Canada's Premiers Unite Behind Carney - Except for One

In a near remarkable display of unity seldom seen, most of Canada's Premiers have lined up behind Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to walk away from trade negotiations with the Trump Administration.

Keep in mind, there is only one province in Canada currently led by a Liberal government. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said, “New Brunswickers have been fiercely loyal to our local businesses and producers. Now, more than ever, we need to double down on buying local and supporting New Brunswick businesses and workers.”

Canada's two NDP Premiers - David Eby of British Columbia and Wab Kinew of Manitoba are also behind Carney. Eby stated, "The suggestion that Canada would not trade with other countries or reduce our trade with other countries ... would reduce us to the economic equivalent of the 51st state." For his part, Kinew was even more direct:

Everybody has got Prime Minister [Mark] Carney's back today. I'm glad the prime minister has walked away from what would have been a bad deal.

These tariffs that he's putting on us because he's got some sort of need to try and look macho or whatever, is completely wrong and we as Canadians should never accept it — we should always push back.

Canada's remaining 7 provinces are governed by right-of-center parties. Six of those Premiers have been unequivocal in their support of Carney. 

Quebec Premier Christine Frechette, who leads the Coalition Avenir Quebec, came out in support for Carney due to unwillingness to negotiate French language and culture as well as Canadian sovereignty. Frechette stated: 

Our culture, our language is central to our identity, and it is important to exclude that from the negotiation table.

It’s something that is crucial for us and it won't change, even though we are threatened with different tariffs, it won't change. We will stay the way we are.

It is worth noting that Quebec voters go to the polls in October and Frechette, who succeeded François Legault back in April, is not expected to prevail. The sovereigntist Parti Quebecois has been leading in the polls and is expected to win and Paul St. Pierre Plamondon is expected to become Quebec's new Premier. The PQ, first elected 50 years ago under the leadership of Rene Levesque, has long been dedicated to Quebec independence.

PQ governments under Levesque and Jacques Parizeau have initiated unsuccessful referendums in 1980 and in 1995, respectively. While Plamondon has pledged to hold another referendum against the wishes of Quebec voters, recognizing the unique danger presented by President Trump, announced last week that he would not launch a referendum so long as Trump remains in office.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, leader of the province's Progressive Conservative Party, not only backs Carney but has forcefully denounced President Trump. Following Carney's remarks yesterday, Ford said this about Trump:

Let me tell you about President Trump: President Trump is the type of person that would steal your lunch money the first day. He'd steal the toque off your head the second day. And the third day he'd steal your running shoes. He is not to be trusted whatsoever. We need to stay united.

If that wasn't enough, Ford wrote Carney a letter with a demand that he imposes additional retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. states which are "politically significant to the current administration's base of support." The states Ford identified are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Texas and Wisconsin. 

The Progressive Conservative governments of three Maritime provinces - Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island are also solidly behind Carney. 

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston issued this statement which reads in part:

I continue to stand ready to support and work with the Prime Minister. We will work together to do everything possible to protect the massive number of Nova Scotian and Canadian families, workers and businesses that have now been added to the large list of those directly impacted by President Trump’s devastating tariffs.

It’s clear that we cannot trust or rely on the United States as we once did. This reality must make us more determined than ever to make Nova Scotia and Canada stronger. For Nova Scotia that means developing our own energy, developing our own natural resources and finding new markets for Nova Scotian goods and services.

Houston concluded his statement with, "Let's go Team Canada!"

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham issued this statement on Facebook:

Newfoundland and Labrador stands firmly with Team Canada. I want to thank the negotiating team for their hard work and dedication in navigating discussions with an unpredictable partner.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has my full support as we maintain a united Team Canada approach. Newfoundland and Labrador stands ready to do its part.

PEI Premier Rob Lantz also issued a statement on Facebook which emphasized the Team Canada theme:

The Team Canada approach has kept us strong and united throughout these negotiations, and we need that same strength and unity now.

