The US is not just abandoning and betraying Canada, it is abandoning and betraying the rest of NATO too. Just have a look at Poland. Spending a % of GDP well above the NATO norm, hosting US troops and paying for the privilege of hosting, and yet, the US is indicating that if it comes to a conflict with Russia, the Poles may be left to their own devices.
The US is retreating from alliances and ripping up treaties and other agreements along the way (the US administration considers treaties the same as a contract with the Trump company, the US will only abide by terms if it is convenient at that moment for them). Unfortunately the current government in the US is much more comfortable with countries like Israel, India and Russia.
Canada, and the rest of NATO, need to do a serious “what if” analysis about what the US will look like in 4 years. I believe we will see a country that will look like this:
- no free press
- flawed and unfair elections
- rules of law on par with countries like Russia
- massive economic inequalities
- entirely transactional is it’s affairs
If that is a realistic prospect, what to do? A few things come to mind:
- Increased defence spending
- Other alliances beyond NATO
- Diversifying procurement of defence
- Winding down collaborations with the US (like NORAD)
- diversify trade, accept that trade with US will be strained
Boo the anthem as much as you like, but then get busy and prepare for a world where the US is a fascist dictatorship with ethics and morals similar to Russia today.
Probably not the right place to say this based on your opinion of the booing but I feel it would be more impactful to the Americans if we turned our backs to the ice when the US anthem is being sung. Just a sea of backs and silence from the stands would also be a powerful message…that we reject all you stand for right now
Thanks, Evan; good piece. I'm not sure the only options are USA, China, India. What about CANZUK - a move even the Canadian right will tend to appreciate - or some sort of affiliation with the EU? On CANZUK, I feel we should go all in: deep economic integration across the affected nations, including free movement. Something really bold to nudge us away from our economic reliance on the USA.
Fundamental flaw in your narrative. You’re implying USA white hat and China/India black hats. Educate yourself on what the US has been doing for the past 100+ years around the world. All the wars, slavery, racism, crimes against humanity, supporting terrorists, selling drugs into the USA to fund destabilization, etc and so on. We have chosen to believe the Hollywood propaganda view of the USA so we could complacently live well off. Shouldnt India be concerned about cozying up to a country that had state sponsored ethnic cleansing schools into the 1980s? Or the corruption and lack of rule of law at the provincial level?
True. I can see, over the next years, Canada continuing to strategically diversify and even leaning in towards China. There are big variables at play that will influence “America First”. Millions of Americans hate Trump - they are in a constitutional crisis. The world view of America is spiralling downwards, as Trump steps up his land grabbing statements and economic threats (look at how he is treating not only Canada, but Panama, Greenland, Mexico, and Ukraine). Inflation will hit - something Americans will protest and the effects of dismantling their government , could be devastating. All these dynamics will impact Trump but shouldn’t change Canada’s plans to diversify and strategically disentangle ourselves .
Your assumption about Europe being in terminal decline is off. Sure, growth is anemic, as a whole but some parts are growing rapidly. Europe opens the way to Africa, which was notably absent in your column. Parts of that are growing quickly. So instead of going after the big prize, where the high ground and independence is lost, there are lots of countries that we could do great business with. But it's going to be new and difficult.
Well that was a word salad, signifying nothing. Not sure what your point was. Booing or not booing is about how Canadians view the comments, the statements, the antipathy, the fact that Canada has spent decades working “with” USAmerica (often to our detriment [Avro Arrow, as a real solid example)) only to be denigrated by a small time hood voted in by folks that thought the price of eggs was the most important issue. Canadians know that these teams are mostly Canadian players. The anthem is an opinion option for Canadians to respond to the petty criticism from south of the border. The fact you find Canadians risible is a bit of a concern for me.
We shouldn't feel guilty for expediency though; 'twas ever thus.
Canadians' current serendipitous, silver lining circumstances--- the guy that will probably be our next PM who has rare top-drawer experience with economics plans to focus primarily on OUR economy (instead of the exhaustingly pissy "socials") at a time when so many of us are starting to tap into the usually latent but "still waters running deep" reality of our patriotism, is also a potential gold mine economically because our particular brand of "exceptionalism," being demonstrably NICER and more decent and reasonable (and less religious, a big plus), coupled with all our natural resources has more appeal all the time. Especially compared to the unpredictability of genuine craziness.
And fortunately, the guy put forward by Trump to "execute" his "agenda" not only embodies the scariness of craziness (and serious "weirdness," maybe even more off-putting), he also bears a close resemblance to what comes to mind when you think "NAZI," four year old on his shoulders notwithstanding.
Also, what happened over the last few days between Europeans and Trump's guys was a reminder of the base of the "international rules-based world order," AND where we all came from "over here," and made the Americans look SO bad, so Putin-adjacent that it might have finally moved the needle on ACTUALLY helping Ukraine beat back the common monster that threatens us all.
And when you say that the EU is in "terminal decline," you're also speaking to one of our common delusions about permanent "growth" still being the old, gold standard, even in a time of climate change.
You’re painfully right. Find me the politician in Ontario who’s campaigning on something that doesn’t involve manufacturing and selling to the American market. They won’t say it, but no one has even thought about an alternative. It’s bizarre in a way, but at the same time totally understandable. We can’t do this alone.
I wonder about the geography question though, would the USA ever allow the type of relationship with China or India, and thus influence over our affairs, to happen? Right now we act as a big place over which to shoot down missiles and not worry about cleaning up the radioactive waste, but if we are an ally of China what do they do? What if a Chinese naval base in the North is on the table?
The US is not just abandoning and betraying Canada, it is abandoning and betraying the rest of NATO too. Just have a look at Poland. Spending a % of GDP well above the NATO norm, hosting US troops and paying for the privilege of hosting, and yet, the US is indicating that if it comes to a conflict with Russia, the Poles may be left to their own devices.
