YORKTON - Welcome to the end of what has been generally amiable relations with our southern neighbours for more than a century.
Within days of being sworn in, US president Donald Trump with the stroke of a pen has ruined those decades of good relations by imposing ridiculous tariffs on a range of Canadian goods exported to his country.
Trump has said he has imposed the tariffs in order to force Canada to stem the tide of illegal immigrants flowing into his country over the 49th parallel and the piles of Fentanyl also flowing their way.
Of course there are those who cross the border illegally. It is after all a very long undefended border, so it is inviting to cross on the sly, but as in most things with Trump his numbers seem inflated if not just wrong.
And the same can be said of Fentanyl, although in its case product flows from the US to Canada causing concerns here too.
Sadly, the result of Trump’s decision has left Canada – and Mexico facing the same issues – in a difficult position.
To begin with we must try to determine what Trump really wants since illegal workers and Fentanyl are not likely the real reason.
At worst – and with Trump worst case scenarios increasingly seem his default setting – is a destabilization of North America allowing him to somehow extend power in the US amid a collapsed economy, with a greedy eye on Canada and Mexico. That sounds like the stuff of a Margaret Atwood work of fiction – but so did the trade situation we are in today just a few short months ago.
Always consider the worst case with Trump and then take a step farther in where he might take us all in the years ahead.
And then it is how to best respond to the tariffs.
Normally, as Canadians we would lean toward taking a step back and taking a deep breath then sitting down to reasonably negotiate an end to the ridiculous tariffs.
Unfortunately, with a bully that approach rarely works, and it certainly won’t with Trump who to the detriment of everyone else thinks he’s the smartest man on the planet so his approach must be right.
That leaves minimal options beyond imposing our own tariffs on imports from the US, then hunker down and deal with the tantrum from Trump when Americans feel the impact.
And, as the tariff war plays out and the US degrades long held relationships with varying neighbours and allies – Trump has earned few fans in Greenland/Denmark, Panama, and other countries since his inauguration – we need to focus on being the very best Canadians we can be.
At the highest levels of government and business that means a united pro-Canada voice with no thoughts that being a buddy with a bully is good for anyone but the bully.
And as individuals, it’s about putting Canada first. Look at labels, support this country because in spite of a blustering Trump, it’s a very good country – one to be proud of.