I will continue working alongside Premiers and the federal government to stand up for Canadian interests and make sure Prince Edward Island has a strong voice in the path forward.

Island workers, businesses, and exporters can count on our government to stand with them and be there for those impacted.

Going out west, Saskatchewan, once the cradle of Canadian social democracy, has been governed by the right-wing populist Saskatchewan Party since 2007. Scott Moe has been Premier of Saskatchewan since 2018. Outside of Ontario's Doug Ford, Moe might have been made the most forceful statement in support of Carney while showing his contempt for the Trump Administration in bold green:

Moe begins by stating "the United States is violating the CUSMA deal." That would be the Canada United States Mexico Agreement which Trump helped negotiate and came into effect in July 2020.

Moe also declared that any attempt by the United States to dictate Canada's trade relationships with other countries is "a non-starter" adding, "Decisions about who Canada trades with must be made by Canada."

For good measure, Moe declared that Carney "made the right decision to not accept an unfair and unreliable, and we support the Prime Minister's decision to enact dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on U.S. products."

Alas, there's always one.

Enter Alberta Premier Danielle Smith of the United Conservative Party.

In recent months, Smith has been leading the charge on a disingenuous Alberta referendum about whether to have another referendum.

While Smith ceded that terms set out by the Trump Administration made it "untenable for us to sign off", she came out against Carney's retaliatory tariffs. Smith also to go along with other provinces in not stocking U.S. liquor and will not delay this October's referendum on whether to have another referendum. Smith also wants Carney to go back to the negotiating table with the Trump Administration.

Let's be clear. The Trump Administration negotiates with Canada in bad faith up to and including forbidding Canada from entering into trade agreements with other countries and Smith wants more of the same.

Danielle Smith is with a Team Trump, not Team Canada as demonstrated by her visit to Mar-a-Lago last year. When Alberta voters have the chance, they should give her a one-way ticket to Florida. Should she return to Canada, Smith should have a tariff imposed upon her.

Nevertheless, that Mark Carney was able to get 9 out of 10 provincial premiers on board with his decision to walk away from trade talks with the United States is a remarkable achievement. Now it is a question if they will stay on board or be lured by Smith to join Team Trump.

Late Fame is a Reminder The Past is Sometimes Best Left Behind

 

This evening, I went to the Brattle Theatre to take in a screening of the film Late Fame starring Willem Dafoe. 

Before I discuss the movie, an update about the Brattle. Tonight was the first time I had been to the Brattle in over a month. I was last there five weekends ago for a retrospective tribute on what would have been Harry Dean Stanton's 100th birthday.

The Brattle would then be closed for 10 days for the purpose of installing a new floor and new seats. The floor looks cleaner and feel more comfortable to walk on. Even the men's washroom looks cleaner. Now if it only it was bigger. 

Late Fame is adapted from a 19th century novella written by Austrian author and playwright Arthur Schnitzler. Dafoe portrays Ed Saxberger, a poet whose 1979 book Way Past Go earns the attention of a new generation of mostly college aged artists and actors. Until the rediscovery, Saxberger had been working for USPS for nearly 40 years. 

Indeed, poetry is but a distant memory for Saxberger. But this doesn't stop his newfound "friends" from trying to land him a publishing deal to write his memoirs and perform new poetry. Of course, if his "friends" had truly understood the creative process one cannot force a poem to the surface any more than one can force a song or a sculpture to form. Saxberger's poetry is so far in the rearview mirror that none of his longtime friends know about his life previous life as a poet. The last thing Saxberger wants is for these two worlds to collide. Complicating matters is Gloria (Greta Lee), an actress at least 30 years younger than Saxberger with whom he becomes infatuated.

This movie hit home for me in an uncomfortable way. During my early years in Boston, I was part of the local poetry scene. I would regularly attend open mics and self-published a couple of chap books. Many of my poems had a conservative political bent which would occasionally draw the ire of certain audiences. On one occasion, I had a Coke can tossed at my head at the Cantab Lounge here in Cambridge. Eventually, I would be given a lifetime ban at the Cantab and I've not set foot in there in more than 15 years. I cannot remember the last time I wrote a poem.

