremists. “They don’t believe in science or progress and are very often misogynistic and racist,” he said in French in Sept. 2021.
In 2019, Trudeau acknowledged that Canada had committed genocide against Indigenous peoples, specifically regarding the findings of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) inquiry. However, in 2021, when the House of Commons voted 266-0 to declare that China was committing genocide against the Uyghur Muslim minority, Trudeau and
his Cabinet abstained, arguing that the term “genocide” is “extremely loaded” and that certain standards must be met before it can be formally used. This inconsistency drew criticism.
For months in 2021, flags on federal buildings were flown at half-mast following the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential school sites, including on Canada Day. While this was meant as a solemn acknowledgment of past injustices, it also sparked debate over how Canada should balance recognition of its history with national pride.
As Trudeau's time in office is coming to an end, Canadians should reflect on his leadership. Instead of uniting the country, he used political wedges to keep us divided based on vaccine status, religion, gender, and race. He will be remembered as one of the most divisive leaders in Canadian history.
Before anything else, we are Canadians, and we should take pride in that. Canada is the land of opportunity, and freedom is our identity.
As Sir Wilfrid Laurier once said, “Canada is free, and freedom is its nationality.”
February 15 is National Flag of Canada Day, a time to proudly wear or fly the maple leaf as a symbol of our national pride. Let it be flown proudly from coast to coast to coast.
O Canada!.
Why Trump Shouldn't Negotiate With Putin On Ukraine
Why Trump Shouldn't Negotiate With Putin On Ukraine
by Thomas L. Knapp
Last May, Donald Trump bragged on Truth Social that "IF PRESIDENT, I WOULD BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE AN END TO THIS HORRIBLE AND RAPIDLY ESCALATING WAR WITHIN 24 HOURS" (all-caps styling his).
Last October, Trump upped the claim at an Iowa campaign rally: "I will end the war in Ukraine before I even step foot in the White House again."
The war didn't end prior to January 20. Nor did the war end by January 21.
However, on February 12, Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin finally held what Trump called a "lengthy and highly productive" phone call, after which Trump touted coming negotiations (with a possible assist from China, the Wall Street Journal reports) to end the war.
That's a bad idea for at least three reasons.
One reason is the Russian regime -- like other regimes, and for good reason -- considers the US regime "not agreement capable." Going all the way back to its treaties with Native American tribes and continuing up to the present day, the US has a terrible record on holding up its end of deals and complying with provisions of treaties it signs on to.
Another reason is Putin's attitude toward negotiating with Trump specifically. Pepe Escobar characterizes that attitude as "negotiating with Team Trump is like playing chess with a pigeon: The bird walks all over the chessboard, sh*ts indiscriminately, knocks over pieces, declares victory, then runs away." The third reason, however, is the biggest: The war in Ukraine is not and never has been the US regime's business.
The war might well have been averted if the US hadn't fomented a coup in Ukraine in 2014, leading to the secessions of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk, followed by eight years of US-Russia proxy war in the latter two areas and the US throwing gasoline on the fake fire of Ukraine as a prospective NATO member state.
The following full-on war might well have ended quickly -- with only those seceded areas in Russian hands -- if the US and its NATO lackeys hadn't simultaneously armed/funded the Ukrainian forces, while leaning on Ukraine to refuse further negotiations after the Russian rejection of an early ceasefire draft.
Donald Trump negotiating with Vladimir Putin on behalf of Ukraine can't plausibly produce an agreement which either side -- let alone the Ukrainian side -- considers itself bound by.
The best course for the US, for Ukraine, and arguably for Russia, is for Trump to tell Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelenskyy that US involvement in the war -- arms, funding, and supposed mediation assistance -- is drawing to a close.
That would free Zelenskyy to drive the best deal he can and Putin to declare victory, settle for what he has, and pull Russia's teat out of the Ukraine wringer.
My Old House
Three Tips To Successfully Do Public Relations When You Have Autism
Three Tips To Successfully Do Public Relations When You Have Autism
by Kadin McElwain:
Public relations is a field where you have to do your best to manage a company’s image. Whether it be through Corporate Social Responsibility, organizing events, or social media management, you have a really important job. This job can be all the more complicated if you have autism. Autism can make you incredibly intelligent and talented. But it can also hinder some of the social skills required in the field.
Nonetheless, people with autism still have the capabilities to succeed in this career. They just need a little help. So here are three tips for successfully doing public relations when you have autism.
Tip One: Don't Be Hard On Yourself:
Public relations can be a tricky field to get in and manage when you have autism. You have to socialize 24/7 and look your best, so that the brand looks good. But just know that you'll do great. Don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake. Public relations is all about persistence, and you'll be doing just that, regardless of the drama that's involved.
