Canada does have a plan for dealing with trade war
By Lethbridge Herald on August 2, 2025.
Editor,
Re: “Canada has no plan to stand up against Trump” — Letter published Friday, July 18.
Dennis Bremmer’s concern about Canada’s response to Donald Trump’s provocations is understandable. But claiming our nation has no plan overlooks crucial facts. Canada is not passive — it’s mobilizing with clear intent. The federal government has introduced a $1.3 billion border security package, including advanced surveillance and detection technologies to respond to American criticism.
Provincial leaders have publicly signaled their readiness to deploy economic countermeasures, such as tariffs and energy restrictions. Meanwhile, strategic ad campaigns in the U.S. highlight the depth of Canada’s contributions to economic stability and trade cooperation.
And with over four million barrels of oil exported daily to the U.S., Canada holds a significant card in any negotiation. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith — along with Albertans — should recognize this not merely as a statistic but as a source of leverage that demands united national backing.
Moreover, Canadian leadership is showing signs of economic foresight. Mark Carney has begun working with key sectors — notably steel and aluminum — to shield industries from U.S. volatility and drive long-term resilience. T
he government is also exploring increased NATO defense spending by sourcing products from allied nations other than the United States, reinforcing both sovereignty and alliance commitments.
As for Mr. Bremmer’s letter — criticism without solutions can spark emotion but fails to drive action. Canada’s next chapter must be powered by strategy. Several paths forward include::
• Continuing to diversify trade relationships, a process already underway with the European Union, ASEAN, and African nations.
• Leveraging energy exports diplomatically while ramping up domestic investment in renewables to future-proof Canada’s economy.
• Building public consensus through national awareness campaigns that unify Canadians around a firm yet thoughtful response.
• Enacting legislative safeguards to protect domestic industries from abrupt foreign policy shifts. Canada is moving — not standing still.
And if Trump’s rhetoric aims to divide or intimidate, our best response is unity, readiness, and resolve.
Dennis Audette
Lethbridge
16-15
The Canadian government has indeed stepped up its border spending to appease Trump on the fentanyl issue. Now it’s time for us to demand that Trump stops the flow of illegal guns into Canada.
And further, why is it incumbent on Canada to secure the U.S. border against illegal drugs? Let them protect their own borders, at their expense.
absolutely. might we, then, based on how trump views border costs, demand that the usa does more to protect us (in addition to combat guns) from the mass of illegal drugs smuggled from there into canada.
As much as the true conservatives in my world aren’t fans of Liberals we see nothing wrong with what Trudeau did for Albertans and what Carney is trying to do for all Canadians and hurling sarcastic comments at them by these mindless Reformers without providing any proof they are hurting us is just plain stupid.
trudeau spent a fool’s fortune on a pipeline that will never return its cost to canadians; if it ever gets sold you can surely bet it will be at a fraction of what it cost taxpayers. that, of course, is typical of whatever of our corrupt parties are in power.
however, insofar as the west and especially alberta, that pipeline is entirely a gift, paid for by all canadians.
The Alberta PCs blew $35 billion on a bitumen upgrader debacle, which the UCP blew billions of dollars trying to prop it up. The Alberta PCs lost Alberta $575 billion, after they permanently altered Peter Lougheed’s excellent oil royalty rate structure. In the early 1990s, the Alberta PCs failed to properly come after oil companies in Alberta to remediate their messes, leaving Albertans with a mammoth bill of $260 billion to deal with this. The UCP blew $20 billion on the R-Star debacle. The UCP blew well over $7 billion on a pipeline bet gone bad. The UCP lost Alberta hundreds of millions of dollars by forsaking collecting property taxes from the oil companies in Alberta, and now municipalities in Alberta must charge increased municipal property taxes, because of this. Hard to top that.
This $260 billion will soon be a $500 billion disaster we are told.
entirely agree with your spot on points. corruption plays out in various ways, and is corruption even where the scams have been made “legal” by laws that allow or by not having laws that would forbid. your examples, meanwhile, make the fed libs purchase of a white elephant pipeline look like pennies alongside the examples of our alberta govt sleaze.
Why then do the oilmen know it will pay for its self? Yes it did increase in costs but was nothing to what the Reform Party fools have cost is. That was $1.2 trillion.
comparing bad to worse does not justify anything. as for profits, lol, that was all kinder morgan, as they were all too happy to get such a gift for a gaff. given the costs of the boondoggle are about 40 billion, and given the net returns are being measured in the millions, it will be a long time to get even, and much of that return of course will be in inflated dollars. so, a real even will be likely decades away…looking like a great investment, so long as we avoid going green.
the negs are saying the 40 billion dollar trans can pipeline debacle was a reasonable purchase and investment?
You are correct.
It’s time we started being pro active or at least hit the US harder with tariffs instead of waiting for the unpredictable physco south of the border. I’m satisfied with Carney’s reactions up to now but enough is enough. Trump will only become semi serious when tariffs start really hurting US consumers and they start protesting and taking to the streets.
we have 2 premiers that see trump, and/or their own interests, as being above the the whole of canada. smith and moe seem to appreciate what trump is doing, so rather than stand with the rest of the nation they do things like ensure our shelves are stocked with american liquor, and refuse to hit back in kind to trump’s tariffs. wonder how long those 2 can stay bent over touching all the way to their toes whilst trump humps.
I will rebuttle point by point Mr Dennis Audette’s letter
Thank you for your response.