It was just as well because by this time I was regularly contributing articles to The American Spectator which I would do for another 5 years before I was told that Donald Trump was beyond criticism. That was a decade ago. There would be a few articles for National Review Online. Aside from writing in this space, the last time I had an article published was in The Forward. That was more than 5 years ago.

I have pitched articles to several publications in the years which followed without success. As time has gone on, I have accepted that my life's work is in legal records. All things considered, I am a happier person for it.

Nevertheless, I do feel the need to write. I don't know if I'll ever write another poem again. But I do feel the need to speak my peace. I write my articles here and post the links on Facebook, Threads and Blue Sky. If people get something out of it then great. But I have no expectations or illusions of fame or prosperity. Indeed, when I do get feedback, it is far more likely to be negative than positive. But I am a big boy and can take care of myself. For the most part, however, there is just indifference. Frankly, it is probably just as well.

If I were in Ed Saxberger's place and a stranger on the street were to compliment me on a poem I wrote 20 years ago or an article I wrote 10 years ago, I would most likely politely thank them and move on with my day. Admittedly, that might be more of a challenge if the person in question happens to be an attractive woman. Nevertheless, such encounters are probably more trouble than they are worth. In Ed Saxberger's case, the best he could have done was to run away from his past as fast as possible. Sometimes it is best to leave the past behind.

Mike Rogers Distancing Himself From AIPAC Plays Right Into El-Sayed's Hands

This story from Axios concerning Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers asking AIPAC not to run ads on his behalf is most disconcerting:

The move by Rogers' team angered AIPAC officials, who had spent more than $30 million to try to defeat El-Sayed in the Democratic primary and prepared to spend millions more to help elect Rogers, according to people familiar with the conversations.

The article also notes that Rogers' allies urged AIPAC to get involved without putting the group's name front and center.

In other words, the Rogers' campaign wants AIPAC resources without giving them credit. 

This is a foolish strategy which plays right into the hands of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Should the pair debate, El-Sayed can say, 'Even Republican Mike Rogers doesn't want AIPAC's money,'

Rogers is also legitimizing the demonization of not only AIPAC but Jewish organizations in general and their ability to participate in the political process and in civil society at large.

After all, AIPAC stands for American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Americans who advocate for Israel are no different than Americans who advocate for China, India, Ukraine or the United Arab Emirates. Rogers should welcome AIPAC's support without apology or reservation.

But El-Sayed and his allies single out American Jews who support Israel and now Rogers is afraid to associate with AIPAC. What Rogers should be doing is putting El-Sayed on the defensive for his support of CAIR, an organization which has long had ties to Hamas.

After El-Sayed won the Democratic Party nomination, I stated that if I were a Michigan resident that I would vote for Rogers with reservations. In light of Rogers all but publicly disavowing AIPAC those reservations have grown considerably.

Carney Reveals Trump Admin Wanted to Prevent Canada from Negotiating Its Own Trade Deals

 

I watched Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's press conference this morning. During the press conference, Carney discussed the breakdown of trade negotiations with the Trump Administration.

What I found most revealing during the Q&A were the specific issues which led to Carney suspending talks. Carney cited three reasons - shifting auto tariffs, objections to protection concerning Canadian culture with regard to the French language and the ability of Canada to negotiate other trade deals.

Needless to say, this last reason really jumps out. 

The United States has no business telling Canada with whom it can enter and negotiate trade deals. For the Trump Administration to make such a demand sends a clear message that they view Canada not as a partner but as one of its territories. In other words, the 51st state. 

Underscoring of all this is the bad faith of the Trump Administration. As Carney noted, “We’ve recognized from the start that America has changed. We recognize that sometimes, its signature is written in pencil.”