Tip Two: Learn How To Manage A Crisis Calmly:
In the public relations field, you have to know how to properly manage a crisis. It's a high-tense situation and emotions are high during these times. It can especially be hard for those with autism. But there are three ways to properly manage your emotions in a PR crisis:
1. Take a deep breath.
2. Make good decisions calmly
3. If the situation is overwhelming, take a five minute break.
If you follow these three steps for managing a PR crisis with autism, you'll surely be able to thrive in the field.
Tip Three: Be Yourself and Have Fun:
Public relations is all about personality and how you present yourself. Yes, there are times to be professional, especially if it's an important work meeting or a business dinner. But there are also times to be yourself and have fun. Embracing the gift you have and the person you are is the key for success in this field. Public relations should be fun and enjoyable, without the risk of being shamed for who you are. Embrace yourself as much as possible.
Yes, public relations is a socially-active field to get into. It can also be made harder when you have autism. But as long as you follow these three steps for success, you'll do fine in the field. So go on! Get out there! Help your company grow and embrace yourself while doing it!
Siren Song
How Clutter Causes Problems
How Clutter Causes
Problems
By W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford
Have you ever walked into a home, or even a single room, and wondered, "How do these people live in such a mess?" Collecting and holding onto too much stuff causes many problems – economic, social, and emotional. It is not a common way to assess your health. But having a look at your home is an interesting diagnostic tool.
“Cluttering” can be expensive. About 11% of American households rent a storage unit at an average monthly cost of $85. Nearly half of self-storage customers rent for a year or more, costing over a thousand dollars!
Some nationalities are more compulsive about clutter. For instance, Germans and Swedes seem less inclined to pile up unused things. The Swedes have a saying that stresses you should not leave a mess for others to clean up. They call it "death cleaning".
Studies show that clutter breeds emotional chaos for some people. A study at Princeton University showed that with too much stuff around, the brain is unable to process information well. Another study from the University of California revealed that clutter can have an adverse effect on hormones. For instance, women who live with a mess did not show the normal decrease in the stress hormone, cortisol, that usually occurs during the course of a day. Moreover, they experienced an increase in depressed mood. In some cases, living in a mess means social isolation stemming from the embarrassment of friends not able to get in the door for all the mess.
A messy home can also lead to falls. Getting older is a dangerous process. Seniors are less agile, and vision deteriorates. Tripping over a mess can cause a fractured hip or other serious injuries.
For messy households, there is nothing like the workload that comes when parents move into retirement homes. This topic doesn’t feature in my new book about Healthy Retirement Residence Living, but that’s my oversight. Fortunately, my own family does not have this problem, but the tales are legendary of families who must sort through room after room of “stuff” collected over a lifetime.
If you’ve decided it's time to get rid of clutter, there’s good news. Decluttering does make people feel psychologically better. It provides a sense of accomplishment and well-being. Equally important, decluttering gives people a sense of personal control, lowering stress.
If getting rid of clutter is good for you, why don't more people do it? There are lots of reasons. Are people too busy? Is there just too much stuff? Does procrastination win?
Just as a voyage of a thousand miles begins with the first step, the best thing is to just get started. Set small goals, so you don't become overwhelmed before you even begin.
Experts in decluttering offer sage advice. Sort your things into three broad categories, “Keep, Discard, and Maybe”. Then repeat with the "Maybe" stuff as many times as needed.
Break the work into small chunks of time. Spending 30 minutes on one task is enough, so you don't get overtired or bored and say, "What's the use?"
Remember that deciding to clean up a mess means the clutter has to go somewhere. This is a time when you can make less fortunate people happy. Donate clothing, electronics, books, furniture, and other items to The Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other charitable organizations.
Hmm. I can just hear my wife saying, "So Giff, when are you going to toss out those old shoes?" But like old wine, I find it hard to say goodbye to old shoes.
They remain on my "Maybe" list.Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments,
contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones
Saturday, February 8, 2025
PICKERING FORWARD
PICKERING FORWARD
By Maurice Brenner
Regional Councillor Ward 1 Pickering
Having attended the PICKERING FORWARD Planning Department Open House Townhall as part of the Policy Development for a New Pickering Official Plan on February 6th at the George Ashe CC, this transformative session was nothing less than impressive. About 40 members of communities from across Pickering turned out and took part in meaningful discussions that focussed on sustainability and the natural environment.
