Posts Tagged ‘news’

Hope over Despair

Posted: August 29, 2025 in Uncategorized
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Here’s what Mark Carney did today.

In a rapidly shifting global landscape, the Prime Minister announced the launch of a new Major Projects Office (MPO) headquartered in Calgary (any comments Premier Smith), with additional offices opening in other major Canadian cities. Backed by legislation already passed this June, the MPO is designed to fast-track nation-building projects, ports, railways, clean energy initiatives, and critical mineral developments. It will create a “one project, one review” approach, reducing approval times to a maximum of two years while upholding environmental standards and Indigenous rights.

Even more, the MPO will help structure financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the Growth Fund, and the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program, alongside private capital and provincial partners. In other words: real planning, real coordination, real jobs, real growth.

That’s leadership. It’s about building something Canadians can see, touch, and benefit from. It’s about the future.

And meanwhile, here’s what we got from the Leader of the Opposition. Pierre Poilievre stood at a podium and gave Canadians a 30-minute “tough-on-crime” sermon, complete with dramatic tone, perfect salt-and-pepper hair, and rehearsed theatrics. His message? Fear. He painted pictures of home invasions at 2 a.m., of parents forced into split-second life-or-death choices, of a system that punishes victims instead of criminals.

Now, crime is real. The trauma of an intrusion, the fear of glass shattering in the night, that’s real too. I don’t dismiss it. But my greatest fears aren’t criminals breaking into my home. I’m more afraid of tornadoes ripping across the prairie, wildfires swallowing forests, and hurricanes flooding communities. I’m more afraid of global instability, Gaza, Ukraine, and the uncertainty of a world where Trump makes decisions that affect Canadian lives. I’m more afraid because my own son serves in the Canadian Armed Forces, and I know exactly what “instability” can mean for families.

Poilievre doesn’t go there. He doesn’t want to. Because that would mean confronting Trump, confronting climate, confronting complexity. Instead, he leans into American-style “stand your ground” rhetoric, promising to rewrite Canadian law to make lethal force a presumed right.

And to me that is NOT leadership, that’s mimicry. We don’t need to become a northern knockoff of the United States. Their gun culture, their obsession with armed self-defense, their endless cycle of mass shootings, that’s not who we are.

Pierre knows who he’s talking to. He’s speaking to his Conservative base, shoring up support after losing his seat in Ottawa and facing a leadership review. He’s not speaking to Canadians as a whole. And that’s the difference.

When I listen to Mark Carney, I don’t hear someone only talking to Liberals. I hear someone talking to Canadians. He compromises where necessary. He thinks before he speaks. He takes the 10,000-foot view, not the 10-foot spotlight. He knows that being Prime Minister isn’t about playing to the bleachers. It’s about carrying the weight of a nation, even when it means taking on allies, critics, or his own party.

Poilievre, meanwhile, is stuck in performance mode. He hammers away at the one note. But when you only stare at the narrow circle beneath your feet, you miss the horizon. And right now, Canada’s horizon is where the real challenges lie.

Where does he stand on Gaza? On Ukraine? On Trump’s tariffs? On Canada’s economic sovereignty? We don’t know. And I suspect that’s intentional. It’s safer for him to stick with crime monologues than to risk alienating his base by talking about the big picture.

So let’s be clear about what happened today: Mark Carney announced a nation-building office to accelerate infrastructure, clean energy, and jobs. Pierre Poilievre delivered a half-hour performance about fear.

That’s the contrast. One builds, one blusters. One leads, one performs. And I, for one, don’t feel safe leaving Canada’s future in the hands of a performer. Because when the storm clouds gather, and they already are, I want a leader, not an actor waiting for applause. I choose hope over despair.

August 3, 2025

Posted: August 10, 2025 in Uncategorized
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UPDATE: It is important to note that I wrote this to explain the structure of the process. There are many aspects of it that should be revisited and one that I often mention in more detailed conversations around the exclusion of Hydro power in the calculation. So take this as a very general explanation as it was intended.

Equalization payments 101. I’m beginning to believe a lot of citizens skipped grade six. Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer and member of Alberta’s Treasury Board, posted today about what he viewed is the money Alberta ‘sends’ to Quebec saying it’s “too bad Quebec didn’t separate.”

Let’s just pause on that for a second. A sitting MLA who is responsible for provincial finances is wishing a founding province had left Confederation. Because of taxes? That’s not just a cheap political shot. That’s a fundamental misunderstanding of how Canada works. And how the equalization system works.

And unfortunately, he’s not alone. So let’s try this one more time at a grade six civics level, since that seems to be where the understanding stopped. Equalization isn’t Alberta sending cheques to Quebec. It’s not a personal donation to daycare in the Maritimes.

Here’s the truth. Canada is a country, not a profit-sharing corporation. Let’s think of it like a big family. Alberta is the high-earning sibling who makes good money, works hard, maybe brags about it a bit too much at Thanksgiving. New Brunswick? That’s the older relative. Wise, tough, but not pulling in as much these days. Quebec? Well, Quebec is the family member who insists on doing everything their own way but still shows up for supper.

And like any decent family, we try to make sure everyone has what they need, even if we don’t all contribute the same amount.

