Moncton Photographer, Canada House of Commons
The last few years have not been kind to Justin.
Over the last decade, Canadian’s trust in his ability to lead, to make their lives better, has eroded to the point where only his immediate family supported him, and some of them are suspect.
Justin Trudeau has faced a dramatic reckoning, with his approval ratings plummeting from 65% at their highest to 22% now.
Diana Magnay, Justin Trudeau was once Canada's golden boy - but he steps down with his popularity in shreds
Then came The Announcement.
Donald Trump has levelled his most severe threat against Canada in years, warning that on his first day in office he might impose punishing economic sanctions across North America.
The U.S. president-elect threatened Monday evening to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico on Jan. 20, 2025, his inauguration day, unless those countries curb the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders.
Alexander Panetta, CBC, Donald Trump threatens 25% tariff on products from Canada, Mexico
As is our nature, the reaction among the political class and their housebroken pundits was shock and outrage, discussions broke out about the unfairness of it all, the bullying tactics, voices cried out: How could he do this to us, where’s the justice, it’s not right.
They continue today.
The situation demanded a bold, even brash, move.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
First, call a meeting of the Premiers. Gain support/consensus for The Plan.
This would be a challenge for T. Jr., he’s a top down, authoritarian kind of guy: (Witness the trucker park-in).
Then deliver this:
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, my fellow Canadians, and members of the American government who may, or may not, be listening.
Their have been some unsettling threats coming from those not in power, but soon will be, south of the border.
Apparently, they feel we are not running our great country the way they would like, that our policies need to change or they will impose economic hardship on our citizens.
We understand. While we do not support using fiscal policy such as tariffs as a political cudgel to force other nations to do your will, we support you.
In hockey, if you set up a compatriot to score a goal, it’s recorded as an assist. If you believe that arbitrarily increasing the cost of imported products and services will help you source them internally, we will assist.
On January 19, I will be introducing countervailing export duties of 25% on all products and services we provide to the United States, including pass through products, TVs from Korea, wool sweaters from Ireland, that land in Vancouver or Montreal destined for the US.
Our decision will cause economic hardship upon the citizens of the United States.
One example causes me great concern.
Oil.
We shipped America over 1.5 billion barrels of oil worth $120 billion last year. This year that will increase by $30 billion. Some estimates indicate it will increase the gas at the pump by a dollar a gallon.
It will be hard on Americans, in the short term.
Lumber will be going up by 25%, putting upward pressure on the price of housing.
The cost of energy, from our beautiful, emission free hydro generating power plants in Quebec, from our emission free nucular plants in Ontario increasing by 25% will make electricity unaffordable for many, a duty of 25% on auto products will cause pain that many American auto-makers, already suffering for a variety of reasons, may not survive.
There are some who will say delivering onerous duties are illegal, that there are contacts in place.
Our response is cogent and concise. Threats of tariffs invoke the force majeure clause, invalidating the existing agreements.
See you in court.
But, again, this will be only short term.
The new administration has a mandate to make America great again.
As painful as the transition may be, we believe it is a worthy goal.
Yes, there may be times, as you work toward self-sufficiency, when you eschew our services for others, because of the duties. For instance, you could backfill the shortfall in oil from Russia or Iran.
We are willing to accept those consequences.
We have fought together in two world wars, Korea, Bosnia, Libya, Afghanistan.
We are friends, neighbours, brothers in arms.
America, we are with you.
Thank you, and may God bless Canada.
Just has reminded us, peoplekind, many times he is a feminist.
Just too bad he’s not a feminist with balls.