Some of the key highlights raised by residents stressed the importance of protecting community character along the Kingston Road corridor. Things such as wide multi-purpose
Bvds that are pedestrian friendly, with regard for architectural design controls that enables a blend of structural forms. Another important item, was the need to better understand the impact of removing all trees during development through an environmental lens to ensure appropriate mitigating options are explored.
As Pickering continues to move forward with growth in Central Pickering, the redevelopment along Kingston Road and infill, I will do my utmost to bring these and other important items to the table always keeping in mind, that what ever we do today will impact tomorrow.,
During the coming weeks PICKERING FORWARD will launch its next phase of this implant policy review of our Official Plan. And while there was some scepticism that voices may not be heard, the Planning Team assured them that everything was on the table and deemed important.
To learn more about PICKERING FORWARD, check out www.pickering.ca/Pickeringforward 
Canada’s Border Crisis: China, Fentanyl, and the Failure of Leadership
Canada’s Border Crisis: China, Fentanyl, and the Failure of Leadership
By Sami Parvez
Canada’s Border Crisis: China, Fentanyl, and the Failure of Canada's border policies have been criticized for being too lax, particularly under the Liberal government. In recent years, under the Liberal government, policies have become more relaxed. In July, after Canada accepted over 5,000 refugees from Gaza, U.S. Senators expressed concerns, warning that the policy could provide individuals with potential ties to terror groups easier access to the United States. Immigration Minister Marc Miller dismissed these concerns as “categorically false,” adding that “Canada only issues refugee travel documents to individuals deemed legitimate refugees after a separate assessment process."
Canada wouldn’t have taken any action if there were no concerns about tariffs. Canadians owe gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for threatening tariffs on Canadian products, which prompted Ottawa to get serious about the illegal flow of drugs into the country, illegal border crossings, and the misuse of Canada's relaxed visa system for temporary residents. In fact, Canada has a long history of fentanyl arriving in Vancouver from China, but authorities have taken no concrete action to address the issue in the past.
After a phone call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Feb. 3, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to pause proposed tariffs on Canada for 30 days—on the condition that Canada strengthens border security to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. In response, Trudeau committed to deploying 10,000 front-line personnel, appointing a "Fentanyl Czar," designating Mexican cartels as terrorists, and signing a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, when he was Liberal leader in 2013, famously said he “admires China because of its dictatorship,” sparking significant discussion in Canada, particularly among Chinese-Canadians who fled China for their safety from the Chinese Communist regime.
In 2019, two Chinese scientists working at Canada's top infectious disease lab in Winnipeg, Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, were dismissed due to concerns about their connections to Chinese military researchers and sharing of sensitive information. While they were red-flagged, fired, and sent back to China, the Liberal government did not take significant public action or raise the issue directly with China at the time.
When the opposition brought up the matter in the House of Commons, Trudeau accused them of being racist and spreading anti-Asian sentiment.
“The rise in anti-Asian racism we have been seeing over the past number of months should be of concern to everyone,” Trudeau told the House on May 26, 2021, in response to then-Tory MP Candice Bergen's questions regarding reports that two Chinese scientists at Canada's top infectious-disease laboratory in Winnipeg had been collaborating with Chinese military researchers.
In October 2024, the RCMP dismantled what authorities described at the time as “the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl and methamphetamine drug superlab” in Canadian history, located in Falkland, B.C. According to the police, “the combined fentanyl and precursor chemicals seized could have amounted to over 95.5 million doses, with an estimated $485 million in potential profit.”
The recent drug bust underscores the need for stronger border security and law enforcement. It also highlights the role of foreign actors in Canada’s crime problem. Award winning investigative journalist Sam Cooper has raised concerns about China’s involvement, claiming that Chinese military links to criminal networks are fueling money laundering and drug trafficking.
“There are very deep concerns that Canada is being used by China in a very sophisticated economic and truly criminal way,” Cooper told The Daniela Cambone Show.
“Chinese military was directly involved with these underground Chinese criminal networks that were facilitating this massive money laundering which tied into fentanyl, cocaine, (and) money moving around the world. So, drugs are coming in through Vancouver right then spreading across Canada and getting down into the United States.”
Yet, despite mounting evidence, neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nor his main rival, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, has directly named China as a key player in Canada’s fentanyl crisis. Trudeau’s government has also failed to strengthen oversight of Canada’s ports, particularly the Port of Vancouver—a well-documented entry point for Chinese fentanyl shipments. Instead of prioritizing the safety of Canadians, Trudeau continues to shield Beijing from accountability, placing diplomatic ties above national security.
Poilievre has vowed to crack down on fentanyl traffickers if elected, saying, "I will lock up fentanyl kingpins and throw away the key. It’s like spraying bullets into a crowd—even if you don’t aim, you will kill people. The penalty should be the same as murder. I will pass mandatory life sentences, so fentanyl kingpins never get out of jail and stop killing our kids."