That’s where equalization comes in. Here’s how it actually works. The federal government collects taxes from across the country (and yes, Alberta pays a big chunk because we earn more. Please know that’s not punishment, it’s math). Then, based on a formula, it gives equalization transfers to provinces that don’t have the same ability to raise their own revenue. That means more help for places like New Brunswick, PEI, and Manitoba so they can offer public services at reasonably similar levels and tax rates. Provinces like Newfoundland for example have been both the successful family member and the one that needed some help on occasion.

And just to be crystal clear Alberta does not send money directly to other provinces. No one’s mailing cheques from Edmonton to Quebec City. Equalization payments come from the federal government to each provinces.

And about that formula? It can be reviewed. And it has been including during the Harper years. So if Jason Stephan thinks it’s broken, maybe he should dig into those files before continuing the negative narrative. While he’s at it, maybe he can get a memo to Premier Danielle Smith because if there’s one thing this Premier loves more than chaos, it’s finding someone else to blame for it.

Canada is not a zero-sum game. Every province brings something to the table. Not all bring cash and thank God, because if money were the only measure of worth, we’d be a pretty soulless country.

Right now, we’re dealing with global instability, trade tensions, economic insecurity, war, and climate pressure on everything from food to fuel. The job right now is to take care of our own. That means defending each other, not dividing each other.

If we need to revisit how the family handles its finances, then fine we will. But not in the current situation our country (family) is in. And not because one provincial politician needs a distraction from his own lack of solutions.

Maybe Quebec is the kid who’s still living at home, expects dinner on the table at six, and reminds you regularly they might move out if the menu ever changes. Alberta is the sibling who just landed a big promotion and can’t stop telling everyone else how to run their lives. Annoying? Absolutely. But guess what? They’re both still family.

Because in the end these provinces are all part of this amazing country and in my view we are family. And like any real family, we all have a seat at this table. No one gets to kick anyone else out.

We argue. We pass the potatoes. We fight over who has to do the dishes. But we also make sure everyone’s plate has something on it. That’s not weakness. It’s the strength of the system.

So if the way we split the bill needs a second look, we’ll do that. Together. Like grown-ups. But let’s not confuse family finances with family values. Because from this citizens point of view we make sure everyone gets dinner on their plate. We argue, we grumble, and sometimes we roll our eyes at each other. But we don’t cut anyone out just because it’s politically convenient.
We show up. We share. We do the work. That’s what being Canadian actually means.

July 27, 2025

Posted: August 3, 2025 in Uncategorized
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What did I actually just witness? Normally, I wouldn’t be doing a post at this time of day. But because I’ve spoken recently about the importance of this U.S.–EU deal and what it could signal to Canadians, I felt it was important to put something out there right away. Just a reminder that this is where I stand right now. My opinion might change if more information becomes available. (Imagine that, a person adjusting their view based on facts! Wild, I know.)

So here we go. We just watched Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen announce what was alternately called a deal, a framework, a partnership, and, let’s be honest a show. It happened at Trump’s golf course in Scotland, following what we’re told was a meeting that lasted less than one hour.

Let me repeat that: less than one hour.

So, I ask you: What real trade deal between the world’s two largest economies, involving $750 billion in energy, $600 billion in U.S. investments, “hundreds of billions” in military purchases, and no documentation, gets hammered out in under 60 minutes?

It doesn’t. This was performative. And it worked, for Trump. He got to sit there and declare “the biggest deal ever made,” while von der Leyen smiled politely, said all the right diplomatic things, and let the man-child bask in his imaginary glory.

But here’s the problem: we still don’t know what this actually is.

There was no written agreement. No release of the framework text. No clarity on timelines for these alleged investments. No mention of climate policy, which is foundational for the EU in every negotiation. Steel? Still untouched. Pharmaceuticals? Excluded. CHIPS? Deferred to Trump’s favourite timeline: “two weeks.”

The numbers thrown around were large. $750B, $600B, “hundreds of billions” seem completely unverified. And without a timeframe, they mean nothing. I could say I’m buying a cottage in the Muskokas. Sounds great. Doesn’t make it true. Not unless I’ve got a few hundred years and a magic money tree.

So, what does this mean for Canada?

Well, we don’t know yet. But we should be paying attention.

This vague spectacle doesn’t necessarily threaten us, but it does signal how Trump is approaching trade: with optics first, substance later (if ever). We’ve got our own looming deadline on tariffs, and despite new relationships being built we still have our own deeply integrated economic ties with the U.S. but also expanded economic ties with the EU. How this deal unfolds could very well shape the tone of upcoming negotiations with Canada.

That’s why I’m not panicking but I am watching. Because Ursula von der Leyen has been in real, ongoing talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney. On climate, regulation and on trade standards. My instincts say they’ve spoken recently, maybe even this morning. And while I do think concessions were made between the EU and the U.S., I do not believe this agreement is as it was presented.

Ursula played this smart. Savvy, even. She gave Trump the optics he needed without surrendering the EU’s deeper priorities or at least not visibly. But a reminder: until there’s a document with dates, mechanisms, and enforcement, there is no deal. There is, at best, a placeholder. At worst, a photo op.

