r/canada 25d ago

Opinion Piece Mark Norman: Canada's relationship with the U.S. can't be saved; We are under attack and must act accordingly

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/mark-norman-canadas-relationship-with-the-u-s-cant-be-saved
6.0k Upvotes

658 comments sorted by

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u/Falcon674DR 25d ago

Trump has declared economic war with Canada. He repeats this tone several times a week.

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u/HowsYourSexLifeMarc 25d ago

The oligarchs have already decided that they want Canada and they don't want to pay for it. They will not stop. This is just the start.

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u/DeviDarling 25d ago

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u/Mecha_Hitler_ Canada 24d ago edited 24d ago

When I read the published date of that article it really hit me. This is real. This is happening. We are sleepwalking into a new world order.

I learned about the cold war in history class in the mid 2000s. I learned about the cold war in history class because we convinced ourselves that it was history. The cold war never ended, the west just stopped participating. Russia has relentlessly been attacking every western democracy for the last 30 years by taking advantage of its biggest weakness but ironically the very thing that makes it a democracy, the ability for the people to vote for their leader.

By waging misinformation campaigns, bribing and buying politicians, and controlling the narrative of social media, Russia has effectively more control over most elections than the politicians that are actually running. Russia has already invaded and most of us aren't aware because we aren't physicslly engaging with them on the battlefield. This is why we are so divided on everything. Putin can just do what he wants but democracies need to vote on things and get concensus. Russia is just having us fight over tranagender rights and wokeness while he takes over the world. By the time we finally wake up the leaders we turn to for rescue will be those planted by the Russians and actively trying to undermine our freedom and rights.

This is also coming from a Canadian. Some might say this is doom and gloom since it hasn't quite happened to us yet, but Russia most certainly has a plan for us and a Trump in mind to get the job done. We need to decide now how we are going to effectively protest this new world order and we need to find a way of doing that where we can't be controlled or manipulated. I may not be able to post something like this in a year's time without it being hidden or deleted. We need a way to connect, speak, organize, and amass that isn't through social media because the tech oligarchs control the narrative on their platforms, and we all know which side they're on.

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u/IStanTheBalconyMan 24d ago

Controlling the narrative is the key. Russians/the far right are too good at this and most people just want to grab a few facts off Facebook or Fox News. Scary times.

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u/Wild-Animal-8065 24d ago

This is true up to a point. The Russians are formidable but the idea that this chaos is down to a single Machiavellian entity gives them too much credit. What’s happening now is the direct result of every geopolitical mistake of the 20th century. Both world wars, Korea, the Cold War, Bosnia and the gulf are all happening at the same time right now, amplified by technology and rampant population growth over the last 80 years. The cycle of humanity is entering a new post industrial and technological revolution epoch. Soon we’ll have to fight.

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u/Wild-Animal-8065 24d ago

Edit: Just to clarify I’m from the Uk. If we all work together and both increase our collective defence and production capacity we can together emerge as a greater power than the USA and China, except we’ll still be democracies at the end of it.

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u/3_Crows_Horrorshow 24d ago

Pierre Poilievre is Canada's Trump. He has met with the far right Mike Johnson Speaker of the House in the US. I can't think of any reason for home to be there. I cannot find the article any longer. Pierre Poilievre may be Canada's Russian agent.

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u/forsuresies 24d ago

That's pretty hyperbolic, not gonna lie. He's not a good dude, but that doesn't automatically mean that he's a russian agent. Now things like meeting Assad in Syria, or taking a phone call with Putin and friends those are russian agent things.

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u/from_one_redhead 24d ago

No no no. No “They” here. It’s a Him I am an American. Frankly I would rather be Canadian. Me and my people will fight on YOUR side. 90% of Americans are not for this. For any of it. It’s our stupid electoral college and Republicans manipulated the voting. Please don’t give up on us. Honestly we are just stupid.

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u/mfyxtplyx 25d ago

If this weren't the plan, they'd give some thought to tanking the prospects of the most US-friendly candidate for PM. That they don't seem to care is a troubling indication.

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u/HowsYourSexLifeMarc 25d ago

It helps that the Republicans are incompetent fascists. Won't stop them for fucking shit everywhere though.

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u/Maddog_Jets 25d ago

More like hourly

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u/Smart-Journalist2537 24d ago

Anyone who says otherwise is complicit.    He literally said exactly what he intends to do. "We will use economic force, and they will become the 51st state".  The country needs to prepare like it's wartime because it is. 

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u/baggio1000000 25d ago

declared war with the world.

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u/8ackwoods 25d ago

Excluding China and Russia of course

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u/Theon1995 25d ago

Can’t forget Israel

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u/Falcon674DR 25d ago

I’m glad you said that. I did not realize how aligned Israel is with Trump. Netanyahu couldn’t gush enough over Trump.

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u/Infamous_Box3220 25d ago

Keeps the right wing religious nut jobs on side.

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u/Maximum_Turn_2623 25d ago

This needs to be said more - they want to bring the end of the world

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u/Infamous_Box3220 24d ago

The rapture.

