The Day After

 

Well, one lives in hope that the Republican routing in last night's midterms presages better times for the world. As one who has seen the earth orbit the sun many, many times, I'll reserve judgement. But something happened before the election that bothered me.

The other day, in a bid to boost his party's chances, Trump implied that a trade deal with Canada was near. Given the role that tariffs have played on the American cost of living, I saw it for what I think it was - a transparent political ploy. But then the Prevaricator-in Chief got help from an unlikely source: Mark Carney.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the United States is “asking less” and “offering more” in negotiations aimed at a trade deal that he says are making progress.

“We are making progress, but it’s not over yet,” the Prime Minister said, speaking in French.

U.S. negotiators have backed off a position that regarded French-protection laws as trade barriers, as well as proposals that would have restricted Ottawa’s ability to sign trade deals with countries, Mr. Carney said while speaking to reporters Tuesday at a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government in Antigua and Barbuda.

First of all, while these were apparent deal-breakers, there was much more at stake, including opprobrious tariffs on our major industries, tariffs that have required billions in support for the affected industries. 

But what bothered me the most was the question of why Carney would even comment at this critical juncture, lending Trump's claim a credibility it does not deserve. Indeed, wasn't his announcement a form of election interference, one that fortunately failed to put any wind in the Republican sails?

Here are two comments made by Globe readers:

Why is the PM making it sound like the Trump administration is suddenly acting more accommodating? Why was he giving them any graces before the midterm elections?

Trump is a lame duck that is about to be impeached, why would we negotiate with him now? The moment has past in my eyes to save any business lost. Any company that has decided to move production to the US is not likely to do another 180. I can't help but think waiting until the new congress is in session would help. Until then, focus on DOMESTIC barriers to trade instead of flying off to Angola another country we do almost no business with.

Happily, we live in a country where asking such questions are not seen as acts of sedition. May the U.S. someday return to such respect for democracy.

Meanwhile, Back At Home

 

Most eyes are rightfully upon the American midterms tomorrow. We hope for a change from a Republican-dominated corrupted Congress to a Democratic-led renewal of the legislative branch. Whether the latter eventuality results in Canada being treated better in the months to come is an open question.

What is not in question is that while our attention is directed southward, things at home in Ontario continue to deteriorate under our homegrown demagogue, Doug Ford and his many enablers. Content to drive up the deficit while willfully cutting off sources of revenue, the strains are evident in a number of areas, healthcare and education not the least of them.

However, it is always reassuring when caught in moments of despair to know that others think clearly and are able to see the self-inflicted damage of a government still riding high long after winning its third-term majority. The following letters are instructive.

Doug Ford’s big deficit

Ontario deficit hits record $16.9B as Trump tariffs batter economy, Oct. 29

Why are Doug Ford and the Conservatives in charge at Queen’s Park blaming Trump for Ontario’s financial woes?

It was Doug Ford who scrapped the modest vehicle plate renewal fees, a hole in Ontario’s economy of more than $1 billion every year.

It was Doug Ford who handed The Beer Store $225 million to get out of the contract a year before it would have expired anyway. That, and losses to the LCBO (that pay for education and healthcare) add up to another $1 billion, annually.

I’m not an economist or a Finance Minister, but I’ve never blamed anyone else for any mismanagement that I have caused.

If Ontario is hurting. At present, it isn’t because of Donald Trump, it is because of our Premier, Doug Ford.

Brigitte Nowak, Toronto

This Ford government has 37 cabinet members which is more than any previous government in Ontario history. How much is this costing Ontario taxpayers?

Ford campaigned in 2018 on responsible spending and reducing government costs.  There are many examples I could cite of irresponsible spending by this government. Consider the costs related to their new Ontario Place, the Science Centre and the Skills Development Fund where much of the $1.3 billion dollars was spent giving money to lower-rated applicants who had hired lobbyists. So much negligence in the government’s spending ... it irks me that they use our tax money to advertise about how well they are doing. 

Bill Fox, Oshawa

From the Globe and Mail is this missive. 

Don’t bet on it

Re “Ontario calls for new investors in Niagara casinos, slashes tax rate for operators” (Report on Business, Oct. 29): Doug Ford’s desire to attract big-name casinos is all part of his plan to boost the Niagara region as a tourist destination, add billions of dollars to the provincial economy and add thousands of jobs.

I can only assume either Mr. Ford is ignorant of the numerous studies that illustrate the growing negative impact of gambling and its relation to the health and welfare of Ontarians, or is blinded by billions of dollars in tax revenue. He touts the jobs that casinos will bring, but there would also be jobs in social work and addiction treatment centres for those tasked to deal with the consequences of this policy.

Maybe I am naive in believing that governments are elected to serve the best interests of the public.

Michael Gilman Toronto

Perhaps government members should read this report, which outlines the deleterious effects of gambling, including suicide. 

A CBC News investigation has found that at least 220 problem gamblers in Canada have died by suicide in the last decade, which includes a tripling of gambling-related suicides in Ontario since 2022. 

Keeping an eye on the government ball is an onerous, if not impossible task, for many. The cost of such dereliction of civic duty, however, is very, very high.

A Flaming Socialist And Threat To The American 'Dream'?

It often pains me to contemplate my fellow humans. That they can be so easily swayed by demagoguery that works against their own best interests speaks ill of our species. The following clip from Abdul El-Sayed serves as a litmus test of sanity,  critical thinking, and just plain common sense.

Oh, and in case you didn't realize how great a threat El-Sayed is to all that's holy in America, you have Ted Cruz to remind you of the even greater peril he represents:

Unfortunately, given the abysmal level of critical-thinking skills in America, I fear the second message may win out. I sincerely hope to be proven wrong.

