[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[crazy canuck]

An exceptional opinion piece by Coyne describing the seismic changes that are happening in Canada in response to the rupture of our relationship with the Americans.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/519974dc5e28f762a87fb14c1570523f4fb873adfcfcb945043907ccc3c41650/T7A6YW5DZJAIZPIDNJKYOJVX3U/

This is a gifted link, and I recommend reading the whole thing, but here are paragraphs summarizing the everything everywhere all at once changes that are occurring.

At one go, we are attempting to redirect some of our trade to other nations besides the U.S., including by a series of sweeping free trade agreements, while raising our defence spending to levels, whether in proportion to our GDP or to total government spending, not seen since the early 1960s.

At the same time, we are embarked upon a massive infrastructure spree, again of a kind not seen in decades: pipelines and electricity links and railways and more. Rather less has been done as yet on the productivity or internal trade barriers fronts, but these will surely have to follow – there is no way we will be able to pay for all this other spending if we don't.

And we are beginning to be taken seriously again in international councils. Mark Carney's personal reputation, as a former central banker and international financier, is only part of this. The reason his speech at Davos, calling on middle powers to get out from under the "hegemons'" thumbs, landed with such enormous impact was not just who said it, or where, or when – at the height of the Greenland fiasco – but that it was a Prime Minister of Canada, of all places, saying it.


This wasn't Canada preaching from the sidelines. This was a politician with skin in the game, leading a country that was more dependent on one particular hegemon than any of the others represented there – and therefore more at risk. As a consequence, we are taking an outsized role in the construction of a post-American world.

[viper37]

Thanks, interesting read.  Interesting history lesson, I did not know about the Conservative of Dieffenbaker vs the Liberals of Pearson.

[Grey Fox]

Thanks for the article, CC.

I post this before reading it.

[crazy canuck]

Viper, here is an interview with the reporters who wrote the article you linked

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/front-burner/id1439621628?i=1000776562123

[viper37]

Viper, here is an interview with the reporters who wrote the article you linked

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/front-burner/id1439621628?i=1000776562123

What do you think of all the mix message coming from Carney?

There is a lot of appeasement after campaigning on a Canada strong policy, not just on the Trump admin, but even toward Alberta, to the detriment of science and Canadian economy, we promote the wealth of American companies with Canadian funds.  We also buy European submarines that will be equipped with American weapons.

Carney's teams try to diversify our economy, but keep offering concessions to Americans on needless things, like the new bridge and the digital tax instead of adopting a tough stance than has proven it's worth.

I don't know, but this strategy risks undermining our international stance with other partners when we ask them to stand firm against the US.

Unlike Quebec, Canada has made no move to reduce its digital dependency toward US tech giants.  They not only still rely on Microsoft and Amazon services but have worked on no plans to replace them.  The country could still find itself locked from Microsoft's accounts and be years away from a solution.

Instead of working on solutions to disenfranchise ourselves from oil that really belongs to Americans, oil wells exploited by Americans, oil refined by Americans, oil that transit through America, we talk about burning more of it by reducing emission caps while reducing all incentive for cleaner techs and heavily subsidizing the product at a federal level in the name of "national unity", all to protect American economic interests.

[crazy canuck]

I don't agree with how you've characterized things.

For example, the bridge was a shakedown, pure and simple by the Americans.  It wasn't something "offered" by Canada.

I also think it's inaccurate to say that Canada has not done anything. For starters much of the need to create digital independence is within the jurisdiction of the provinces and so it's no surprise that Quebec, like BC, has passed legislation which has been in place for a number of years now.

Also, I think it's a bit unrealistic to expect the federal government to completely stop The IT ties it has with United States companies on a dime.

Also, I'm not sure where you're going with your reference to oil.  The new pipeline is meant to serve markets outside the United States, and it is currently planned to be owned by government.

[viper37]

I also think it's inaccurate to say that Canada has not done anything. For starters much of the need to create digital independence is within the jurisdiction of the provinces and so it's no surprise that Quebec, like BC, has passed legislation which has been in place for a number of years now.

The Federal government has its own technology.  It has taken no steps, as far as I know, to reclaim independence.

As for oil, the oil wells are exploited by companies who are owned, by a majority stake, by American companies.  We are buying them another pipeline.  And giving them another big gift: they can pollute freely while provinces pick up the tab for the environmental damages.  Forest fires, eroding coasts, flash floods, road destruction, etc. Geographically larger provinces will be the most affected.  The Atlantic and Quebec will suffer for... what exactly?  So that climate deniers can have a win?

[crazy canuck]

In the first point, I suggest you start educating your self.  Starting with Bill 36 - it's in the name

On the second point. I still don't understand your point.  The Alberta government made it so that US companies could come in and exploit their oil and somehow the present federal government isn't doing enough to change the past.

Last time I checked, the federal government doesn't have the power of time travel, and so the best that can be done is to look towards the future