Time for another visit from The Panel — Marci Surkes, Allison Gifford, Garry Keller — to discuss all the stuff that’s going on. Starting, of course, with Doug Ford’s Reagan tariff ads. Many excellent cautionary notes from the gang, including: Is it really in Canada’s interest to poke the bear? Is it really in Ontario’s wheelhouse to drive Canada’s trade policy? Is it worth doing any of this if it has little chance of provoking any change in US policy? And all the more so if Trump’s reprisals hurt Canadian business and the Canadian households that count on it?
You can listen for yourself, but it becomes clear early on that I’m in the unaccustomed position of disagreeing. To me, in a democracy anyone should be able to say anything to anyone. Especially if the “anything” is true, important, and (this part is secondary, but a bonus) something Ronald Reagan said first. I think it’s fine to advertise for trade policy in the U.S., given that this will displace ads for McDonald’s and online sports gambling. And most of all, I can’t imagine living in fear of provoking a level of fiat that the President has shown is at the heart of his style. Buy peace now and live forever in fear of confrontation next week? No thanks.
So we have a debate. I think I was pretty good about letting the gang do most of the talking? Also, we check in on the odd insistence from the Liberal House Leader, Steve McKinnon, that he’s short some votes for a confidence vote that could come next week.
A good conversation all around. Thanks for listening and watching.
