Close Reading

Prime minister: you use big words US president will not understand

Americans obviously didn’t understand what tariffs are, didn’t get that it’s an import tax which they must pay on goods and products they buy from Canada, a tax which tRump collects from Americans and uses to pay for tax-cuts for the richest citizens. But one more thing Americans don’t get is that before this fateful day an unofficial boycott against ALL US goods has been growing since tRump insulted Canada’s Prime Minister and threatened Canada’s sovereignty—whereas Canada’s official countervails ( which only kicked-in today )only target certain US goods, not ALL of them like ordinary Canadians are doing in growing numbers right now—in fact, the imposition of tRump’s tariffs today has only made the unofficial boycott bigger and more organized. It’s heartening that so many nations have solicited Canada, offering alternative sources for common US exports to Canada —citrus fruits, pharmaceuticals, and other manufactures, to name a few.\n\nI don’t think Canadians even realize how big this unofficial boycott is getting because it’s growing so fast. I’ve never seen a surge in Canadian patriotism like this. Never in my seven decades —which includes the two Referenda on Quebec separation. And there’s a federal election approaching when all partisans will be one-upping each other in the patriotism department—which manifests in more boycotts of US goods and hospitality services.\n\n Americans should know that the unofficial boycott is more harmful to US exporters than the official targeted countervails because it features immediate and longterm diminishment of Canadian purchases of US goods—all retailers know it’s very hard to recover lost customers once they’ve found alternatives (and the added patriotic effect only makes it worse). Included is diminishment of Canadian visits to the USA. Indeed, the internet is replete with testimonies of Canadian”snow birds” not only forgoing their annual sojourn in the Florida or Arizona sunshine but also of selling their properties there with the parting shot, “I will never vacation in the US again!” Already Mexico has seen its visits from Canadians (who have had a modest presence in Mexico for years) surge to unprecedented levels. I know from much-welcomed temp Mexican construction workers in BC (where I live) that they view Canadians completely differently from our mutual US neighbours—and now that affection is growing like never before. \n\nI’m continually amazed at how uninformed Americans are about tariffs—and misinformed by tRump and his goofy, preposterous, and ridiculous fantasy of world-domination. When tRump uses the lame excuse to implement emergency powers —that Canada is “allowing” (as Vance puts it) fentanyl to “pour into the USA”—it’s tantamount to saying Ukraine started the war with Russia. The man is a tendentious liar and narcissistic megalomaniac. \n\nI have faith that the great nation of the USA will reject tRump’s crazy policies—we all just have to hang on and let the needless suffering for both our nations (and the world with regard strategic alliances) play out until he either relents, is swamped in legal repercussions, is impeached, or otherwise removed from office!\n\nGood luck my American and Ukrainian friends!

Mister Prime Minister, you could have used your time much better than speaking directly to Trump and hoping he is listening ..... maybe taking a big dump ....

As a Canadian - the immigration tom-foolery that is happening is just as bad up here. Our Prime Minister is a handsome idiot, he was a drama teacher before he became Prime Minister (I know, make that one make sense). He has no idea what he's doing, he's being used as a puppet for more experienced extortionists-erm-politicians. With the help of his party members and a coalition with another party, in less than ten years he has taken Canada from a great place to visit and live to basically what's happening in NY. Crime in our cities has gone up dramatically. Theft is on the rise. Homelessness and drug use is through the roof. Immigration is out of control. And our government also prioritizes immigrants and asylum seekers before born and raised Canadian citizens. As a Canadian who is tired of the nonsense that's been happening in the world this past decade, I wish our government would put on their big boy pants and do something about this uncontrolled immigration. Things are bad here too. Our government seems to keep changing policies and laws to further accomodate the insanity that is happening, I promise, not every Canadian wants these changes to happen. We are just as sick and tired of all this nonsense as our American cousins. I wouldn't be surprised if both countries at some point united in objective and worked together to fix this problem - but that's not gonna happen anytime soon as long as these dummies are in power. But believe me, the regular people of Canada see what you're going through because it's also happening in our own back yard. From this Canadian, I wish you all strength and courage in the coming days, we're all going to need it. God bless, and stay safe everyone <3

I came from France back in 2015 whith my familly when Harper was still prime minister at the time , really I'd say things have been really great , my family and I have worked hard to get to where we are today and have always wanted to give back to our community here but I am disgusted to see in 2024 what Trudeau has done to the country and to see that immigration is no longer as prestigious as it used to be. Unlike some people we have today, I had to wait 3 years with my family before receiving approval to move to Canada (after so many exams, appointments and waiting times). I did my middle school here until college and I'm currently still looking for work in correctional and when I see that people arrive here afterwards without being permanent residents, who are literally flooding spots at colleges/university and also jobs that are normally open for young canadians in their 15-16 (When I was in high school, my first job was at a McDonald's, and without exception, everyone there was Canadian. Today, when I go back to the same McDonald's for a cheeseburger every now and then, the entire staff is nothing but Indians) .As a person with an immigrant background, I'm the first one to say that there's a very big problem in Canada, and that current immigration, mainly from India, is no longer for economic reasons but to reunite families.(They do not, and will never, assimilate into Canadian culture.)Now that I've grown up in Canada for almost half my life, I'm already thinking about either returning to France or start over somewhere else if nothing changes.\n\nThe Trudeau government, uncontrolled immigration, dangerous idelogies from extreme far left idea, rising unemployment, and economic misery getting worse every day , gradually pushes me away from the country I love, Oh Canada.