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In the face of economic uncertainty, Canada and Canadian premiers need to focus on what they control. Since U.S. Donald Trump’s 51st State tweets back in February, Prime Minister Carney and the premiers have done their best to chest thump and keep their “elbows up” to show Canadians that we got this. Well, we don’t got this and we have so far done nothing. At best, things are no better, and they might be getting worse. 

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On Thursday night Donald Trump unleashed a massive broadside to Canada, indicating that due to ads made by the Ontario Government which “fraudulently” showed “Ronald Regan speaking negatively about tariffs” that “all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated.” That last part was in all caps in the original post in case anyone misunderstand the message. 

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Since the post, there has been debate back and forth as to whether the reaction was justified. On the one hand there are those addressing the right to use the Regan address and whether it misrepresents Reagan. The material can be used and it is an accurate representation, Reagan opposed tariffs. One the other hand there are those who note that the clip has been edited and passages are presented out of order to make a point. Both are true and in the end it doesn’t really matter, only the result does: trade talks cut off and Canada shooting itself in the foot again. 

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That should bring back into focus what our leaders have accomplished in the “elbows up” era: not much. While we have been promised a slew of interprovincial trade boosts, agreements, and big investments, the reality is far sorrier. 

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In British Columbia, Premier David Eby is intent on refusing to allow a pipeline from Alberta to cross the province to Pacific tidewater. The pipeline, he claims, would kill billions in investment in other resource projects such as mining, as it would necessitate a repeal of Bill C-48 — the “no oil tankers” bill — thereby, he claims, damaging social license with coastal First Nations for resource development of any kind. Is that a veto on Canadian prosperity? It sounds dangerously close to one, even if Eby’s reasoning is false and many First Nations are, in fact, pro-pipeline and resources development. 

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It isn’t just David Eby, of course. Prime Minister Carney can’t bring himself to utter the pipeline word. In a meaningless speech given Wednesday, Carney was going to outline what Canadians can expect in the Nov. 4 budget. No plan was presented, but rather a recap of promises Carney has made, even if he hasn’t actually delivered much. Canada, said Carney, will now “swing for the fences” (rather than skate to the puck, presumably because the Blue Jays are in the World Series). We will “spend less” so we can “make big the investments” (that is we are just going to spend more). Whatever any of this actually means other than that it will be expensive — remains completely unclear. Carney is thus far the Prime Minister of Promises, and not much else.