We spent 1.3billion in response to a redherring. The US is responsible for its border defense not Canada. Guns and Drugs pile into Canada everyday, its CANADA’s responsibility to stop them, not the USAs. Now if we are talking some sort of cooperation agreement I would agree with your statement. The liberals jumped and wanted to know how high for one reason , hopes of stopping a Trade war, spending $1.3billion to stop President Trumps imagination was worth the gamble, in the Liberals mind!
You said …. And with over four million barrels of oil exported daily to the U.S., Canada holds a significant card in any negotiation. Actually, we don’t. The 4 million bbls travels down the same pipeline that Sarnia gets its crude from. So if we decide to weaponize oil, all the US has to do is shut the taps off in Superior Wisconsin to Line 5 and Ontario/Quebec will freeze in the dark, stalled in their cars on 401. So I see no weapon, if there is a weapon in oil, the US controls it because Once Enbridges Mainline disappears into the USA at Gretna Manitoba, its all in the USA.
Most if not all PM Carneys plans have good far too long affects but it does nothing if this Non-Free trade issue persists.
Our plan as you would call it, saddles us with huge debt for many years to come. That is Carneys long/short term plan” which is to support those that lose their jobs in ON/Quebec. It does little to get any longterm or extra longterm work started. We can continue to negotiate but we should have a GPS controlled bulldozer heading from Port Nelson MB, heading toward Cromer MB or Gretna, and another GPS controlled Bulldozer heading from Cromer/Gretna to Port Nelson, right now. I fear, we will spend the next 20 years trying to determine how to save a wetland once the woke and Eco nuts organize, as is always the case. Catering to extortionists whether home or abroad should be the last thing on the agenda.
As for aluminum/steel it will be interesting as to whether the Liberals who quickly decided to regulate Oil in the 70s to keep the economy under control, will even ponder for a second to do the same for Steel and Aluminum etc etc? Prices Made in Canada to feed the Canadian Exonomy? My guess…not a chance in Hades as that’s where there votes are. So when steel companies start to earn less because export tariffs are killing them, watch how we cut our own throats and try to make up the difference on the backs of Canadians. Why do I say this? I tried to buy a 4 foot length of 1inch x 4inch cold rolled flat bar. The price – almost $400 so good ole Canadian Corporate Greed prevails.
https://www.capp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CAPP-2023-Pipeline-and-Refinery-Map-36×22-wall-size.pdf
Trumps intent is to bankrupt us, Liberals are falling into place to ensure it, with no immediate work projects to create the stimulus to ensure otherwise. So for a minimum of 3-5 years we will talk projects, pay out those who lost thier jobs, driving up huge deficits. We will have no shovel in the ground projects to offset these expenses. We won’t actually employ anyone except; Liberal Engineering companies to do studies,Liberal Surveyors to plot out projects, Liberal Woke to negotiate every expropriation and take years to settle through the Liberal Court system. We will appoint Liberal Groups to listen to the “Woke and EcoNuts” to draft up lengthy 3-5 year reports which will be handed off to Liberal Thinktanks who will then stall and order more studies untill we are broke.The fan fare for announcements of future shovels in the ground will be huge so as to pass on as much money to the Liberal base as possible, the results will be laughable…..and Trump wins!
Wetlands are important, Dennis.
Not as important as Canada’s very existence!
the quality of existence and the ability to exist is entirely dependent upon the health and balance of the natural world. so much of our plundering is primarily done to fuel wealth accumulation and consumerism and want driven lifestyles, rather than needs based living that would respect balance and all life. it is curious as it dumbfounding how so many, even as we swirl down the toilet bowl, still see money and material and digital crap as the measure of our greatness. god forbid we would care to ensure we sustain and pass along a healthy planet if it means we shant have whatever stuff we want when we want it.
Regarding first paragraph: Line 5 receiving oil from the oil sands via 1-4, in addition to Ontario and Quebec (as you mentioned), also supplies the product to Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. Thus shutting off the flow at Superior Wisconsin , would disrupt flow further south. Keystone XL directly transports crude to Texan refineries. Line 6 from Superior, also heads south. Fact is the tariffs are lower (10%) for our crude because of their value to the US – despite Trump’s assurances otherwise.
Easy to blame Carney or indeed any Canadian politician, professor , local government or whatever, but the reality is that dealing with a lying, manipulative , sociopathic dick-head , would be enough to challenge the sanctity of all the biblical saints combined.
That wasn’t the point, the point is, if we shutoff Oil to the US, we are shutting off oil to On/Que.
you said: “dealing with a lying, manipulative , sociopathic dick-head ,” again, thats my point, why bother? The guy wants to bankrupt Canada and make us the 51st state. That should be the start and end point. No further discussion required.
No, the point is shutting off oil to eastern US , directly affects Ontario and Quebec , not all of our oil exports.
The 4 million barrels per day of oil exports does not travel down the same pipeline. About 600,000 barrels travels down Keystone XL. A smaller amount admittedly, but still significant.
His rhetoric about the 51st are the rumblings of a privileged person determined to undermine normal international relations. Some of which actually do make sense, but the 51st is just that, mumbling meant to disrupt.
Lying over and playing dead is not the answer, but the way forward is not helped by petty bickering amongst some premiers using the NIMBY platform.
Carney’s idea to fast track development is already facing head-winds from multiple sources , some who think it is too soon and too fast , others have completely the opposite viewpoint. Either way, any internal progress is already being thwarted.