With that, barring a dramatic shift from the Trump Administration, Canada plans to implement its dollar-for-dollar tariffs against the United States on September 8th, the day after Labor Day.

Carney Walks Away From Trade Talks with Trump; Will Match U.S. Tariffs Dollar for Dollar

(Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

When President Trump announced a month ago that he would impose a 50% tariff on Canadian alcohol, auto parts and dairy products because of the forest fires that were occurring in Northern Ontario, I made this observation:

Carney's smartest move would be to walk away and ignore Trump and not return his calls. Yes, that will make Trump angry. But Trump would get angry if his Diet Coke was flat. Canada is getting nowhere with the United States. The United States is wasting Canada's time. Canada's time is better spent engaging in negotiations with countries which actually want to negotiate with it in good faith and for mutual benefit not with a country which begrudges Canadians for forest fires.

Just before midnight, Prime Minister Carney did exactly that. Canada will match U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar. Carney issued a statement which reads in part:

We have recognised from the beginning that America has changed, and that we will not return to our old relationship. Our government understood, before many, that America is altering all its trade relationships. Putting tariffs on its closest allies and charging for access to its vast market.

We have worked in that context. To strike a fair deal that would provide the best access to the U.S. market and greater certainty to Canadian businesses and workers. Throughout, our goal has been to secure the best deal for Canadians, never a deal at any price or on any deadline.

In recent weeks, we made important progress toward improving Canada’s position as having the best deal in the world with the U.S.

However, that progress has not been enough to meet our objectives for Canadians. As a result, this evening, I have decided to suspend trade negotiations with the U.S. and have directed Canada’s negotiators to return to Ottawa. They have worked hard, in good faith, to defend the interests of Canadians throughout these negotiations up until the very last minute. However, last-minute changes in the U.S. proposed terms were unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.

Carney went to say that in the coming days that the Canadian government "will introduce additional measures to support Canadian workers and businesses." This tells me that Carney believes Canada will be in a trade war with the Trump Administration for the long haul. I suspect that Canadians will be granted either a stimulus or a rebate or perhaps of combination of both in an effort to compensate for financial strain as a result of the implementation of U.S. tariffs.

Recent federal polls have given Carney's Liberal Party a lead over Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party ranging from 7 to 20 points. I suspect that the Liberals will consistently lead the Tories by double digits in the coming weeks and months. 

These reciprocal tariffs could also have an effect on U.S. midterms especially in Senate races in states bordering Canada namely Maine and Michigan and could help Democrats Troy Jackson and Abdul El-Sayed in their respective races. Jackson has been particularly vocal about Trump's tariffs although nearly 30 years he was part of an effort to blockade the Canada-U.S. border to prevent Quebec loggers from working in Maine. For her part, Republican incumbent Susan Collins has opposed Trump's tariffs with equal vigor. 

In Michigan, unlike Collins, Republican candidate Mike Rogers has defended Trump's tariffs with dubious claims they are bringing back American jobs. In view of these reciprocal tariffs, this gives El-Sayed an opening. Mind you, El-Sayed might be too busy denigrating Jews and Israel to give a damn about tariffs.

At this point, however, Carney has called Trump's bluff and is now in the driver's seat having put his foot on the gas pedal ready to sell Canadian auto parts, alcohol and dairy to other parts of the world on more favorable terms. 

North Korea Fires Missiles at South Korea After Trump Scales Back Military Partnership with Seoul

Yesterday, North Korea fired 10 short range missiles at South Korea only days after President Trump announced the U.S. would scale back its military partnership with Seoul:

That Trump would diss South Korea is nothing new under the sun. Early in his first term, Trump threatened to cancel the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement. A new trade agreement would be negotiated the following year. Also, during his first term, Trump willfully lied about sending an armada to South Korea when in fact it was headed to Australia for joint military exercises.

It also isn't the first time Trump has cozied up to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. In 2018, he infamously proclaimed that he and Kim had fallen in love during a rally in Wheeling, West Virginia. (Yes, that Wheeling, West Virginia). 