While his tough-on-crime approach resonates with many, he has yet to address who is ultimately responsible for flooding Canada with this deadly drug. Without tackling the source of the crisis, enforcement alone may not be enough.
It’s time for strong leadership that puts Canada first. Ottawa must invest more in law enforcement and defence to ensure better protection with more boots on the ground. There must be zero tolerance for foreign interference, and our borders must be fully secured. No one should enter Canada illegally, nor should money laundering or the drug trade thrive. Canada needs patriotic leadership that prioritizes national sovereignty and puts Canadians above all else.
Criminals must face stricter punishments, and foreign citizens who break the law should be deported immediately. Their assets should be seized, and those born outside Canada must be returned to their country of birth without exception. Canada must uphold the rule of law, and rule breakers should not be tolerated. It’s time to reinstate tougher penalties to ensure justice and security.
The Close
The C
lose
By Theresa Grant
Real Estate Columnist
It can be a whirlwind experience or a long-drawn-out exhausting search for a new home but once that home is found, the real work begins. After finding just the perfect home for you, you must then determine the right price to offer, and hope that it hits the mark. If it does not, however, your agent will then have to negotiate on your behalf and try their very best to get the house that you want at the price you are willing to pay for it. If negotiations, which include far more than just price are successful, there will be some celebrating for sure. After all, you’ve just bought a house! After the signing of the papers, both seller and buyer need to obtain real estate lawyers to handle their transactions and see everything through to closing day. Once the lawyers are on board for both sides, the names of the lawyers are given to the real estate agents for both parties and the agents will exchange those names and submit their files to their brokerages respectively.
Between the purchase date and the closing date the buyers are usually entitled to two re- visits of the home they have purchased. This is usually for the purpose of taking measurements of windows for blinds or curtains along with perhaps taking some pictures of rooms and measuring for placement of furniture or larger items. Measuring of doorways and staircase openings, especially in older houses, is very important. With the advent of the split box spring this is not as big an issue as it used to be years ago. There is a matter though of trying to get heavy large, bulky furniture up staircases that are not big enough. So, to this end, measuring is a good idea. The first of the re visits can be whenever the buyer wants it as long as the seller agrees to the time and day.
That is usually not a problem. The second visit, which is often called the pre-closing visit, usually takes place either the morning of the close or the day prior. The idea here is to have it as close to the actual closing as possible. The purpose is to make sure that everything is as agreed to in the agreement of purchase and sale. If the seller agreed to leave the appliances you saw when you put the offer on the house, you don’t want to find on moving day that they have been switched out for other appliances. With more and more agents taking pictures and writing actual make and model numbers of appliances into the agreement of purchase and sale, that doesn’t happen all that often. The same is true for light fixtures and anything else that was agreed upon. You just want to make sure it’s all there for you when you move in.
Politics in Pickering: When Transparency Takes a Back Seat to Theatrics
Politics in Pickering: When Transparency Takes a Back Seat to Theatrics
By Lisa Robinson
Think politics is boring? Not in Pickering! Our meetings have become a kind of reality TV - maybe even worthy of Netflix - with plot twists, dramatic outbursts, and a lot of conspiracy accusations thrown in for good measure.
At our executive meeting last Monday February 3, 2025, I opened with questions directed at our Director of IT, Dale Quaif, and took a moment to flash back to last years February 5th, 2024 executive meeting. Back then, we used tax payers dollars of nearly $180,000.00 paid to MNP Digital to assess Digital Readiness and assessment strategy. The consultants confidently reported to Council that The Corporation of The City of Pickering boasted an extensive privacy and cybersecurity plan to protect residents’ personal online data. Sounds great, right? Wrong—it turned out to be nothing more than a complete lie. Because immediately after the consultants made this claim, I pressed our IT Director Mr. Quaif on the specifics of what measures were in place to protect our residents’ online personal data, and he painfully admitted there was nothing. Yes, you read that correctly… Nothing! He did, however, offer the promise that cybersecurity would eventually become part of our digital transition journey.
Fast forward to February 3 of this year ‘2025—almost exactly a full year later—I found myself asking the same pointed question: What, if anything, has changed? After an exercise in political dodging, the answer was as stark as it was simple: nothing.
There has been no implementation of new software or security measures. Instead, we were met with vague references to policies and procedures, legislation, two-factor authentication, and a records retention policy—a list of buzzwords without any concrete action behind them.