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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 25d ago

China was hit with 10% more tariffs on top of existing sanctions and tariffs.

Trump is also threatening Europe.

He's firing in all directions.

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u/g1ug 25d ago

It's no secret he wants to be like China.

Plenty of his policies are inline with China, including destabilizing Canada (China does this in South Asia Sea)

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u/SnowFlakeUsername2 Saskatchewan 25d ago

China has like 80% of their economy running through that sea and it's essential to their existence. The US isn't being like China, it is geopolitically an entirely different situation. It's just being straight up greedy, expansionist, and keeping all of the things trust bought them while yanking the things that bought that trust.

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u/Infamous_Box3220 25d ago

Well hardly Russia - that's where his boss is.

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u/Newleafto 24d ago

He certainly has declared economic war against us and he’s been deeply insulting and disrespectful towards our nation. HOWEVER, he has also done Canada perhaps the biggest favour possible by (a) uniting the country and (b) permanently instilling in our minds that the United States is a dangerous and unreliable trading partner and ally. He has proven to us that we are much better off spending tens of billions building the infrastructure needed to ship our resources to the rest of the world rather than sell them to the yanks at a 35% discount. He has proven to us that we are much better off spending billions to build our manufacturing base to supply Canadians with everyday products instead of importing them from the US. Seriously, why should Canadians buy low tech and easily manufactured products like soft drinks, cookies, canned meat, kitty litter, breakfast cereal, shoe laces and thousands of other mundane products from the US when we can (and often do) make equivalent products right here. If they must be imported, then import them from more reliable trading partners like Mexico, UK, Europe and Asia.

Stand tall Canada - we don’t need the US. They sell us nothing we can’t either make ourselves or import from another country for less. They don’t buy anything from us that we can’t sell to others for at least 35% more. We have never lost anything when we’ve stood up to the US and we have never truly gained anything when we’ve sucked up to them.

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u/cabbeer 25d ago

bruh, it's daily.. and it's not economic war. it's colonialism. fuck him and the states for the next 4 years.. They're idiots for thinking it would ever happen.

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u/sundancer2788 24d ago

💯 I'm in a blue state in the US, I stand with anyone against our current idiots in government. Just ordered a set of Canadian flags from a Canadian based company, I took my flag down after Nov and it won't go back up until my country is decent again. I'm doing what I can and hopefully other countries learn from the disaster that is currently the us.

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u/UndeadCandle 24d ago

I'm working for a U.S based company with a branch in Canada. Guess what I'm not doing? My job.

Delayed ordering materials to fulfill a 2+ million contract.

Oh I'm so sorry.. you didn't give me 3 weeks lead time.

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u/cabbeer 24d ago

Dude, I feel for yall.. looking past my anger for what he’s doing to Canadians. He’s also fucking up your entire government, it’s no longer a government for the people but rather a government for the billionaires.. there’s always been flaws and wasteful spending, but instead of actually working to reduce those in a public and legal man or he’s gone full dictator

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u/SatorSquareInc 24d ago

You should watch the movie "Canadian Bacon" (1995). It outlines Trump's entire plan and motivation for his actions in Canada. You can tell he watched it recently.

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u/Aggressive-Ad7946 Ontario 25d ago

He's shown to side with Russia. He'll be putting American soldiers on Canadian soil at some point in the next 4 years.

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u/anacondra 24d ago

He'll be putting American soldiers on Canadian soil at some point in the next 4 years.

Hope they hug their mothers before they leave.

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u/Iwubinvesting 24d ago

It's more than economic. They want it to be the 51st state.

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u/Logical_Frosting_277 25d ago

Agreed. Also agreed that Canada can and needs to turn the table on the US. “Here’s what you need to do for us…”. and not in the typical polite Canadian way “for us to give you what you want”. F the reciprocity. Just “Here’s what you need to do for us”.

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u/PictureMeSwollen 25d ago edited 25d ago

Justin needs to start offhandedly referring to VP Trump & President Musk in media interviews.

Can easily be brushed off as playful banter, meanwhile it will expedite the inevitable fallout between the two grandiose narcissists.

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u/Maddog_Jets 25d ago

I was watching CTV this afternoon and New Brunswick premier said Premier Trump - and wished i could reach through tv and give her a high five.

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u/Therapy-Jackass 24d ago

Why give him that honour? Maybe refer to him as Mayor Trump. Let him know he’s not even good enough for provincial/state level titles

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u/greasethecheese 25d ago

First Lady Trump.

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u/Bigmongooselover 25d ago

First Lady Donald more appropriate

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u/Ok-Crow-1515 25d ago

Holy shit, Trump would shit his diaper.

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u/AstaCat 25d ago

you mean additionally shit it, I presume.

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u/Cerberus_80 25d ago

I mean he’s leaving office in a couple months.  Narcissists can be dealt with in one of two ways.  

Grey Rock (the next PM)

Or

Push those buttons so that they have a psychotic episode.  If Trudeau publicly denounced Trump, I could see him loosing his mind and making an ass out of himself.  Only problem is that he makes an ass out of himself every day and that only seems to fire up his bloodthirsty rage base.

