Just ignore U.S. tariffs

Canada’s newly elected prime minister, Mark Carney, went on his first international trip of significance and met the U.S. President, Donald Trump.

It was significant because Carney used, during his election campaign, Trump’s rhetoric to make Canadians believe our country is in a crisis and Carney appeared rather successful at making Canadians anxious, afraid and even more divided than his predecessor, Justin Trudeau was able to achieve in his 10 years of ruling.

What (seemed) impossible in December 2024—a bounce-back by the Liberal Party—became reality on April 28. Carney’s fear-mongering seeded its fruits, enough to give him the leadership of a Liberal minority government.

In hindsight, the Liberals’ win was not a surprise. Canadians have tended to choose Liberal (governments) throughout history and because of one man destroyed his own NDP, many NDP voters made a last-minute decision to abandon their party and (support) the Liberals.

Whatever happened, it remains undeniable that Carney wasn’t chosen by a majority of Canadians. In other words, the majority of Canadians don’t want Carney or any other Liberal as their prime minister.

Who are the most disappointed Canadians today? Young people, who on social media begged baby boomers (like me) not to vote for the Liberals but instead, for a Conservative government—young people who dreamed of a future with hope, opportunities, of owning an affordable house, walking a safe street, having a family doctor.

They understood a continuation of a Liberal government entails a further increase in national debt, unemployment, wait times for medical treatments, real estate prices and a decrease in Canadian standard of living, a decrease in industrial activity and productivity, a decrease in social security and a decrease in freedom of speech.

What I find disappointing is baby boomers generally are seen as Liberal supporters. I can assure these young people, boomers are not liberal-minded by definition.

So Carney met Trump May 6 and we all could see the first hour of their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House. Carney didn’t impress Canadians. Trump was, as always, the dominant person. Carney looked like the shy highschool student and didn’t come up with any new or strong arguments to oppose Trump’s hostile rhetoric. His performance as holder of a double PhD was rather disappointing. The man is really not a seasoned speaker in public.

After one hour the talks between Carney and Trump continued behind closed doors. Why was that? Was it to hide Carney’s weakness from the Canadian press? Or was it to hide the real relationship Carney and Trump have?

Carney who relocated his billion dollar company to New York short before he was elected leader of the Liberal party. He made a significant business deal with Trump’s son-in-law? I bet you Carney and Trump won’t bite each other. That’s why Trump was openly and loudly supporting Carney during the federal election campaign, whilst opposing a (potential Pierre) Poilievre (Conservative) government.

Many Canadians became distracted, couldn’t see through the smoke and couldn’t see the U.S. openly interfered in our federal election.

Then, if that wasn’t enough, the CBC reported, after the first hour of the Carney-Trump meeting, that perhaps Canada’s former deputy prime minister (current Transport and International Trade Minister Chrystia) Freeland had been the cause of the disturbed relation between Canada and the United States. That was the first sensible remark made on CBC in many month.

The majority of Canadians who hoped for a better future for Canada may rest assured it is always possible the new cabinet will be sent home early.

Trump isn’t a threat to Canada. His tariff policies only hurt Americans. Canada simply should ignore them. The real threat to Canada is the apathy to simply accept the fact that since December 2024, Parliament still hasn’t been reinstated. It will be by the end of May for a few weeks until (MPs) it will be send home again for a summer break.

In the meantime, the cabinet can do whatever it wants without parliamentary checks and balances as it should be in a true democracy. The liberals are running a one-man show.

It is time for Canadians to wake up and stand up for themselves without being afraid of the worrisome remarks by our new prime minister several months ago, that to implement his plans, he always has emergency powers if deemed necessary.

That was dangerous language and it came from within. The American rhetoric is external and nothing more than silly bullying, not even worth paying attention to.

Ronald Ratgers, Kelowna

(Editor’s note: The current federal cabinet cannot “do whatever it wants without parliamentary checks and balances.” It is a minority government and as such needs the support of oppositon MPs to pass legislation.)