I suggested that it would be a colossal waste of money to continually spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on new software when our IT Director doesn’t even have a clear grasp of our current list of software inventory—or whether any new purchases would even be compatible with what we already have. That’s when the Mayor lost it.
While the Mayor was yelling at me and verbally abusing me, another councillor could not control her laughter. He accused my line of questioning of being deeply disrespectful and highly inappropriate, taking offense at my use of the word “waste” and my comment that our “IT Director should know our list of software inventory.” According to him, my terminology was grossly offensive.
He went on to further abuse and insult me, claiming that there isn’t a conspiracy theory around every corner. In a childlike tantrum, the Mayor even labeled me a conspiracy theorist—while ironically disrespecting the Chair, the very rules he continually accuses me of violating. Once again, we witnessed the classic “rules for thee, but not for me” behavior... Apparently, pointing out poor planning and fiscal mismanagement is offensive to the Mayor. And here's the kicker: the so-called “conspiracy” is clearly laid out in black and white on MNP Digital's strategy plan—a $179,670.00 bill paid with your property tax dollars.
Some conspiracy!
Truths Job Seekers Conveniently Ignore
Truths Job Seekers Conveniently Ignore
By Nick Kossovan
"You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality," - Ayn Rand, Russian-born American writer, Atlas Shrugged (1957)
Acknowledging current job market realities is imperative for job search success. Clinging to comforting narratives while ignoring hard truths will not change how employers operate, especially regarding their respective hiring process.
Most job seekers conveniently ignore the following seven uncomfortable truths, which, if they accepted, would expedite their job search.
1. There's always someone younger and hungrier than you.
When it comes to "job search truisms that suck," this is at the top.
Job searching is a competition against other candidates, AI, automation, low-cost overseas labour, and the advantages of using contractors and freelancers. Achieving success in this competitive landscape requires being hungrier than your competition, as winning typically demands a strong desire to prevail.
I view "someone younger and hungrier" (and more skilled) as a call to action. While you can't "youth appeal," you can lessen its influence on hiring decisions by:
· Assuring employers you're relevant—not "dated"—that you keep up with technology, social media's ebbs and flows, and ever-shifting social norms.
· Demonstrating you can work autonomously. (read: you'll be easy to manage)
· Cultivating professional relationships that can vouch for your value to an employer.
· Establishing you don't have a sense of entitlement—the Achilles heel of most job seekers.
2. You don't own your job; your employer does.
The phrase "my job" is an oxymoron. Layoffs illustrate that the job belongs to the employer, yet many job seekers chase the illusion of job security.
My take is an employee is renting their job until they no longer want the job or their employer requires their services. Job seekers would shorten their job search by adopting a renter's mindset. In other words, don't look for what doesn't exist—a permanent employment situation.
Renting is primarily about having a roof over your head; therefore, we tend to accept, within reason, "less than ideal" (e.g., neighbourhood, kitchen layout, bathroom size). The motivation to buy a home is to build equity, which, as you know, is more challenging, expensive, and requires a long-term commitment. When job searching, think of yourself looking for a rental situation; looking for a job that meets your immediate income needs is a quicker route to landing a job than looking for your "ideal work situation."
3. What you show is what an employer will know.
Employers hire results, not opinions.
Most resumes and LinkedIn profiles are merely lists of opinions; hence, they fail to attract opportunities. Vague claims like "I'm a team player" lack substance. You must quantify: "I was part of a 12-member sales team with a $6.5 million quota." Numbers, the language of business, illustrate your impact and make you a more attractive candidate.
4. You don't define your worth; employers do.
A sense of entitlement fuels the obsession with being paid what you're worth.
Basic economics: A product or service's worth is largely determined by how well it solves a customer's problem, meets their needs, and compares with competing products.
As I mentioned, when job searching, you're competing against candidates who are younger and hungrier than you. Thus, they're willing to work for a lower wage to get their foot in the door, gain experience, and prove themselves. The reason many job seekers experience a lengthy job search is because they possess an inflated sense of their value to employers and overlook their competition.
5. Employers are moving away from remote jobs.
Their company, their rules.
It's no secret that many companies, such as Starbucks, Amazon, Meta, Walmart, and Trump mandating federal workers return to the office full-time, are ending the remote work setup during COVID, which gave white-collar workers a taste of the privilege of working from home.
From what I'm observing and hearing, abuse of working from home is prevalent; hence, I agree with employers having their employees RTO and employees having to manage their workdays as they did pre-COVID.
For a faster job search, be open to working onsite. If WFH is a non-negotiable 'must-have,' be prepared for a lengthy job search as the number of WFH opportunities is rapidly shrinking.