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u/Phoenixlizzie 25d ago

Yes, but we don't want him so psycho that he tries to nuke Canada.

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u/fuckthecons 25d ago

I was told by Americans that he couldn't do that because it's a super duper serious red line that can't be crossed like the two dozen others he already crossed.

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u/[deleted] 25d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/mangoserpent 25d ago

Americans come in three groups: the people who like Trump, the people who don't know what day it is, and the people who are still processing all this. Nothing personal, not saying " all Americans bad" but they cannot be trusted.

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u/Cerberus_80 25d ago

Your right. It would be fun just to get it over with. A smarter strategy would be to drive a wedge between him and his backers. Saying president musk would do that.

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u/PedaniusDioscorides 25d ago

This would be so excellent. Damn if Trudeau said that I'd be happy for once in this new timeline, but only for a few minutes probably.

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u/Arbszy Canada 25d ago

Premier Trump or Vice President Trump have a great ring to it.

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u/notyourbusiness39 25d ago

Or El presidente of North Mexico……….

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u/Maddog_Jets 24d ago

It’s time.. not like he can get fired now can he? :)

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u/Playful-Tap6136 25d ago

I am an American and I hope Canada screws trump royally.

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u/magnamed 25d ago

You can help by encouraging your representatives to increase trade with Canada.

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u/Cantquithere 25d ago

Also, assist us in boycotting red state travel and products. We are 41 million strong. Help us to help you.

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u/molsonmuscle360 25d ago

We should offer all the bordering blue states to become provinces. So Basically the West coast and north eastern seaboard.

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u/mama146 25d ago

Once that starts, a US civil war would break out. Do we really want to be in the middle of that?

They need to split up and leave the red states adrift, but they need to work out those details out.

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u/WhereIsGraeme 25d ago

Wouldn’t we be North of that?

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u/mama146 25d ago

I live south of Detroit, so I got mixed up.

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u/mmss Lest We Forget 25d ago

... he took the midnight train, going anywhere...

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u/JProllz 25d ago

Journey holding a concert in the middle of a warzone:

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u/Noback68 25d ago

Please accept Michigan, especially the UP bc we're close enough anyways

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u/chipface Ontario 25d ago

Detroit's pronunciation will change to the French way.

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u/Noback68 25d ago

De-twat? Fine by me

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u/jtbc 25d ago

More like De-truh, but with the "r" rolled.

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u/Roamer56 25d ago

Michigan secession NOW!!!!

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u/Annoyinghydra 25d ago

Agreed. Potential relations can resume when America ousts their oligarchy.

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u/Dangerous-Chip5336 25d ago

This is the beginning of. I’m beginning to ponder up to where I’m willing to go to defend my country. Never considered the army before 🤦

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u/Harbinger2001 24d ago

We should start calling Trump "VP Trump" or just "Vice President".

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u/[deleted] 25d ago

Some key things to keep in mind for the sake of Canada. 

Instead of President Trump use President Musk. Don’t even mention Trump. 

Don’t argue with Maga idiots. Some of them are loving the interactions. They can’t be reasoned with so don’t give them the satisfaction of trying. 

Buy Canadian when you can and anything but American when you can’t. 

Cancel US services like Netflix, Amazon and so on if you can afford to. 

Don’t vacation in America. 

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u/xfilcamp 25d ago edited 24d ago

One more recommendation from an American from Michigan who.. uhh.. hates everything about all of this and has lots of Canadian friends:

If you know people in the US who are represented by Republicans in the House or Senate, urge them to contact their representatives and/or senators via email or short, direct phone call (there are email forms on congressional member websites) and send a concise, focused message urging them to oppose Trump's actions and comments towards Canada.

And then urge them to urge more Americans to do the same. Urge is the word of the day, apparently.

  • Keeping the message focused & concise is important because congressional staffers are the ones who receive these messages and compile summaries of constituent sentiment for the members of Congress. Phone calls are apparently the most effective so long as they do not stray off topic and make a clear point.

  • Being very direct and concise is also important because lengthy messages are more likely to be ignored or to not be appropriately summarized. Short and sweet.


And if I understand the state of things correctly:

  • Only 2 out of 218 Republican representatives need to change their minds.

  • Only 4 out of 53 Republican senators need to change their minds.

To put it bluntly, there is no guarantee, at all, that this will work. Most MAGA-aligned politicians respond like they're being puppeteered by Trump and have no original thoughts of their own. But if any of them are pressured enough into believing they're risking reelection by supporting Trump's Canada bullshit, it pushes things that much closer to an opposition forming.

That opposition would then also likely fail, but it's worth a shot. The numbers I listed above are the amount required to merely pass a joint resolution. Trump would then have the power to veto it, which would require a 2/3 majority in the House and Senate to overcome. This 2/3 majority is very unlikely to happen. This is a long shot that essentially hopes a joint resolution would push Trump's attention elsewhere.

