I also believe that only the Americans will solve this issue for us. They need to get to Trump and say what they think about his tariffs. This ad helped them to do that. Today, CNN reported that more Americans like Canada than like Trump or his tariffs. BTW, Ford did say that Carney and his Chief of Staff saw the ad before it was released. Watch for Eby.
I'm with Paul. There's going to pain for the next four years no matter how nice we are. We need to convince Americans their President is going down the wrong path and it's up to them to tell him that. We need to hunker down, prepare for a tough go and, at the same time, look for opportunities somewhere else. When the Americans eventually come back looking to repair the relationship, then we can be nice.
Agreed. But people are perplexing. Those who agree that Trump manifests the traits of sociopathy, and that he may at anytime behave irrationally because of a conversation in his own mind, at the same time still expect him not to.
Trade negotiations have not concluded because they haven't really commenced; both sides know this is not an exercise of good faith, that it's performative. There can be no deal until this changes, but it cannot until Trump has expired.
I liked the ad. I think that we need a fine balance between bon cop bad cop. I have no problem with this. I thought it was marvellous to speak directly to the American people in language they understand from a trusted source. The People are the ones that have to speak up and say "no." Then we'll see just how this cookie will crumble.
I have no issue at all with Ford's play here. He's Not a minister in the government of Canada, so the long-term blowback for the national scheme is easily sidestepped once this is 72hrs in the rear view mirror. In the meantime there are a lot of sub-national governors of both parties who probably appreciate Ford opening the window a little bit in terms of what can be said - and was said by RR! - in defense of free trade. As our brothers in Michigan would say, kick out the jams.
Mark Carney keeps saying that we will have to make sacrifices but he never gives a hint about what those sacrifices will be and who will suffer. That too is a deficiency in this government's communication strategy.
I am generally in agreement but not in this case! Good politics for Ford showing he is tough but it is irresponsible to poke the bear just because you can! This bear is above all else vindictive and being right has yet to bring him around to being more reasonable and accommodating!
Ford certainly pulled the rug out from under Carney who appears to be elbows down to get an agreement for all Canadians.
Free speech is undeniably important but having poked the bear he may win the debate but he has nothing to bargain.
So we have a “bull in the china shop” poking the bear! Where is our win???
As a U.S. citizen currently visiting Canada, I’m puzzled by Paul’s free-speech argument. Free speech is certainly threatened in my nation, but I don’t see the threat in Canada. Thus, I find Paul’s point wrong: Ford clearly has the right to cut ads (although from last night alone I’m sick of the Ring of Fire one); the question is was doing so prudent, a point on which reasonable people disagree.
Mark, you obviously missed the explicit advice that Ford should self-censor his thoughts. Self-censorship to conform to popular opinion is certainly censorship.
In a democracy anyone should be able to say anything to anyone. I suppose you’re right. I can tell the 300 lb. guy beside me in the bar that’s he’s ugly and his breath smells, but there may be consequences. Like a poke in the head. And Doug Ford isn’t anyone. He’s premier of a $1-trillion economy. What was the objective of the millions spent on this advertising campaign? Does anyone know? And were the objectives achieved? I doubt anybody knows the answers to those two questions. All we know is that this advertisement makes Carney’s job a whole lot harder. And cost Canadians millions more.
According to Ford, Carney signed off on the ad. Are you suggesting this was not the case? Watch Carney's words carefully, he has never denied being in lockstep with Ford on this ad.
Sometimes you actually do have to poke the bear (and I don't mean figuratively). One thing that I believe about Doug Ford, and maybe the only one, is that he knows how to deal with a bully. Three of the people on the screen here do not. The recommendations to follow an appeasement strategy can't flow fast enough, apparently.
We should be past this anyway. How can anyone still believe that Trump "liking" Carney means anything? Or that something anyone on this side of the border said or did "made Trump mad"? We're inches away from surrendering our sovereignty, if the hysteria about this benign ad is any sign. Where is our self-respect?
It is delusional to think that anyone else could get a firm deal or a better deal with DJT than our current PM and his team. As many here have suggested, the Ford ad was simply the pretext for the president to do what he would have done anyway - pull the rug out just as a deal seemed imminent - in the hope of getting further concessions from Canada. Carney et al are doing the smart thing by slow walking the talks until the SCOTUS makes the final determination on the legality of the tariffs. In the meantime, the PM is working around the clock to broker relationships with other potential trading partners. I am left wondering why there isn't considerably more attention and criticism regarding the role of the Premiers in creating truly open markets within Canada (i.e. staying in their lanes); and of the titans of industry in exploiting the 50 or more 'free trade' arrangements that have already been inked by this country. My fear is that private sector complacency will result in a situation where those other countries sell to us but we doggedly pursue a status quo with the USA which is likely to continue to deteriorate for the foreseeable future.