6. Your LinkedIn profile and activity on LinkedIn matter more than your resume.
What has more visibility, your resume, which is only seen by those you give it to, or your LinkedIn profile, which anyone can view 24/7/365?
Given how influential your LinkedIn profile can be to your job search and career, I find it surprising that I still see profiles that scream, "I'm not serious about my job search or career!"
With all the information and guides available it's inexcusable not to create a fully optimized LinkedIn profile that'll attract opportunities.
7. Your likability supersedes your skills and experience.
Hiring managers don't hire candidates they don't like; hence, likability is a job seeker's biggest asset. While your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile job will get you interviews, the success of your interview will be primarily determined by how likable you are; therefore, being likable is a trait (read: skill) worth fostering.cover letter that may (but is not guaranteed) encourage the hiring manager to contact you, then how badly you want the job becomes questionable.
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Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com
Political bull fighting 101 -
‘opah che’
those are not my horns You are Grabbing
- political bull fighting 101 -
By Joe Ingino
B.A. Psychology
Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers
ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000
Published Columns in Canada and The United States
Rule number one at the school of bull fighters. Make sure that if you are going to grab the bull by the horns.... that you are facing the right end of the bull.
In Canada we are being played.... with all the bull in Canadian politics... The new American bull fighter is ‘Oleing’ us right and left.
Canada wake up... News reports keep coming regarding Trumps threat on imposing tariffs on Canadian goods. Some claim that Canada should take a tough stand against the U.S. threat on the implementation of tariffs. Making statements like ‘cut their power source’ from Canada. Other claim that we should do nothing. Even some are claiming that we should play it safe and go dollar for dollar on any tariff imposed. In the eleventh hour..... The American matador (bull fighter) did what he does best when the beast charges.... Ole... and there we go for another day of feet stomping getting us no place. We, the wild raging savage that we are... have no direction. No real plan and act out of raw survival instincts. We see red by the mere show of a red threat to our economies. We threaten retaliation only to hope to be grabbed by the horns and develop some sort of strong hold and push back strategy. In reality the great America bull fighter is playing us a fool by showing us the red cape meanwhile walking us around the arena by not our horns but our cojones. Leading us from one insecurity right to another. Another 30 days. Canada with a part time Prime MInister. With one of the most dissatrous leaders in history....How are we as Canadians ever to stand a change against the American matador? The media reported that we are such bad ass...that we banned American liquor from our store.... WOW... WE BAD ASS. Then to ad insult to injury.... The media reports that we have no real plan on how to collect the 25% tariff at the border. WOW. People talk of Canadian pride. Of Canadian identity. Yet, we have no political identity, our culture has been compromised by those we are compassionate and importing by the millions. Our customs and traditions are constantly under scrutiny in order to accept so that we are not seen as racists. We are easy picking for the matador. We are a controlled beast and we do not even know it. When we become the 51st we may have to change our ‘Oh Canada’ in our national anthem to ‘Ole Canada’...Lets wake up and see what is really happening before it is to late for Canada. Best attack is a solid defense. Think about it. Stop the bull fight mentality and to do nothing is doing something. Those are not our horns they are grabbing. Let the Matador fizz out. Let’s take control of our own country.
Impending Tariffs and Trade War Clouds Looming Between the United States and Canada
Impending Tariffs and Trade War Clouds Looming Between the
United States and Canada
by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC,
FEC, CET, P. Eng.
Former Member of Parliament
Pickering-Scarborough East
U.S. President Donald Trump seemed to have made good on his threats to impose tariffs on last Saturday, when he signed an executive order that would impose levies of 25 percent on all imports from Canada and Mexico, except for Canadian energy, which would face a tariff of 10 percent.
The order included a provision to trigger even higher tariffs if the targets of the order respond with tariffs of their own.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau quickly responded by announcing a package of retaliatory tariffs. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also vowed to retaliate.
Following last-minute negotiations, however, both Canada and Mexico were able to secure a 30-day delay on the imposition of the American tariffs.
Clearly, the situation is fluid. While a temporary pause is better than nothing, the threat remains.
If the full extent of Trump’s tariffs are eventually implemented, there is a real risk that these actions could spark a trade war the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression.
Consider the facts for Canada: 77% of our exports are to the United States, and only 17% of the United States’ exports are to Canada. Is that a position of equal strength?
Aside from the massive difference in economic strength, at this crucial moment Canada is in a very weak position politically. Coping with the stress of these tariffs with a prorogued parliament, a Prime Minister who has resigned, and a Liberal leadership contest in place to replace him by March 9 all attest to a lack of the strong leadership that is now needed.