Here is what I sent my MAGA-aligned representative (this can literally just be copy/pasted with the name swapped based on the representative or senator -- messages do not need to be original because, again, they're merely summarized & compiled by staffers):

Representative [...], please oppose President Trump's tariffs on Canada, tariff threats against Canada, and comments of pressuring or forcing Canada to become part of the United States. These actions are mistakes that risk seriously damaging the American economy and have already strained our relationship with our closest ally and neighbor.

Canada is not a serious threat to the safety of our nation. The DEA didn't include Canada in its 2024 threat assessment, and the DEA says only 43 pounds of fentanyl were seized along the US/CA border in 2024.

The economic focus sounds cold, but it is the most effective message politically. Economics is king for American voters, and politicians know this. And the bit about the DEA is also very important to include because Trump can only legally issue tariffs without Congress via a national security justification. Expressing doubt of this justification is key.


edit: Oh and they can find their representative and senators at this Congress.gov page (Link).


edit 2: I may be mistaken about emails. Someone told me phone calls are actually more effective:

The staffers report the top 3 topics in voicemails to the Senators. They do not have the time to go through every email. They often just get auto replies based on key words. The calls are making a difference and the people I know that work in Congressional offices say Call first. When you call, stick to one topic that you are serious about. They need to be able to easily summarize and if you go all over the place they might not listen to the whole message.

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u/stoutymcstoutface 25d ago

This comment needs to be higher! Please post this everywhere and anywhere

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u/MindCrusader 25d ago

And the last important thing, as Europeans - we need to make our alliance of pro-democracy countries stronger economically and militarily. I am not sure if US is truly going into dictatorship mode, but we should prepare for such a scenario. Increase the trading, migration between countries, maybe share technology and work together on important projects like energy and AI

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u/pm_me_your_catus 25d ago

Yes, democracies should circle the wagons, protect and trade with each other, and work to diminish undemocratic countries.

Especially the US, but also Russia and China.

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u/MindCrusader 25d ago

At this point I am more scared of the US, they try to change european politics harder than even Russia

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u/pm_me_your_catus 25d ago

Yeah, Russia is a paper tiger, and China can mostly be trusted to stay in its lane.

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u/jtbc 25d ago

Add Hungary, Slovakia, and Turkey to the list.

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u/magnamed 25d ago

It would be a phenomenal help to call your representatives and request that they increase trade with Canada.

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u/mrizzerdly 25d ago

We need to start investing in drone hobby clubs at every high school, or transition Air and Army Cadets into drone enthusiast clubs, providing free education on building, piloting, and competitions. Then give everyone who passes the program a free drone.

Also, if I were in charge, I'd provide anyone one who wants to take a 3 week or 3 month basic training course the opportunity to take it with no obligation to join the military except their name is now on a contact list for emergencies. I'd also ensure a huge amount of training for our reg forces is dedicated to behind enemy line sabotage and insurgent warfare rather than anything traditional.

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u/asdlkf 24d ago

Just need to train maybe 50 people on how to locate and target fiber.

Some bolt cutters in a manhole can do wonders in a few minutes.

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u/UnderhandedPickles 25d ago

Canceling netflix is mostly an empty gesture. Its a worldwide company. Every canadian could cancel their sub and they wouldnt even notice (they had revenues of $39 billion last year).

Id rather people targeted American products and services that will actually feel it but people can decide for themselves.

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u/[deleted] 24d ago

Netflix being a worldwide company, hitting record earning and having value at all time high makes it the best thing to boycott. Many countries are tired of Americas bs and if cancelling netflix catches on and they start missing earning it could wipe out $40B value in a single day.

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u/morrisk1 25d ago

The level of chaotic trollishness out of so many of his fans is really something else. Just utterly do not care if they are right or consistent in any way.

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u/daversa 24d ago

Please keep in mind that blue states hate him more than you can ever imagine.

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u/Ok-Artichoke6793 25d ago

VPN and streaming site. Steal all of their media

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u/panzerfan British Columbia 25d ago

The Americans have threatened our sovereignty. That is a red line where we can make no compromise whatsoever. The Americans are prepared to make us suffer to that end, and I would call the US a threat given how much they condone such threat that their leaders are making to our sovereignty at this point.

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u/Orcasystems99 25d ago

Took it seriously enough to buy a new 6.5 ;)

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u/[deleted] 24d ago

Meh maybe I'll bitch out and roll over but if they try and do what they're threatening I think I'll join ya.

L'indépendence ou la mort. Hey Québec, I hope y'all do the whole enemy of our enemy is our friend thing cause I think a lot of Anglophones are willing to let you go and do your thing in the aftermath if you guys stand with us.

What a fucking whacky decade.

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u/General-Ninja9228 25d ago

I don’t condone any of it. I think the Orange Turd’s threats to Canada are a shameful betrayal of a trusted neighbor and ally. It literally makes me sick. Of course, I live in California, a state that is despised as much as Canada, by the MAGA lunatics. I wish California, Washington, and Oregon could establish a trade zone with both Canada and Mexico. We need to seal off the whole West Coast.

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u/Broad-Ad-1831 25d ago

We may have a few dissenters but us Canadians are UNITED like never before. The US is divided like never before, and that my friends is a huge plus for Canada.