The US is retreating from alliances and ripping up treaties and other agreements along the way (the US administration considers treaties the same as a contract with the Trump company, the US will only abide by terms if it is convenient at that moment for them). Unfortunately the current government in the US is much more comfortable with countries like Israel, India and Russia.
Canada, and the rest of NATO, need to do a serious “what if” analysis about what the US will look like in 4 years. I believe we will see a country that will look like this:
- no free press
- flawed and unfair elections
- rules of law on par with countries like Russia
- massive economic inequalities
- entirely transactional is it’s affairs
If that is a realistic prospect, what to do? A few things come to mind:
- Increased defence spending
- Other alliances beyond NATO
- Diversifying procurement of defence
- Winding down collaborations with the US (like NORAD)
- diversify trade, accept that trade with US will be strained
Boo the anthem as much as you like, but then get busy and prepare for a world where the US is a fascist dictatorship with ethics and morals similar to Russia today.
Probably not the right place to say this based on your opinion of the booing but I feel it would be more impactful to the Americans if we turned our backs to the ice when the US anthem is being sung. Just a sea of backs and silence from the stands would also be a powerful message…that we reject all you stand for right now
Thanks, Evan; good piece. I'm not sure the only options are USA, China, India. What about CANZUK - a move even the Canadian right will tend to appreciate - or some sort of affiliation with the EU? On CANZUK, I feel we should go all in: deep economic integration across the affected nations, including free movement. Something really bold to nudge us away from our economic reliance on the USA.
Fundamental flaw in your narrative. You’re implying USA white hat and China/India black hats. Educate yourself on what the US has been doing for the past 100+ years around the world. All the wars, slavery, racism, crimes against humanity, supporting terrorists, selling drugs into the USA to fund destabilization, etc and so on. We have chosen to believe the Hollywood propaganda view of the USA so we could complacently live well off. Shouldnt India be concerned about cozying up to a country that had state sponsored ethnic cleansing schools into the 1980s? Or the corruption and lack of rule of law at the provincial level?
True. I can see, over the next years, Canada continuing to strategically diversify and even leaning in towards China. There are big variables at play that will influence “America First”. Millions of Americans hate Trump - they are in a constitutional crisis. The world view of America is spiralling downwards, as Trump steps up his land grabbing statements and economic threats (look at how he is treating not only Canada, but Panama, Greenland, Mexico, and Ukraine). Inflation will hit - something Americans will protest and the effects of dismantling their government , could be devastating. All these dynamics will impact Trump but shouldn’t change Canada’s plans to diversify and strategically disentangle ourselves .
With half the Americans hating him, and even some being in proximity, maybe THEY should separate and come with Canada?
With the natural north/south alliance, we're halfway there...
Your assumption about Europe being in terminal decline is off. Sure, growth is anemic, as a whole but some parts are growing rapidly. Europe opens the way to Africa, which was notably absent in your column. Parts of that are growing quickly. So instead of going after the big prize, where the high ground and independence is lost, there are lots of countries that we could do great business with. But it's going to be new and difficult.
Well that was a word salad, signifying nothing. Not sure what your point was. Booing or not booing is about how Canadians view the comments, the statements, the antipathy, the fact that Canada has spent decades working “with” USAmerica (often to our detriment [Avro Arrow, as a real solid example)) only to be denigrated by a small time hood voted in by folks that thought the price of eggs was the most important issue. Canadians know that these teams are mostly Canadian players. The anthem is an opinion option for Canadians to respond to the petty criticism from south of the border. The fact you find Canadians risible is a bit of a concern for me.
Yup -- every Oiler fan wants to punch Matthew Tkachuk in the face.
I am fine with the booing. They aren’t really booing at anything but the USA.
We shouldn't feel guilty for expediency though; 'twas ever thus.
Canadians' current serendipitous, silver lining circumstances--- the guy that will probably be our next PM who has rare top-drawer experience with economics plans to focus primarily on OUR economy (instead of the exhaustingly pissy "socials") at a time when so many of us are starting to tap into the usually latent but "still waters running deep" reality of our patriotism, is also a potential gold mine economically because our particular brand of "exceptionalism," being demonstrably NICER and more decent and reasonable (and less religious, a big plus), coupled with all our natural resources has more appeal all the time. Especially compared to the unpredictability of genuine craziness.
And fortunately, the guy put forward by Trump to "execute" his "agenda" not only embodies the scariness of craziness (and serious "weirdness," maybe even more off-putting), he also bears a close resemblance to what comes to mind when you think "NAZI," four year old on his shoulders notwithstanding.
Also, what happened over the last few days between Europeans and Trump's guys was a reminder of the base of the "international rules-based world order," AND where we all came from "over here," and made the Americans look SO bad, so Putin-adjacent that it might have finally moved the needle on ACTUALLY helping Ukraine beat back the common monster that threatens us all.
And when you say that the EU is in "terminal decline," you're also speaking to one of our common delusions about permanent "growth" still being the old, gold standard, even in a time of climate change.
Thanks for saying this. Needed to be said.
You’re painfully right. Find me the politician in Ontario who’s campaigning on something that doesn’t involve manufacturing and selling to the American market. They won’t say it, but no one has even thought about an alternative. It’s bizarre in a way, but at the same time totally understandable. We can’t do this alone.
I wonder about the geography question though, would the USA ever allow the type of relationship with China or India, and thus influence over our affairs, to happen? Right now we act as a big place over which to shoot down missiles and not worry about cleaning up the radioactive waste, but if we are an ally of China what do they do? What if a Chinese naval base in the North is on the table?