To add to the political instability, the biggest Province, Ontario, is involved in an early election process. An election called by Premier Doug Ford who was looking to hang onto power for four more years. This election is not about the interest of Ontarians and Canadians, but an entirely self-interested move.
It is sad to see all of Canada’s political leaders running in circles, unprepared for the dark future ahead, uttering empty threats, totally oblivious to the grave consequences Canada is about to face due to their childish posturing and total lack of leadership.
For Canada, the impact will be severe: a 25 percent tariff on all goods and a 10 percent tariff on energy. Together, these cover roughly 80 percent of the $600 billion in exports we send to the U.S. each year.
While these tariffs are not a direct tax on Canadians, the effects will be felt through reduced demand for our goods. Although we will get a clearer picture in the coming days, some quick calculations outlined by knowledgeable experts reveal just how significant the economic hit could be.
If U.S. demand drops in proportion to the tariff it will translate to a $160 billion blow to Canada’s economy—$100 billion in direct losses and another $60 billion in upstream effects.
The pain varies a lot across sectors.
Vehicle manufacturing, mostly in Ontario, could see demand fall by more than 15 percent, with some subsectors approaching a staggering 25 percent decline. These estimates likely underestimate significantly, the broader disruption to supply chains that crisscross the border. Nevertheless, Ford is campaigning on an attitude of reckless retaliation, threatening to withdraw US liquor from the LCBO government owned stores and tearing up a contract worth 100 million dollars with Elon Musk’s company, Starlink. He is clearly not thinking either of the broader consequences, or the cost that has already been incurred. (Liquor we have already bought, the cost of breaking a contract….) Obviously, the taxpayers will be stuck with the tab. So, Ford is fiddling while Ontario burns, eh?
Other manufacturing industries, mostly in Quebec, would face an average demand drop of about 10 percent, while the resource and agriculture sectors would see declines of around 8 percent. Even industries not directly targeted by tariffs, like services, would take a hit. While the impact on services may seem modest, this sector makes up the bulk of Canada’s economy, a unique position to be in among G7 countries.
If these output losses translate proportionally to employment, Canada could see roughly 600,000 fewer jobs, potentially pushing the unemployment rate up to nearly 10 percent. However, this is a rough estimate and losses would take some time to materialize.
In response to US tariffs, Canada is threatening to hit back with its own tariffs starting at 25 percent on $30 billion in U.S. goods and expanding to $155 billion in just three weeks.
That covers about one-third of what we import from the U.S. While some specifics are still unclear, this appears to be the most extensive retaliation the government could impose without targeting imports essential to our own industries.
The former account for about one-third of total Canadian imports from the U.S. Unfortunately, retaliation will only hurt the U.S. slightly, while it will hurt the Canadian economy substantially. Moreover, the pain for Canada will come more quickly than if there is no retaliation, as the initial drop in our GDP will be more than twice as large.
Unlike Trump’s tariffs, which will hit all Canadian products, Canada’s planned retaliation will hit consumer goods, but not the intermediate inputs imported by Canadian producers.
Make no mistake. This is still a tax increase on Canadians, one that will further slow our economy.
By stopping of a strict dollar-for-dollar escalation for the moment short, policymakers have at least avoided inflicting even greater damage on Canadian businesses and consumers.
Let’s now hope that economic pain on both sides of the border forces a rethink by the U.S. administration before the damage becomes permanent.
As we are at the early stages of this crisis, some interesting developments are likely to follow in the near future.
The question is, how can win-win solutions be achieved to the problems Canada faces at present?
Saddled at the helm with a thoughtless, mindless, desperately weak political class composed primarily of elected former political staffers with no business experience, dare we hope for a strong, astute, economically knowledgeable outsider to emerge as leader?
For now, we have 30 days to act.
Staying Safe in a Politically Divided World: 10 Tips for Personal Security
Sunday, February 2, 2025
It’s Time for Canada to Grow Up and Stand Strong
It’s Time for Canada
to Grow Up and Stand Strong
By Dale Jodoin
Canada is at a crossroads. The time has come for our nation to take a hard look at itself and make tough decisions for the future. The days of playing political games and catering to every interest group must come to an end. Our country needs unity, strength, and purpose, not division and pandering.
A Call to Action
The world is changing rapidly, and Canada cannot afford to be left behind. A close ally, the United States, has entered what some describe as an economic war—a competition for resources, markets, and dominance. While the United States is not our enemy, our dependence on their economy has made us vulnerable. This situation is not the fault of Americans; it is the fault of Canadian politicians who have failed to prioritize our nation’s interests.
