Canadians are in a Mood

I know that Canada does not get a lot of coverage in the US, so here are some items from my side of the border., even though I have already posted today.

The nonsensical tariff war is on. Following is a excerpt from the section of Prime Minister Trudeau's speech that was directed specifically to Americans. 

As President John F. Kennedy said many years ago, "Geography has made us neighbours, history has made us friends, economics has made us partners and necessity has made us allies." That rang true for many decades prior to President Kennedy's time in office and the decades since. From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of the Korean Peninsula, from the fields of Flanders to the streets of Kandahar, we have fought and died alongside you during your darkest hours.

During the Iranian hostage crisis, those 444 days, we worked around the clock from our embassy to get your innocent compatriots home. During the summer of 2005, when Hurricane Katrina ravaged your great city of New Orleans, or mere weeks ago, when we sent water bombers to tackle the wildfires in California, during the day the world stood still — Sept. 11, 2001 — when we provided refuge to stranded passengers and planes, we were always there, standing with you, grieving with you, the American people.

Together, we've built the most successful economic, military and security partnership the world has ever seen; a relationship that has been the envy of the world. Yes, we've had our differences in the past, but we've always found a way to get past them.

As I've said before, if President Trump wants to usher in a new golden age for the United States, the better path is to partner with Canada, not to punish us. Canada has critical minerals, reliable and affordable energy, stable democratic institutions, shared values and the natural resources you need. Canada has the ingredients necessary to build a booming and secure partnership for the North American economy, and we stand at the ready to work together.

You can read the whole speech here or listen here. The part addressed specifically to Americans is near the beginning and is a few minutes long.

It's not just our prime minister. This is what the premier of Ontario has posted.

“Every year, LCBO sells nearly $1 billion-worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers. Not anymore,” said Ford in a Feb. 2 post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Starting Tuesday, we’re removing American products from LCBO shelves. As the only wholesaler of alcohol in the province, LCBO will also remove American products from its catalogue so other Ontario-based restaurants and retailers can’t order or restock U.S. products.

Removal of American liquor is happening in provinces across Canada, targeting mostly whiskey and bourbon from the red sates as far as I understand. Canada is the biggest customer of these American products. 

This just in from Premier Ford.

That contract with Starlink was
$100 million.

Meanwhile I can tell you that ordinary Canadians are perusing the shelves in order to avoid American products as much as possible. Many are opting out of American vacations.  The stock market is down, and we are even booing the American anthem at hockey games. All because the orange buffoon thinks he can annex Canada, not to mention Greenland and Panama. What have you Americans wrought? (I know, not necessarily you, personally.)

The news go on apace this morning.

I never imagined that the great democracy was so fragile. It appears to be hanging from a thread with a madman in charge and few with the intestinal fortitude to stand up and be counted.

Note: At 1pm, nothing has changed for Canada, but Mexico has a detente of sorts. Trump isn't very fond of Trudeau, so we shall see.