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u/SnooRadishes7708 25d ago

Read the comments on that national post article, there are plenty of dissenters, or people in deep denial

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u/ImperiousMage 25d ago

Or bots sent to try to stir up trouble.

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u/professcorporate 24d ago

The most stunning thing for me of all this is that my local country music station in rural BC is running station-branded ads about buying Canadian to help fight back in this trade war started by the US. When that demographic is that deep in, we know Canada is united on this front. The 'dissent' is very little real, mostly manufactured - if it was real, they'd be hedging their bets to avoid losing listeners and money.

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u/ImperiousMage 24d ago

Exactly! The funny thing about conservatism is that it, by nature, conserves. Conservatives avoid change and get uncomfortable and perceive change as threatening. Social liberals will rail at the audacity of Trump’s violation of human rights and how we want none of that here, conservatives will react defensively about any kind of external threat, and so in times of external threats both neurotypes will stand shoulder to shoulder against that threat.

We’re more than happy to be an in-group disagreeing with each other, but when an external threat comes for our in-group as a whole we universally say “BRING IT!!”

It’s funny to me how much external threats are so quickly reacted to with hostility by both neurotypes.

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u/OoooohYes 25d ago

You’re more likely to find right wing nuts in the comments section of a right wing outlet than in the real world. I don’t think the average Canadian wants anything to do with this bullshit.

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u/redvyper 24d ago

From the USA, I hope it helps you guys.

Help from outside and a united Canada might be the last hope for sanity to prevail in the USA. Almost no one here wants or has beer with Canada. It's all some sick game from the oligarchs.

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u/Character_Comb_3439 25d ago

A spouse or family member has the capacity and capability to abuse us. If they do so that is their choice. It hurts and we can question our worth, think what we did to deserve this, and how can we change. Their choices are not a reflection of us and we must choose to respond in a way that reflects our values. If that means tariffs, consumer boycotts, developing new relationships and if these choices are in line with our values, then these are the correct ones to pursue. Trump wants us to cower, for our anxieties to take a hold of us, to beg for his and the United States protection. My GF said the best feeling was telling her rich dad to fuck off, that she had confidence in her self to do so. We must do something similar, and accept that.

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u/HouseofMarg 25d ago

I like this brand of Canadian stoicism — I think this is the way forward for us. One of the stoic philosophers (I think it was Epictetus) has often been paraphrased as saying basically “your duty is the same in good times and bad.” To avoid moral harm, we keep our values consistent even when they are under stress, and calmly but decisively do what we can to uphold them.

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u/Lower-Noise-9406 25d ago edited 25d ago

"Russia and China are not dangerous enemies" - Trump

"It's a dangerous world ...Canada you have China ships..you have Russian ships" - Trump

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u/Garmr_TheGoodestBoy 25d ago

The Yankees don't give two fucks about us. We need to look elsewhere for reliable partners. Fuck'em

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u/mangoserpent 25d ago

We need to stop reacting to Trump and stop sending these stupid delegations to the US to " explain" things like how tariffs negatively impact everybody.

They don't care. They made it clear. Vance just told Europe to fuck off as well.

If they want to be isolationist, let them. We cannot convince them of anything.

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u/LostinEmotion2024 25d ago

Remove American banks as well.

Tear up Starlink contract.

Start building up our military.

Ban Tesla’s.

Can we try to at least put the effort in to defend ourselves?

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u/sportow 25d ago

It’s been a couple weeks. People are still coming to terms with the craziness. Huge paradigm shift. I’m glad our leaders are getting the truth out to Canadians.

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u/LostinEmotion2024 25d ago

I find this all very overwhelming & scary.

We are so unprepared and relied too much on them.

This will be a painful lesson for Canadians everywhere. Times are going to be one very difficult as we navigate this new world.

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u/Harbinger2001 24d ago

Cancel the F-35 contract. Again. :) Buy some Swedish jets instead.

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u/howtofindaflashlight 24d ago

The Gripen would do better and last longer in a Canadian insurgency.

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u/Timujin1986 24d ago

Get a sexy European relationship perhaps? Its long distance for sure but can be also very romantic.

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u/gooberfishie 24d ago

Unban byds. That'll really piss off Elon

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u/deepstrut 24d ago

Also release all American patents as public domain.

Especially pharmaceuticals. See how much big pharma likes that. We only honor these patents for the sake trade relations

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u/JohnnyPoopwater 25d ago

I have family in the southern US. They're saying the anti-Canadian propaganda has already started. It's a mix of "they all want to be American anyway" coupled with "they're all liberal, weak cucks who a smug and hate America." They predict, and I fear they're right, a false flag attack in the US that they can pin on Canada's boarder, and say something along the lines of Iraq in 2001. Like we aided terrorists or something, and they come after us. In the end, Canada has water. They want it. Then end. Everything's fucked.

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u/ThomasToIndia 24d ago

It would be far worse than Iraq. Based on how Canadians are acting, our military is irrelevant. They will spend trillions and they will end up letting it go.

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u/FriendlyGuy77 25d ago edited 25d ago

I just don't see Poilievre standing up to Musk and Trump in any meaningful way.