A couple of people writing in the Globe have pointed out that this is straight out of "Art Of The Deal" - dangle something in front of the person you're negotiating with, then take it away, all to make them think that they've lost something and must do whatever they can to get it back. Seems as plausible as anything at this point.
The Ford advertisement was bad for Canada because it will delay getting an agreement in place, and the longer it takes the more time it gives the U.S. to sign agreements with other countries to supply all the stuff we send south. And once we lose our most important customer, it will be a long, long time before we get them back. The Liberals who once said "it is better to have no deal than a bad deal" will be walking back those words especially if the USMCA ends up in the shredder.
One can bargain with the self-empowering view that we bring something of value to the negotiating table, or alternatively, negotiating from a point of weakness netting weak results. Canada knows full well its products and resources which can be used for leverage when negotiating and that should be its focus. Always negotiate from a position of strength -- elbows up, never settling for a bad deal.
To date, under Carney's direction Canada has not been using Carney's own advice.
Was the Ford ad just bad timing? I suspect he’s been pushing for rhetorical elbows up for some time and Carney just decided he had to let him try. The real issue is whether we think we are in the right time frame to get a decent deal that Trump will stick to. My own belief is that it’s too early, a later time frame with a weaker Trump is a better bet. In the meantime, the PM is telegraphing to the Canadian people that we need to keep the knee bent. That’s not the way you generate the national resolve and solidarity needed to withstand the pain of tariffs, and we will need to suffer pain before we get to a deal we can live with.
Regarding trade, Howard Lutnick, has reputedly stated that the Trudeau cabinet holdovers, calling them a socialist regime, are making negotiations difficult.
Regarding a non-confidence motion on the budget. Canada went through an unnecessary election during Covid. It went through another when Trudeau prorogued parliament to avoid scrutiny over the green tech fund. Yes, the Conservatives should force an election. Unlike the two Trudeau minority government efforts, this is a needed election.
Let's review timelines. Trump sees the ad Mon-Tue. The feds issue retaliatory tariffs on Stellantis and GM on Thu (as I recall) for doing exactly what Trump wanted them to do by relocating production to the US. Perhaps a direct punch in his face? Why has there been no discussion about that?
Love these panels, Paul. Always look forward to them. Cheers!
I also believe that only the Americans will solve this issue for us. They need to get to Trump and say what they think about his tariffs. This ad helped them to do that. Today, CNN reported that more Americans like Canada than like Trump or his tariffs. BTW, Ford did say that Carney and his Chief of Staff saw the ad before it was released. Watch for Eby.
I'm with Paul. There's going to pain for the next four years no matter how nice we are. We need to convince Americans their President is going down the wrong path and it's up to them to tell him that. We need to hunker down, prepare for a tough go and, at the same time, look for opportunities somewhere else. When the Americans eventually come back looking to repair the relationship, then we can be nice.
Agreed. But people are perplexing. Those who agree that Trump manifests the traits of sociopathy, and that he may at anytime behave irrationally because of a conversation in his own mind, at the same time still expect him not to.
Trade negotiations have not concluded because they haven't really commenced; both sides know this is not an exercise of good faith, that it's performative. There can be no deal until this changes, but it cannot until Trump has expired.
I liked the ad. I think that we need a fine balance between bon cop bad cop. I have no problem with this. I thought it was marvellous to speak directly to the American people in language they understand from a trusted source. The People are the ones that have to speak up and say "no." Then we'll see just how this cookie will crumble.
I have no issue at all with Ford's play here. He's Not a minister in the government of Canada, so the long-term blowback for the national scheme is easily sidestepped once this is 72hrs in the rear view mirror. In the meantime there are a lot of sub-national governors of both parties who probably appreciate Ford opening the window a little bit in terms of what can be said - and was said by RR! - in defense of free trade. As our brothers in Michigan would say, kick out the jams.
Mark Carney keeps saying that we will have to make sacrifices but he never gives a hint about what those sacrifices will be and who will suffer. That too is a deficiency in this government's communication strategy.
I am generally in agreement but not in this case! Good politics for Ford showing he is tough but it is irresponsible to poke the bear just because you can! This bear is above all else vindictive and being right has yet to bring him around to being more reasonable and accommodating!
Ford certainly pulled the rug out from under Carney who appears to be elbows down to get an agreement for all Canadians.
Free speech is undeniably important but having poked the bear he may win the debate but he has nothing to bargain.
So we have a “bull in the china shop” poking the bear! Where is our win???
As a U.S. citizen currently visiting Canada, I’m puzzled by Paul’s free-speech argument. Free speech is certainly threatened in my nation, but I don’t see the threat in Canada. Thus, I find Paul’s point wrong: Ford clearly has the right to cut ads (although from last night alone I’m sick of the Ring of Fire one); the question is was doing so prudent, a point on which reasonable people disagree.
