Canadians are gobsmacked by the unexpected and undeserved trashing of the multilateral trade agreement between America, Mexico, and Canada that was made in 2018. We are reeling, and suddenly we don’t trust American politicians any more. At all. Any of them.
We aren’t making distinctions about political parties or between red and blue states. We are mostly just in shock and survival mode right now. It’s like when your car is happily driving along at the speed limit and it suddenly gets t-boned by one of those ridiculously big SUV’s speeding out of a side road. What the heck just happened? Is everyone OK? What do we do? Where is our insurance?
While everyday Canadians gather their wits, our leaders are doing a stellar job of speaking for us, and they are not holding back. Our Prime Minister is saying what most of us think, and doing it well. It probably helps that he had already resigned from his job before all this started, so he doesn’t have to hold back at all. He’s already looking forward to the next phase of his life.
We also have provincial leaders who are outspoken, intelligent, and courageous. They are not intimidated by threats from south of the border, and they have the strength of Canadian resources to back them up. Indeed, some of those leaders have already made it clear that Canadian resources will be, or could be, denied to the United States. They also assure us that this response is not about American citizens; it is about the president and his minions.
Canadians love America. We love Americans. We are America’s close neighbour and friend. We have friends and family there and we love visiting. But, for as long as this impasse continues, we will be staying away. We will also not be buying American goods as often as we once did.
Today, when I ordered my groceries, I clicked the “Processed in Canada” button for the whole order. If I could have clicked “Made in Canada” I would have, but Canada relies on other countries for lots of produce and many items are imported and processed here. For example, oranges do not grow here, so we get our oranges and juice from elsewhere. When I can choose Made In Canada, I do. When I can’t, I choose Processed In Canada. Simple.
Non-Canadians reading this might imagine that all Canadians love and respect all their politicians, but nothing could be further from the truth. Until the president of the United States chose to attack us with tariffs, we were quite irritated by a lot of our representatives and mad enough at our Prime Minister for him to resign.
Now, all of a sudden, we are all agreed. We stand together in opposition to what the US president is proposing, or amending, or halting, or re-proposing, or exempting, or delaying in relation to tariffs. Frankly, the waffling is just making us more irritated, and stronger.
We have other, more reliable, friends and when you are looking for help after a car crash, trustworthy old friends are the best.
Snowbird of Paradise 
okay, so, please don’t read a couple of my most recent posts, I wasn’t as kind as you…maybe I should have held back, it seems I lost one follower, but it seems I gained a few. the tarrifs, don;t care, the 51st state stuff, I’m terrified.
As the recent Jeff Canadian revamp video says, Canada is not the 51st anything!
I am more angry than afraid. I also have family and friends in the US so I think of them first before I vent.
Even though I am not a monarchist, today I am grateful that when I became a Canadian I pledged allegiance to the crown, not the state. If the US wants to take over Canada it will have to go through the British royalty and commonwealth, and that would be a much bigger task than the president can even comprehend. In fact, I doubt he has even realized what he has proposed.
I hope in the US more moderate minds prevail. unfortunately Americans, a lot of them don’t understand how offensive the 51st State is. People I know.
There was a smug assumption that we would want to become a part of the US, and it may take a while for some folks to realize that it is an insult, not a compliment.
I agree with you! I appreciate other world leaders calling him out. I don’t have anything; pretty stumped over here in Kansas.
Thank you for this, Lorna. Feeling stumped seems to be the majority reaction right now. It’s good to know that it is felt in Kansas, too.
As a citizen of the United States, I applaud Canada and its people. Our Felon president has no redeeming qualities. Deserves no respect. Is a shameful world representative of our country.
I can remember thoroughly disliking Richard Nixon back in the 1970’s and earlier. We were visiting my parents when Nixon left Washington and I literally stood and cheered. The fact that my father supported Nixon made the president’s leaving even more enjoyable. I was raised in a Republican household, a Republican town. I recall being taught to chant “I like Ike” when Eisenhower was President. As soon as I could vote, I proudly voted Democratic. Politics is a nasty business though and has negative energy in both parties. With this AI now, I no longer am sure if what I read is true or not.
I imagine that I never expected to be wary of my own country’s leaders.
Mary Beth
Mary Beth, if you copied what you just wrote here and emailed it to all your politicians, you would have the satisfaction of knowing that you had done something important. They need to know what the people are thinking.
Like you, I am cautious about information that comes from some news sites, but I know I can still trust The Guardian, the BBC, and CBC. I have also recently started following a few podcasts on YouTube and I can recommend The Meidas Touch and Adam Mockler.
Thank you Anne. I appreciate this email from you as I admire your writing and also all the activities you involve yourself in.
I’ve been considering what I would like to convey to my Congressperson and my Senator. Although I refused to watch the Felon’s speech this past week, I did see photos of multiple Democrats silently sitting holding tiny pre-printed signs objecting to everything the Felon said. I am still appalled at that show of weakness (my opinion). Congressman Al Green from Louisiana (?) had the courage to stand up, speak up, and then be basically thrown out by the Felon…and I wish all the Democrats had been so strong and motivated. My Congresswoman read a newspaper during the speech, got up and walked out at one point, and then returned. The movement may have bothered the Felon but no ‘punishment’ ensued. Maybe because she was on the January 6 Committee? And Sam Liccardo, newly elected Congressman from San Jose, is simply not a person I want to connect with. He was Mayor of San Jose. Makes me think of Mafia members.
Looks like Felon and Rat are after Social Security next. That might raise some ire and attract a bunch of Protestors! This is not the world in which I want to live. I never even imagined anything like this would/could happen. Naive me!
Be well, my Friend. Mary Beth
None of us ever imagined this. What a nightmare! Write to all of them, Mary Beth, whether you like them or not. They all need to hear what you have to say.
Yes, Anne, I believe you are right. In my ‘sheltered’ life (heh heh), I’ve never been involved in a protest. Somehow I missed a lot of those sorts of activities mostly due to having small children back then. I’ve definitely had opinions though. And here I am at 81 and having a chance to express those opinions to people who may not want to hear them, but who need to hear and listen! It is time. Thank you for giving me a nudge! Mary Beth