What Is A Proud Canadian?

 

Of late, I have been thinking about Canadian pride and patriotism, and how it is so different from the shallow, reflexive and exaggerated displays the Americans are so fond of. Instead of being loud and brash, we express our loyalty to our country in quiet yet assertive ways. Many of us, for example, shun travel to the benighted land south of us; we go out of our way to minimize the purchase of American produce and products whenever possible; buying Canadian has become the default position of many consumers.

There are those who say our identity is largely defined as not being American. And to that there are elements of truth, especially in these times when American values and culture have degenerated into a kind of Bizzaro World state, where cruelty and the denigration of others, where the attack on former friends and allies, reign supreme. All of that has led us to think more about what is important to us, and we've rediscovered something important: we are steadfast in the conviction of our values, values that embrace the collective over the individual, where kindness and compassion remain strengths, not weaknesses to be exploited, where common decency remain defining characteristics. Indeed, they have become more important than ever.

Mark Carney's Labour Day message exemplifies some of those values:

As mentioned, our way has traditionally been a quiet way, at least up till now. The relentless attacks on our character, on our very nationhood, are wearing us down to the point we are speaking up loudly when insulted, no longer willing to play a passive role in defence of our country. 

Many say, and to an extent I agree, that we should not take the bait of American provocation. Consider Doug Ford's recent comments that Trump could "kiss my ass." Personally, there was some satisfaction in hearing that, even though such a truculent and crass display of umbrage likely sinks to a Trumpioan level of insult we would be better to avoid.

But I admit that my pride as a Canadian is often deeply offended by American insult and condescension. They go out of their way to belittle us in ways that demand a reaction. Consider this recent interview of Scott Bessent by Lara Trump:

I rather liked this AI-generated response:

I will not bother talking about the juvenile, crass posts by Pete Hegseth who, with each foray into social media, proves he is not a real man at all. Nor will I deign to discuss Howard Lutnick, an especially vile mouthpiece of the Trump administration. It is sufficient, perhaps, to dismiss all of them as agents provocateurs of their deranged master.

So on this Labour Day I reflect on the things that make me Canadian, and I am proud. The day itself demonstrates many of the reasons for that pride. And for me, and I hope many other Canadians, that is a sufficient balm for the times we find ourselves living in.

Elbows Down And Hands Up?

In the old westerns, bandits would board trains and demand passengers turn over all their money upon pain of death. Everyone complied, the bandits happy with their take and the passengers relieved to live another day. And even though we are far removed from that time, that equation is still very much in play today, with Canada playing the victim to American banditry in the form of Donald Trump's relentless demands. However, as I have stated previously, most recently about the Gordie Howe Bridge, compliance comes with additional costs: the slow surrendering of our national sovereignty.

On the issue of the Gordie Howe Bridge concessions, Mark Carney, to put it politely, has been misleading:

At an event Thursday in London, Ont., Carney was asked whether the $6.4 billion of investment made by Canada would be collected before profits from the bridge would be split with the U.S. side.

"It's not splitting the tolls of the bridge," Carney told journalists. "It is an agreement for 15 years to split net revenues.

"Any sharing of the toll revenue won't happen until all the debt, all of the debt, is repaid."

A report in The Globe and Mail suggests otherwise: 

A 15-year side deal struck by Canada and the United States on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge will see Ottawa cut Washington cheques that amount to half the toll revenues minus operating costs for the span connecting Windsor and Detroit.

But Canada, which solely financed the $6.4-billion bridge, will not be subtracting any provision to repay debt from the annual payments to the United States, sources say.

A report in Bloomberg News , which has seen a copy of the arrangement, offers these details:

Canada and the US agreed to split the profit from a new bridge between Ontario and Michigan for 15 years — with no provision to cover Canada’s debt-service costs on the project, according to a copy of the pact seen by Bloomberg News.

The agreement in principle covering the Gordie Howe International Bridge appears to contradict earlier public remarks from Prime Minister Mark Carney. And it shows what Canada conceded to get the President Donald Trump’s administration to stop blocking the 1.5-mile bridge over the Detroit River.

[T]he agreement makes no mention of Canada’s interest expenses or debt payments related to the bridge.

Under the original deal, Canada paid the entire C$6.4 billion ($4.6 billion) construction cost on the condition that it would collect all the toll revenue until it was repaid.

Where does the truth lie? That question can only be answered by a full public release of the new agreement. Anything less suggests a Canadian government embarrassed by yet another capitulation, another effort at appeasement, none of which have thus far produced anything more than new demands from the Trump administration. As noted by Andrew MacDougall:

If Howe were the only capitulation, that would be one thing. But it’s not.

Remember the Digital Services Tax? Binned off by Carney after Trump barked. Counter-tariffs to Trump’s? Rolled back, despite Carney’s pledge to go dollar-for-dollar. A revised U.S. trade deal? Still not done. Were these policies ever deliverable? Well, Carney said they were. So where are they? Our elbows are so far down they might as well be our feet.

Apologists will argue that whatever the actual details of this deal, at least the bridge will now open, to which I have just one question: At what cost?

Each Of Us Is The Resistance

One of the most diabolical efforts of both the corporate and American political world is to convince us that we, as individuals, have no power, and that resistance is futile. The more they can make us feel atomized, the more they can reduce us to being simply cogs servicing their machines, nothing more.

But those powers fail to reckon with a simple fact: we do have power. Take, for example, the Trump attempt to reduce our country to a vassal state. Every time we refuse to buy American produce, every time we refuse to travel to the U.S.,  everytime we buy Canadian alcohol, we are actively engaging in the resistance that obstructs and prevents the realization of their vile vision.

If we tend to forget or doubt our strength, the following video serves to strongly remind us of our power. While I don't think the suggestions near the end about American cars is necessarily realistic, the thrust of Klaus Kellerman's argument is solid.

Resistance is never futile. May we always remember that, and may we always stay strong in our convictions.