That love was a one-way street. In 2019, Trump dropped a U.S. demand that North Korea give a full accounting of its nuclear program while also absolving Kim of any responsibility for the death of Otto Warmbier, an American student who was detained by North Korean authorities and was essentially released brain dead.

And what did Trump get in return from Kim? Absolutely nothing.

Coming back to the present, if Trump doesn't berate our military alliance with South Korea, then I submit that North Korea doesn't launch those missiles. President Trump has emboldened Kim Jong Un while shitting on a reliable ally. Of course, this is very on brand for Trump. Just ask the Ukrainians. 

Because of Trump's belligerence, stupidity and his admiration for dictators, China sees an opening with South Korea and has grabbed it with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung just yesterday. 

Of course, China is a cruel dictatorship. Just ask the Uyghur Muslims. But Beijing knows how to speak softly. Something Trump is utterly incapable of doing. Given Trump's public rebuke of South Korea, why wouldn't Seoul accept overtures from Beijing? If the United States is unwilling to protect South Korea from North Korea, then China will happily fill the breach and, in so doing, expand its power while running circles around President Trump.

Are The Padres & MLB Letting Oswaldo Pirela Twist in the Wind?

On Sunday, ICE detained San Diego Padres minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela at El Paso International Airport where he was planning to fly back home to Peoria, Arizona. The team's Triple-AAA affiliate is based in El Paso.

At the time of his detainment, Pirela was carrying a work permit which expires in 2029. The Venezuelan born Pirela had a brief minor league career as a teenager in the Texas Rangers organization before seeking asylum along with his family due to his opposition to the regime of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro.

For its part, DHS acted with its usual grace:

FACT CHECK: This Venezuelan illegal alien, Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez, was granted permission by the Obama Administration to remain in our nation until February 10, 2018. In violation of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his welcome by more than 8 YEARS. NOBODY is above the law, and he will remain in ICE custody pending removal. Being in detention is a choice.

Given the callousness of the Trump Administration, I am rather concerned about the reaction of the Padres and MLB to Pirela's detainment.

The Padres issued the following statement: 

We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas. We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.

The Padres aren't exactly going out on a limb here. Meanwhile, MLB has said nothing.

Frankly, the Padres and MLB are afraid of the Trump Administration. Should they speak up then perhaps DHS will go after players at both the minor league and major league level. The Padres' roster features several players from Venezuela (Bradgley Rodriguez, Freddy Fermin & Luis Rengifo), the Dominican Republic (Fernando Tatis, Jr; Wandy Peralta & Randy Vasquez), Cuba (Adrian Morejon) and Aruba (Xander Bogaerts).

When MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred lifted the lifetime bans against Pete Rose and the 1919 Black Sox after meeting with President Trump last year, he acknowledged the "ingress and egress" of "foreign born players". As I wrote at the time:

I think I know exactly what Manfred was worried about. I'm sure that Trump basically told him, 'Either you reinstate Pete Rose, or all foreign-born players will be asked to leave the country.' Or perhaps he limited the edict to players from Latin American countries which comprise about 25% of all active MLB players.

If MLB isn't going to stick up for their star players, then they are certainly not going to go to bat for a minor league catching instructor who was just doing the job the Padres asked of him.

As it stands, I believe the Padres and MLB are letting Pirela twist in the wind. If push comes to shove, then the Padres will wash their hands of Pirela.  

Aside from being fundamentally unAmerican, it will serve to alienate a good portion of this country's Latino community which supports baseball more than any other population in America.

If the Padres and MLB let Pirela twist in the wind then it might be left to a former player, perhaps a Hall of Famer, to speak out on Pirela's behalf. But I'm not counting on it.

In which case, we can expect ICE to detain more foreign born (particularly from Latin American countries) personnel within MLB. As with most things concerning the Trump Administration nothing good can come from it especially if ICE is involved.