The sombre mien—that’s what stayed with me. On Saturday, Mark Carney looked less like a prime minister briefing media on trade negotiations than a wartime leader telling his country a feared turn had finally arrived and preparing them for a long ordeal. The intense, all-out effort to stop crushing new tariffs had failed, with Carney grimly explaining that the United States insists on “short-term transactions” rather than “long-term partnerships” and that its commitments could no longer be assumed to hold.
American demands reportedly went well beyond tariffs, market access, and sectoral protections. They targeted Canada’s freedom to set domestic cultural policy, interpret agreements it had already signed, and conduct trade relations with third countries. The loss of our sovereignty was too high a price for preserving economic integration. What prime minister would accept Canada becoming a vassal state on his watch? With the collapse of talks, and Carney describing the country as being “attacked,” it’s hard not to feel like we have crossed into a different moment—that we are living in a slightly darker reality.
Throughout the weekend, The Walrus spoke to economists, policy experts, and political observers about what exactly has changed and what this new period might demand of Canada.
Through a 'forced resignation' - making Trump an offer he can not refuse. Resign or be impeached. Vance only needs a few Republicans to turn, as it is a certainty that every Democrat would vote for his impeachment. All Vance needs to do is to convince the Democrats that it was their idea. The 'treason' angle is still very much able to return front-and-center. I am sure Vance has had the time to dig up the really incriminating stuff. Really juicy stuff like a scandal of Trump Corp. making huge inside gains based on intel Kushner fed Trump Corp operatives - take down both Trump AND Kushner. Doesn't have to be the truth - doesn't even have to be believable. With an approval rating in the 30's, no one will want to go down with a sinking ship. Vance has to act before Rubio gets a toe-hold. But Vance needs at least a year as POTUS in order for him to get entrenched. As a narcissist, Vance out-Trumps Trump.
Incidentally, it is obvious that whatever occurred in the past will have absolutely no predictive vale today. America is in a free-for-all spiral down with nothing but knee-jerk reactions, and a clear-headed Vance to steer his way through the morass.