Pugnacious Pete Is Snarling Again

 

The above is the result of my supplying Chat GPT with a shot of a pitbull, directing A.I. to put Pete Hoekstra's face on it. The picture seems appropriate, given that it is eminently clear whenever he opens his mouth, he is acting as Trump's attack dog.

The latest drool from Hoekstra's mouth, of course is that we are actively interfering in the American mid-term elections.That claim is especially rich, coming from the emissary of a country that is known far and wide for interfering in many countries' democracies, and even facilitating their leaders' overthrow. Closer to home, there has been widespread reporting of American meddling in the recent Alberta referendum. No so-called fact sheet can deny these truths.

Given their self-proclaimed status as the greatest country in the world, nay, in all of history, egregious hypocrisy is not something that troubles America. Those of us who have not consumed that particular  kool-aid see things differently, and are deeply offended by Hoekstra's latest salvo.

During an interview on The Really Big Show podcast posted last week, Hoekstra said political ads run by the province of Ontario last year could be interpreted as political interference.

Hoekstra also cited recent comments by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and former prime minister Justin Trudeau and suggested they also could amount to interference.

Hoekstra warned Canadian politicians to keep their "nose out" of American politics in the weeks before the midterm elections.

Trudeau criticized the Trump administration during a discussion at Brown University on Sept. 22.

"There is a pattern here of doing things that are driving up prices for your consumers and not necessarily making anything better for America, by fighting with one of your oldest and best allies," Trudeau said during the conversation.

Apparently, the freedom of speech the Americans claim to revere does not extend to non-citizens, nor does sovereign action taken by another country sit well with Hoekstra and his master.

In the interview, Hoekstra said Joly made comments about targeting retaliatory tariffs at "politically sensitive states."

Joly pushed back on Wednesday, telling reporters that Canada would never engage in election interference and would "never accept that also being done to us in Canada."

Perhaps former American ambassador to Canada, James Blanchard, puts things into a perspective that most Canadians can agree with.

 The Star's Justin Ling sees method in all of this Trump-inspired madness:

[I]t is a pretty naked attempt to sow distrust ahead of the coming midterms. Trump is on track for a brutal drubbing at the ballot box — and we don’t yet know if he’ll try to pull a last-minute disenfranchisement of Democratic voters, or how he’ll contest the results. 

The midterm American elections are fast approaching. Soon, one way or the other, Canada and the world will know the truth. 

About That Tail-Wagging Dog

 

When I was teaching, it was often my experience with general level classes that the most disruptive students got the most attention, to the detriment of the rest of the class. It was a classic case of the tail wagging the dog.

Something similar, in my view, transpired in the whole lead-up to the Alberta referendum. A group of malcontents, loud, brash and uninformed, pressed a weak premier, Danielle Smith, to hold a referendum on a referendum, which went down to defeat and will probably ultimately result in the removal of Smith, owing to the number of separatists in her caucus.

There is no doubt the pro-separation faction exerted an oversized influence on the province, an influence that should, but will not be, muted after 75% of Albertans rejected their siren call.

So what are the people saying? This first set of letters from The Globe reveals much:

After Danielle Smith’s referendum, the political reality looks stark. It seems this multimillion-dollar exercise was never about leaving Canada, it was an amateur schoolyard brawl manufactured for her own short-term survival.

By inviting grassroots radicals into the tent to secure her leadership, Ms. Smith has built a volatile political compost pile. Now it is rapidly breaking down the leftovers. The roughly 75-per-cent majority who voted “remain” are exhausted by the chaos, while hardline separatists feel betrayed by a Premier trying to be all things to all people.

My view from a distance makes the destruction clear: Ms. Smith has run out of runway. If she is wise, she would exit stage left now, before the political pile overheats and consumes her government.

Charles Claus Terrace, B.C.

Now that Alberta has overwhelmingly voted to remain in Canada, I hope this matter, and the illusion that separatists carry any political weight in the province, can be dismissed for good.

Danielle Smith should resign immediately for calling an unnecessary referendum to placate separatists in her United Conservative Party. It also stirred up unnecessary divisions, at a time when unity is required to face real threats to Canadian sovereignty from the Trump administration.

Jeff Buckstein Ottawa

Re “Alberta voters reject push for separation referendum” (Online, Oct. 20): What do separatists not understand? No means no.

William O’Meara Toronto

From Star readers: 

Albertans need a new leader

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith allowed a referendum question to be brought forward by a movement that unsuccessfully tried to remove Alberta from Canada. This at a time when all Canadians need to pull together. Perhaps it’s time for Albertans to demand a new leader; one who cares about the future of our great country.

Linda Matthews, Toronto

Yes Alberta has chosen to stay in Canada for now, but the question about immigration still garnered more than half for the yes vote. Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the focus should now be affordability, safety and “less immigration.”

He and Albertans are again blowing the dog-whistle. They don’t want people to come to their province who will likely be working more hours for less money than those they consider “true” Albertans.

They forget that the immigrant is the doctor, nurse, restaurant worker or truck driver. They stimulate the economy, pay taxes and volunteer. Alberta will soon be crying that they can’t find people to work.

Murray Van Halem, Dundas, ON

Undoubtedly, many thousands of words will be produced analysing the results of the referendum. One thing is clear, however: there will always be those who refuse to let reality intrude upon their outlandish dreams and schemes.

P.S. check out The Beaverton for a fresh breath of satire under this headline:

U.S. government accuses Canada of meddling in Alberta referendum

Bluesky Posts

With the exception of posting links to my post, I do not use Twitter anymore. Bluesky does seem to be a more friendly environment, and, best of all, it is not owned by a raging megalomaniac. Here are a few excerpts from Bluesky that I rather liked.