[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[viper37]

No idea how this is going to affect our clients and therefore my job.

Company wasn't going well before.  Not helping.

Boss has his head in the sand, doesn't seem to realize there are likely impacts to come on his business as clients have less money to spend and governments too (via subsidies) for the two products he aim to market in the near future and he has invested the most in the past 2 years.

[Barrister]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fly-the-flag-former-prime-ministers-1.7456407

5 former prime ministers say fly the flag on Saturday to stand up to Trump
This weekend marks 60 years since red maple leaf was first raised on Parliament Hill

John Paul Tasker · CBC News · Posted: Feb 11, 2025 1:56 PM MST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

All of the country's living former prime ministers are asking Canadians to fly the red maple leaf this weekend in a huge display of national pride as the country stares down U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to its economy and sovereignty.

Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper have jointly written an open letter, telling Canadians to "show the flag as never before" as the country contends with "threats and insults from Donald Trump."

So look - I feel like I can say this as someone who has his own 16' flagpole in his own front yard and proudly flies the Canadian flag almost all the time.  I sometimes swap out a few other flags on special occasions (including the Stars and Stripes on July 4, or a skull-and-crossbones around Halloween) but 95% of the time it's a Canadian flag.

But really - how are Canadian flags going to "stand up to Trump"?  It's not like Trump himself is going to come strolling up my street and see my flag.

I'm a little more open to "buy Canadian" efforts and am trying to do so, but it's hard because of how integrated our economies are.


(Actually this reminds me - I need to put up the Ukrainian flag on Feb 22 to mark the three year anniversary of the invasion)


(and yes - I'll probably skip the Stars and Stripes this July 4)


(and I keep meaning to get a Red Ensign flag to mix in once in a while.)


(yes I like flags)

[viper37]

Conservatives are out of ideas.  Apparently, they'll all be dressed in red this week-end.

[Sheilbh]

Because they are very nice people.

Apparently, the US has a trade surplus with them.


Not that there is a trade deficit with Canada either.  It's only true if we exclude services.

I think that's right - similar with the UK so far not getting called out. We basically have either a very small goods trade deficit or surplus with the US (the UK and US calculate it slightly differently - but either way it's basically balanced). I think it's different if you add in services but I could be wrong.

Also Australia signed that minerals deal with the US under Biden so I think they're in that bloc when it comes to raw materials.

FWIW I have made an effort to stock up on Canadian flour and maple syrup last week - will continue to buy Canadian when I see it.

I sort of think there's something to the fly the flag - if only in a way to make the point that Canada's real. But then I tend to be sympathetic to expressions of national identity against imperialists.

[Barrister]

I sort of think there's something to the fly the flag - if only in a way to make the point that Canada's real. But then I tend to be sympathetic to expressions of national identity against imperialists.

Canada is not the UK though.

I see far more Canadian flags in Canada than I did Union flags in the UK.  (Note - Quebec is likely different)

[Grey Fox]

A flown Canadian flag here means it's a) Fuck Trudeau numbnut or b) old stock Anglo.

I'm going to fly my Vietnam flag on July 4.

[Jacob]

I'm looking to get some sort of flag pole to mount on my house - to fly the Canadian and BC flags. And potentially the Danish one if we win any high profile sporting events

It's not my highest priority or anything - I have to figure out the right source for the hardware and flags.

[crazy canuck]

Mrs. CC is a strong believer in flying the Canadian flag on July 1.  The rest of the year I take our flag pole down.

[Barrister]

It's not my highest priority or anything - I have to figure out the right source for the hardware and flags.

My flagpole came from Lee Valley - an American company.

It also had me playing with cement for the only time in my life.  But I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Flags and assorted hardware I typically get off of Amazon.  Canadian flags specifically (since they do wear out) I get at Canadian Tire.

Do with that what you will.

[Grey Fox]

It's not my highest priority or anything - I have to figure out the right source for the hardware and flags.

My flagpole came from Lee Valley - an American company.

You take that slander back! Lee Valley is true and through Canadian company from Ottawa. Still owned by its founding family.

[Barrister]

It's not my highest priority or anything - I have to figure out the right source for the hardware and flags.

My flagpole came from Lee Valley - an American company.

You take that slander back! Lee Valley is true and through Canadian company from Ottawa. Still owned by its founding family.

Cheerfully retracted!

[Josephus]

I think it is only 10% on aluminum. But yeah, prices for all things made of metal in the US just went up.

La Presse reports 25% on both for all countries, it's just unclear if it applies on top of the 10% that had already hit China.

He has said it will be on top of other tariffs. If he goes ahead with his planned Canadian tariffs, this could be 25 per cent on top of another 10 or 25 per cent.

[viper37]

@Jos:
yeah, this is new.  Fuck that clown.
Aluminum can be sent to Europe as easily as the US.  Let's do it.



In other news (text in French):
New poll: Libs at 37% with Carney, Cons at 37%

Si des élections avaient lieu maintenant, le sondage donne aux libéraux 31 % d'appuis, alors que les conservateurs sont toujours en tête avec 40 %, et les néo-démocrates loin derrière avec 14 %.  
Le sondeur suggère par contre que le soutien à un PLC dirigé par Chrystia Freeland chuterait de trois points, à 28 %, contre 39 % pour les conservateurs.

Elections today:
31% Libs, 40% Cons, NDP at 14%.

If Carney is Liberal leader:
37% Libs, 37% Cons

If Freeland is Liberal leader:
28% Libs, 39% Cons.

[The Minsky Moment]

I think it is only 10% on aluminum. But yeah, prices for all things made of metal in the US just went up.

Yet again, another self-directed targeted blow to the viability of American manufacturing.

[HVC]

@Jos:
yeah, this is new.  Fuck that clown.
Aluminum can be sent to Europe as easily as the US.  Let's do it.



In other news (text in French):
New poll: Libs at 37% with Carney, Cons at 37%

Si des élections avaient lieu maintenant, le sondage donne aux libéraux 31 % d'appuis, alors que les conservateurs sont toujours en tête avec 40 %, et les néo-démocrates loin derrière avec 14 %. 
Le sondeur suggère par contre que le soutien à un PLC dirigé par Chrystia Freeland chuterait de trois points, à 28 %, contre 39 % pour les conservateurs.

Elections today:
31% Libs, 40% Cons, NDP at 14%.

If Carney is Liberal leader:
37% Libs, 37% Cons

If Freeland is Liberal leader:
28% Libs, 39% Cons.

If it keeps Mr. P out of power so be it.