Mark, you obviously missed the explicit advice that Ford should self-censor his thoughts. Self-censorship to conform to popular opinion is certainly censorship.
In a democracy anyone should be able to say anything to anyone. I suppose you’re right. I can tell the 300 lb. guy beside me in the bar that’s he’s ugly and his breath smells, but there may be consequences. Like a poke in the head. And Doug Ford isn’t anyone. He’s premier of a $1-trillion economy. What was the objective of the millions spent on this advertising campaign? Does anyone know? And were the objectives achieved? I doubt anybody knows the answers to those two questions. All we know is that this advertisement makes Carney’s job a whole lot harder. And cost Canadians millions more.
According to Ford, Carney signed off on the ad. Are you suggesting this was not the case? Watch Carney's words carefully, he has never denied being in lockstep with Ford on this ad.
Sometimes you actually do have to poke the bear (and I don't mean figuratively). One thing that I believe about Doug Ford, and maybe the only one, is that he knows how to deal with a bully. Three of the people on the screen here do not. The recommendations to follow an appeasement strategy can't flow fast enough, apparently.
We should be past this anyway. How can anyone still believe that Trump "liking" Carney means anything? Or that something anyone on this side of the border said or did "made Trump mad"? We're inches away from surrendering our sovereignty, if the hysteria about this benign ad is any sign. Where is our self-respect?
It depends on the consequences of poking the bear.
These consequences are NOT being shared equally by Canadians.
The auto-worker with a mortgage can lose their home, job, financial future and lifestyle.
The retired boomer with a pension loses nothing but their pride.
It is delusional to think that anyone else could get a firm deal or a better deal with DJT than our current PM and his team. As many here have suggested, the Ford ad was simply the pretext for the president to do what he would have done anyway - pull the rug out just as a deal seemed imminent - in the hope of getting further concessions from Canada. Carney et al are doing the smart thing by slow walking the talks until the SCOTUS makes the final determination on the legality of the tariffs. In the meantime, the PM is working around the clock to broker relationships with other potential trading partners. I am left wondering why there isn't considerably more attention and criticism regarding the role of the Premiers in creating truly open markets within Canada (i.e. staying in their lanes); and of the titans of industry in exploiting the 50 or more 'free trade' arrangements that have already been inked by this country. My fear is that private sector complacency will result in a situation where those other countries sell to us but we doggedly pursue a status quo with the USA which is likely to continue to deteriorate for the foreseeable future.
A couple of people writing in the Globe have pointed out that this is straight out of "Art Of The Deal" - dangle something in front of the person you're negotiating with, then take it away, all to make them think that they've lost something and must do whatever they can to get it back. Seems as plausible as anything at this point.
The Ford advertisement was bad for Canada because it will delay getting an agreement in place, and the longer it takes the more time it gives the U.S. to sign agreements with other countries to supply all the stuff we send south. And once we lose our most important customer, it will be a long, long time before we get them back. The Liberals who once said "it is better to have no deal than a bad deal" will be walking back those words especially if the USMCA ends up in the shredder.
One can bargain with the self-empowering view that we bring something of value to the negotiating table, or alternatively, negotiating from a point of weakness netting weak results. Canada knows full well its products and resources which can be used for leverage when negotiating and that should be its focus. Always negotiate from a position of strength -- elbows up, never settling for a bad deal.
To date, under Carney's direction Canada has not been using Carney's own advice.
Was the Ford ad just bad timing? I suspect he’s been pushing for rhetorical elbows up for some time and Carney just decided he had to let him try. The real issue is whether we think we are in the right time frame to get a decent deal that Trump will stick to. My own belief is that it’s too early, a later time frame with a weaker Trump is a better bet. In the meantime, the PM is telegraphing to the Canadian people that we need to keep the knee bent. That’s not the way you generate the national resolve and solidarity needed to withstand the pain of tariffs, and we will need to suffer pain before we get to a deal we can live with.
Regarding trade, Howard Lutnick, has reputedly stated that the Trudeau cabinet holdovers, calling them a socialist regime, are making negotiations difficult.
Regarding a non-confidence motion on the budget. Canada went through an unnecessary election during Covid. It went through another when Trudeau prorogued parliament to avoid scrutiny over the green tech fund. Yes, the Conservatives should force an election. Unlike the two Trudeau minority government efforts, this is a needed election.
Let's review timelines. Trump sees the ad Mon-Tue. The feds issue retaliatory tariffs on Stellantis and GM on Thu (as I recall) for doing exactly what Trump wanted them to do by relocating production to the US. Perhaps a direct punch in his face? Why has there been no discussion about that?
very civil comments