And we need to remember, too, that Canada has its own long-standing relationship with the EU, built on predictability, regulation, and climate accountability and a new enhanced relationship built on relationship where our Prime MInister is considered to be a key allie. I don’t believe that relationship disappeared just because Trump needed a stage today. If anything, I’m more convinced that the real diplomacy is still happening, off-camera.

So here I am, asking questions, reflecting out loud, and inviting feedback. I’m not claiming to have the answers, just raising the red flags I see flapping wildly in the Scottish wind.

And for anyone wondering how it all landed, I’ll just leave you with this image: the EU and U.S. flags, side by side, planted squarely in a sand trap. Fitting, really. They walked out claiming the biggest deal ever made, and left it resting in the sand, soft beneath the surface. Not exactly solid ground. Some might even call it quicksand.

July 26, 2025

Posted: August 3, 2025 in Uncategorized
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I might have to start getting up at 4 a.m. (or start doing lives, because Trump’s tantrums don’t respect my posting schedule)

I’ve discovered something. My commitment to writing thoughtful posts the night before and publishing them at 7 a.m. is becoming less of a routine and more of a liability. Because, between 10 p.m. and sunrise, Donald Trump inevitably throws another tantrum, drops another truthless screed, or tries to dismantle international relations. It’s exhausting. But here we are again.

I had a whole post lined up, and then Trump declared he was “done negotiating” with Canada. And now people are asking me, “Nancy, do you still think Mark Carney is the right one to handle this?”

Yes. I stand exactly where I stood. Carney is the only one in this country who has both the credentials and the composure to deal with Trump basically by not ‘dealing’ with him at all. Because, as I’ve said before and I’ll keep saying: you don’t negotiate with crazy. You route around it.

And that’s exactly what Carney is doing. Let’s not forget what he said the night he became Prime Minister. I’ve quoted it before and I’ll paraphrase again: ‘the Canada–U.S. relationship as we knew it is over.’ And maybe that’s what some of us are still struggling to accept. Maybe I am too.

A few weeks ago, I posted an image of a cracked road that resonated widely. Well, that crack? It’s now a full-blown canyon. And unless something, or someone, removes the unstable force at the center of it, we’re not crossing that bridge any time soon.

Now, here’s what you didn’t hear in Trump’s tantrum: according to credible sources, the real trigger was money. Trump demanded what’s been described as a “one-time loyalty fee” from Canada, a price to be paid for tariff relief. Call it a handshake. Call it a favour. Call it what it is: extortion.

And Carney? He told him to pound salt. Or, more accurately, he told him no, the Canadian way: quietly, firmly, and repeatedly.
Trump didn’t take it well.

And that’s why we’re here. This wasn’t a trade breakdown. This was a mobster getting snubbed by a banker who saw the scam coming ten miles away. The threats and the 35% tariff bluff are because Carney wouldn’t buy in.

And here’s something Canadians and Americans need to understand: when Trump says he’ll “have all these deals in place,” they’re not negotiated agreements. They are imposed conditions. One-sided ultimatums dressed up as diplomacy. There’s no give and take. No mutual interest. Just a string of threats, followed by declarations of success when the other party either folds, or walks.

Please, for the sake of truth and sovereignty, don’t take him at his word. Don’t listen to the noise. Do your due diligence. Read real sources. Get the straight goods on what he’s actually done, not what he claims to have done. Because the words are meaningless. The record is what matters.

Meanwhile, Carney’s been building the bypass: finalizing the Canada–Mexico Trade Corridor, with no American permission slip required, locking in historic agreements with the EU and Japan, launching Canada’s Energy and Transportation Sovereignty Corridor, connecting provinces and territories coast to coast to coast, and preparing retaliatory tariffs and a Buy Canadian strategy that actually hits Trump where it hurts, his electoral map.

Trump has taken a detour to Scotland, where even his ancestral homeland wants no part of him. He renamed a golf course after his mother, hoping to buy affection. It didn’t work. The cliffs, the castles, the wind-swept resistance, they said no. The land of fierce rebellions and long memory doesn’t forget. To my ancestors from those highlands: thank you. You did us proud.

Now, tucked into this week’s schedule is another meeting we should all be watching: Trump is expected to meet with representatives of the European Union. I’m hoping they hold the line, as they’ve publicly indicated they would, in standing by Canada in this process. Whether they stand firm or bend will speak volumes. At least, it will to me. So let’s put a sticky note on that one. Bookmark it and watch it. Because the outcome of that meeting could quietly shape the next chapter in all of this.

And as for Canada? We’re not backing down. We’re not bending.
And if being “tough and nasty” is what it takes to defend our sovereignty? Then yeah, we are. Nicely. I am happy to have that handle. Because Canada doesn’t do fealty. We do strategy. We do dignity.

We’re already partway across a long, solid span, something real, something built to last. It stretches across deep waters, connecting more than just provinces. It represents who we are: a country that doesn’t flinch when the crossing gets tough. We’re not at the other side yet. But the pillars are strong, the direction is clear, and we’re moving forward. One kilometre at a time. No turning back now.

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