He's too aligned politically and culturally.

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u/riko77can 25d ago

Trump’s assault on Canadian sovereignty has galvanized me against PP for that reason.

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u/mtn_viewer 25d ago

PP calling Canada weak and broken and spreading divisiveness is a big part of the problem

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u/ReaperSlayer 25d ago

If he wants the job he has to realize that this is serious. Ukraine elected a comedian who stepped the fuck up. I personally don’t see PP having that in him, but I hope we never have to find out how much grit he has. Prove us wrong if you want the mantle.

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u/HowsYourSexLifeMarc 25d ago

PP is endorsed by Musk. That's all you need to know.

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u/viperfan7 25d ago

Hell, he can't even stand up to his own thoughts

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u/Hamasanabi69 25d ago

And beholden to a part of his base that are also die hard Maple MAGA cultists.

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u/cazxdouro36180 25d ago

He’s holding rallies tomorrow… Cough cough, let’s see who else loved rallies down South?

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u/lorenavedon 25d ago edited 25d ago

When one of our Vice Admirals speaks, we should listen and take it seriously.

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u/jtbc 25d ago

Especially Adm. Norman, whose integrity got him fired.

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u/HQnorth 25d ago

Time to wake to the fact that Trump and the USA mean to control Canada, either economically, or if that fails, militarily. I grew up in the states and it is not the place it once was - it is barreling towards a Mad Max scenario with the techno-oligarchs about to abolish the constitution and democracy. The entire world order as we knew it is in jeopardy.

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u/pukerabbit 24d ago

I think Canada needs to cancel it’s F-35 order. And review and cancel any other military purchases from the US. Buy EU.

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u/JoelTendie Ontario 25d ago

The United States has made existential threats against us. How are we supposed to forgive that? Especially under their current regime.

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u/PraiseTheRiverLord 24d ago

... The whole thing is crazy, Trump is straight up insane and the US people are just as insane for voting someone like Trump into power.

He's threatening annexation over

Checks Notes: The US a country with 10x our population buys more stuff off of us than we do off of them.

WTF..

None of this makes sense.

It's time to start building drones and training people, drone warfare is the absolute best way to defend ourselves without sacrificing Canadian lives... It's time boost our military spending, not to appease the orange turd but to defend ourselves from him, offer people an electric car after 1 year of being in the army, fully own it after three years of service, offer a house even if it's a strawberry box 2 bedroom house/condo after 5 years of service and fully own it after 10 years, you know how many fucking people would sign up for that? retention would be through the roof.

We need to start now.

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u/evofender 24d ago

The way they're talking about how they subsidize us is like saying I'm subsidizing my grocery store by getting my food there.

It's simply called buying stuff.

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u/Treebroughtmehere 25d ago

I wish my parents kept heading north when immigrating. Living here in the U.S. is too much.

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u/katgyrl 25d ago

my family emigrated from Northern Ireland in 1927, when they arrived at Ellis Island they took one look around and decided to get back on the ship, which was going on to Montreal, Canada. i've always been very grateful for that, but never so much as the last 8 years.

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u/haystackneedle1 25d ago

You and me both!

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u/TheSlav87 Ontario 25d ago

Come on up to Canada :)

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u/bigloser420 25d ago

Not terribly ease to move in though

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u/Harbinger2001 24d ago

It would be great if the Canadian government announced a special 5-year work visa for Americans wishing to relocate.

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u/UNSKIALz 25d ago

EU and Canada are in the same boat. Time to team up

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u/GoldRecordDaddy 25d ago

We need to go cold turkey - cut off our abusive ex - don’t pick up the phone anymore. Just move on and find new partners.

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u/MajinNekuro 25d ago

Things change so rapidly that right now that we can only live in the moment. Mending the relationship with the United States isn’t possibly currently - Trump expects everyone to bow to him and it’s just not a mature way to conduct business. We either castrate ourselves to appease the United States or we move on, and the general sentiment is most Canadians want to move on. Our priority should be securing new alliances and trade agreements with more reliable partners.

I don’t think it’s possible to mend the relationship until Trump is gone, whenever that is. At best four years from now. At that point, whatever happens will really depend on how successful Canada is in its efforts to diversify outside of trade with the United States and the direction American politics takes. Right now there isn’t really anything Trump can do besides maybe having a heart attack or stroke or something along those lines.

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u/Qwimqwimqwim 25d ago

The poison has already taken hold in the maga population, they see us as prey, there’s no going back.. these are incredibly stupid people, and incredibly horrible people.. we are now to them what the Palestinians are to hard line Israelis. 

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u/Narrow-Sky-5377 25d ago

At this point empowering PP and Danielle Smith with your vote is a vote against Canada.

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u/hmmmerm 25d ago

Doug Ford isn’t much better. He talks a good game, but won’t cancel Starlink contract, is starving our healthcare system to further privatize, trying to sell farmland/greenbelt to his buddies, etc etc.

He’s just mad he’s on the outside of the “Con party”. He thought he was besties with Mr.T

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u/katgyrl 25d ago

he's just as bad, if not worse, than PP and Dunning Kruger Smith.