For too long, Canada has been led by governments that don’t seem to believe in the strength and potential of our own people. Political parties like the Liberals and the NDP have focused on divisive policies rather than building a united, resilient country. It’s time to elect leaders who represent all Canadians and who are ready to put the needs of the country first.
Putting Canada First
To stand strong as a nation, Canada must focus on being self-reliant. This means making tough sacrifices and embracing policies that will benefit the entire country, not just specific groups. While individual rights and freedoms are important, we need to think as a collective nation. Either we all stand for Canada, or we all fall together. The challenges we face today require unity, not division.
It’s not enough to simply say we are strong—we need to show it. Canada must demonstrate to the world that we are not a nation to be underestimated. We are not just a friendly neighbor to the United States. We are a proud, independent country with the strength to stand tall on our own.
Supporting Our Farmers
Canada’s greatest resource is not just in its land or minerals—it’s in our farmers. Farmers are the true backbone of this country, ensuring that we are fed and taken care of in every way. It’s time to prioritize them, giving them the support they need to thrive.
Policies must focus on ensuring that farmers can afford to feed us and provide for their families. If we want to secure our food supply and strengthen the country, we need to invest in our farmers. As part of this effort, Canada should seek free trade agreements with any country willing to trade food and agricultural products fairly. By supporting our farmers and building stronger international partnerships, we can guarantee food security for generations to come.
Building a Stronger Economy
One of the first steps in this process should be building new oil refineries. Canada has vast natural resources, but we are not using them to their full potential. Countries in Asia, Europe, and parts of the world are eager for oil and gas, and we should be stepping up to meet that demand. By refining and exporting our own resources, we can create jobs, boost our economy, and reduce our reliance on foreign countries.
At the same time, we need to become more selective about who we allow to immigrate to Canada. Immigrants should bring skills, ideas, and values that will help make the country stronger. While Canada should remain open and welcoming, we must prioritize what’s best for the nation as a whole.
A Stronger Defense
Another critical priority is building our military. A strong defense sends a clear message to the world: Canada is not weak, and we will not back down from challenges. Strengthening our military isn’t about seeking conflict; it’s about being prepared to defend our sovereignty and support our allies. Those who oppose a stronger defense are not thinking about the long-term survival of this nation.
We must also maintain a close and respectful relationship with the United States. Despite economic competition, the United States is still our closest ally. If the U.S. faces a threat, Canada must be ready to stand by them. Our two countries share more than a border—we share history, culture, and values.
Protecting Our Water and Resources
Canada’s water is one of our most precious resources, and we must treat it as such. The world will soon come to realize the value of clean, abundant water, and Canada must be prepared to protect what is ours. As we secure our water and other natural resources, we must also work to create a society where respect and civility thrive.
Restoring Respect and Unity
To rebuild Canada’s strength, we need to return to values that made this country great. Elders must be respected, and young people must learn to give respect in return. Charity, mercy, and hard work should be cornerstones of our society. Canadians must remember what it means to be proud of their country and work together for a common goal.
This means rejecting politicians who divide us or fail to act in the best interests of all Canadians. Those who don’t prioritize unity and strength should not be allowed to run for office. We need leaders who believe in Canada’s potential and are willing to make the tough decisions needed to achieve it.
A New Era for Canada
Canada is a country of immense potential, but only if we stop playing small. It’s time to step onto the world stage with confidence, not as a nation that bends to everyone’s demands, but as one that stands tall and commands respect. If we are not tall enough, we will climb the tallest mountain and stand tall there.
We must put aside petty politics and focus on what truly matters: building a strong, united, and prosperous Canada. This is not just for our generation but for generations to come. Our actions today will determine the future of this country, and we must act with courage and determination.
The Path Forward - To achieve this vision, we need to take bold steps:
Support Our Farmers: Invest in farming and agriculture, ensuring food security for all Canadians. Negotiate fair trade agreements to strengthen our agricultural sector.
Invest in Infrastructure: Build new refineries and other projects that create jobs and boost the economy. Strengthen National Defense: Expand and modernize the military to protect Canada’s sovereignty and support our allies.
Protect Resources: Safeguard Canada’s water, minerals, and natural resources for future generations.
Reform Immigration: Welcome immigrants who will contribute positively to Canada’s growth and success.
Restore Values: Promote respect, civility, and unity in our society.
Elect Strong Leaders: Support politicians who put Canada’s interests first and reject those who don’t.
Canada is at a turning point. Will we rise to the challenge and become the strong, united country we are capable of being? Or will we continue to play small, divided, and vulnerable? The choice is ours to make. Now is the time to grow up and take control of our future. Let’s stand together and show the world what Canada is truly capable of.
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