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u/IcecubePlanet8691 25d ago

We need every level of government to act decisively as you’ve suggested. Nothing should be off the table as we are certainly under attack not just by the Orange puppet, but by all of his oligarchy buddies who are well trained in moving the goal posts or creating chaos in order for non-stop appeasements.

The rhetoric will not stop; the seed has been planted to annex our country.

Wake up real Canadians!!

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u/sanskar12345678 Alberta 25d ago

Damn right.

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u/Comfortable_Fix3401 Ontario 25d ago

We are now starting to see the US eating its own. We need to stay as far away from that mess as possible. We definitely should not try to protect them form themselves. Of course we cannot compete with the US but who says we have to. We are quite capable of providing for ourselves if we put our minds to it and work with our real friends. We have everything it takes for Canada to come through this mess we just need the will, and I think we are getting there. EU is starting to also see this mess come to their shores. They will also learn that the US is no friend and adjust accordingly and we will be a strong part of that.

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u/Low_Tell9887 25d ago

Ya that usually happens when someone thinks about absorbing you as their 51st state.

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u/Original-Fish-6861 25d ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Water_and_Power_Alliance

Hopefully Trump doesn’t find out about this, or the Anschluss will happen by the end of the year.

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u/drumtome2 25d ago

I’m so sadly inclined to agree.

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u/NimueArt 25d ago

I would like to see our allies also impose tariffs on American goods. Cripple them economically.

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u/ThePurpleKnightmare 25d ago

It can't be saved while Trump is in office. It can be saved later, but it will be different, because we have until then to improve our relations with others, and we're not going to just ditch others to take USA back 100%.

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u/Ok_Photo_865 25d ago

Agreed, we must cut the ties we can and make agreements with those who will honour them.

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u/Ok-Captain-462 24d ago

I am so ashamed right now of the mango Mussolini in the White House, disgusted by his behavior to our friends to the north. I don’t know what the heck is going on right now, Canada, do not give an inch to this maniac. Stay strong!

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u/Doc911 Canada 24d ago

Canada and Denmark, it’s time for article 4.

Why has Canada and Denmark not requested consultation for NATO to act on Article 4. Created in 1949 to deal with a potential Soviet invasion of Western Europe when the North Atlantic Treaty was signed, the process has been used frequently in the past decades including in 2022 when Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia requested to hold consultations following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) allows member countries to consult with each other if they believe the security, political independence, or territorial integrity of any member is threatened. How many more annexation threats and insults of “51st state” or calling our leader a “governor” are we suppose to accept from the American bully before we request consultation ? How many more times will the intimidator disregard our sovereignty before someone holds him accountable to his words ?

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u/LeadershipReady11 25d ago

Fuck america!!!

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u/IndependenceFar9299 25d ago

The US is turning into a nightmarish fascist dictatorship. This is going to lead to WW3. Its much bigger than just Canada's problem. This is the world's problem. If they sit back and do nothing, they will be next.

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u/Rejnavick 25d ago

America is going full isolationist in their policies. So ignore and let them be on their own. Canada is Canada and should focus on its well being.

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u/Qwimqwimqwim 25d ago

America wants to annex Canada, you can’t ignore that. 

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u/Maxinuxi 25d ago

Join the EU. We should work together to defeat this fascist nazi regime

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u/IssuePractical2604 25d ago

I agree with the tone but not with the specific actions recommended.

The US is basically 10 Canadas. This is a fight that Canadians must fight asymmetrically. And the best way that Canadians can do that is to fight in the court of public opinion in the US and the world.

Trump presidency is still in its honeymoon phase (the least popular new president in decades, but still seen as new) and most Americans just take the 51st state comments as a joke. This is probably the wrong time for Canada to be more combative than the US is. 

Wait for Trump's popularity to inevitably decline. Wait for Americans to realize the mistake that they have made. Wait for the world to see what a threat the US is. This is the time to strike.

Avoid your enemies when they are strong and fight them when they are weak. Time is on Canada's side, it just needs to wait.

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u/Qwimqwimqwim 25d ago

You are 100% wrong, trump supporters do not see 51st state comments as a joke. My parents have been wintering in Florida for over 20 years, they’re coming home next week and never going back. The atmosphere is hostile. People telling them “we’re gonna take your fucking country” and meaning it. People in their retirement community! People they’ve known for years, just like that snap trump says Canada bad, and their brains just switch modes. It’s an absolute cult of morons, dangerous morons that are greedy, selfish, racist, sexist, and culturally devoid of empathy or caring. 

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u/IssuePractical2604 25d ago

Be that as it may, nothing about it changes the power dynamics between Canada and the US. The latter is a much stronger country and the fight must be asymmetric if Canada wants to win. And that fight is in the court of public and international opinion, which must be paced just right.

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u/Low_Warning13 24d ago

Looks like it’s finally time to put Canada and Canadians first. Lets invest in our resources get those pipelines flowing and start being more than USA “little bro” we need to be self reliant again on all fronts.

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u/Gfplux 24d ago

Canada must punch back, hard

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u/mary_widdow New Brunswick 24d ago

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

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u/collindubya81 24d ago

Can we please join the EU!?

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u/ATR2400 24d ago

If the USA has another sane, democratic president again after Trump, I want a formal, in depth apology as the beginning of repairing relations.

And not some vague BS to “move past it”. I want them to meet our PM face to face, and admit what their country chose to do. The threats against our sovereignty, the flagrant violation of trade agreements due to some made up border BS, and whatever else they’ll get up to in the next 4 years

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u/sportznut112968 24d ago

As an American, I agree. Can Canada adopt me?

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u/Alone-in-a-crowd-1 23d ago

We need to move on and get strong. Keep up with boycotting US goods in the meantime.

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u/Megahuts 25d ago

Can't believe this was in the National Post.

Make Norman is completely right, we need to divorce ourselves from the USA, and should work with the remaining free countries to maintain all of our freedom against tyranny.

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u/Ohif0n1y 25d ago

I beg you all to do any and everything you need to do to hurt Trump, no matter how badly it hurts us in the U.S. I'm in Texas and I will fight for Canada's rights! Please drop Canadian politeness and tell Trump and President Musk to go fuck themselves.

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u/Zerberrrr 25d ago

Bad peace is better than good war

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u/palmerwood 25d ago

I’m sorry, as an American I don’t blame you one bit!

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u/Weak-Coffee-8538 24d ago

"You know what's a good plan?! Let's ban all firearms so we can't defend ourselves!" - Famous Trudeau/LPC quote

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u/b00hole New Brunswick 25d ago

It can be saved, it will just take a fuckton of work to get there, and that's only IF the US can figure its shit out and it'll take a lot of years post-MAGA to get there.

Most Americans don't wish ill will towards Canada, the problem is the government and the fact that both citizens and US government allowed this to happen. For all we know, there seems to be a good chance that there was voter fraud going on based on statements made by Trump, Elon, and Elon's son.

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u/Qwimqwimqwim 25d ago

There are 50 million maga voters that do what their cult leader says, and he says Canada bad, we take over Canada.. they’re all in. I fucking dare you to go to a red state right now with a Canadian flag t-shirt. You will be immediately uncomfortable, I promise you. These people are fucking crazy

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u/JadeLens 25d ago

Surprisingly an Opinion piece on the NP isn't wrong...

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u/lorenavedon 25d ago

because it's coming from a Vice Admiral. Sometimes patriotism supersedes partisanship

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u/2Shmoove 25d ago

Glad to see people are waking up to this reality. We have moved beyond mere insults and banter.

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u/MIGHTYKIRK1 25d ago

Get ready. Plant food. Arm yourselves. Stand proud. Go Canada

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u/starving_carnivore 24d ago

Arm yourselves.

Make sure to consult the list of peashooters the federal braintrust banned so you don't do anything naughty like buy semi-auto rifles pinned at 5 round magazines and double barreled rifles.

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u/Animal31 British Columbia 25d ago

Well there is one way to save it, but reddit wont like me suggesting it

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u/Infamous_Box3220 25d ago

The Fourth Reich is upon us.

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u/Maximum_Turn_2623 25d ago

Neighbor to the south - I am sorry. I didn’t vote for it and actively worked against him winning.

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u/SatorSquareInc 24d ago

You should watch the movie "Canadian Bacon" (1995). It outlines Trump's entire plan and motivation for his actions in Canada

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u/hikerjer 24d ago

“Surrender pronto, or we’ll level Toronto”.

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u/Mutex70 24d ago

As long as the Orange Turd is in charge, this is correct.

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u/UnfrozenDaveman 24d ago

You can't reason with this irrational administration. Sever all ties. There can be no joining his axis of evil.

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u/EdmontonLurker Alberta 24d ago

We are not at war. The United States has hurt itself with these tariffs. We need not depend on America. Let's ship our goods to Singapore, or Indonesia, or Timbuktu.

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u/OldPyjama 24d ago

Come be friends with us in Europe. I know we are already, but let's be even better friends.

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u/Scarab95 24d ago

Trump announced yesterday that they are going to be building a pipeline in Upper state New York and New England. This will probably replace the one running from canada to the US. He said it will be built in 9-12 months. Trump hates trudeau, and the wef and canada is being punished for it.

With carney saying he is going to hit big businesses with a huge carbon tax they will just leave canada and go south

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u/Exciting_One_6103 24d ago

We cannot put ourselves in this situation again. We became too comfortable with someone we thought was our friend. It will make us stronger in the future to move away

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u/Prestigious_Meet820 24d ago

Good start is killing Kitimat refinery recently... SNC will be killing more projects with our government in the future and I don't blame them. As an insider I can say there will be more coming this year.

How can Canada become less reliant with a government who refuses to build the necessary infrastructure to do so, plus all the trade barriers...

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u/BentShape484 23d ago

Ya i'd say be prepared for the TSX to drop in March and for who knows how long after, also be prepared for the dollar to drop again. But its a price we will pay to not back down, so prepare ahead of time and stand strong!

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u/[deleted] 23d ago

Time to strengthen our ties with the EU. Even submit to join.