President Trump pointed out Canada’s forestry mismanagement and their failure to follow through with previous promises of investment that have led to catastrophic wildfires now producing smoke streams making U.S. Northern cities and states live under dangerous conditions.

Prime Minister Mark Carney was asked about the U.S. government position, and he immediately hit back by saying the cause of Canada’s wildfires is ‘climate change’ and President Trump’s unwillingness to support the Paris Climate Treaty has created the problem that Canada is now dealing with.

In short, according to the official policy of the Canadian government, their wildfires are caused by Trump’s refusal to accept global “climate change” policies.  WATCH:

It should be noted that Canada clutches its pearls, claiming the USA should send “support” to assist Canada fighting wildfires instead of blaming them for mismanagement.  However, reciprocity is a big problem.

Most of the firefighting takes place as an outcome of private-public contracts for costs.  {SOURCE} The Canadian government blocks U.S. companies from fighting fires in Canada because the Canadian government wants to only pay Canadian companies and workers.  U.S. firefighting is not allowed to assist in Canada and get reimbursed.

Conversely, the Canadians quickly want to come to the U.S. to fight fires because the USA reimburses firefighting companies at a higher rate than Canada.  [SOURCE] The USA has no federal restrictions on Canadian firefighting assistance.

Canadian firefighting professionals would rather fight forest fires in the USA because they make more money.  There is no incentive for U.S. firefighting professionals to volunteer their time and effort without getting reimbursed; which is the position of Canada.

In essence, come to Canada and fight our fires for free because we will only pay Canadians.  However, also, let our Canadian firefighters come to the USA and make money.  {SOURCE} It is a very Canadian argument.

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Previously, Mark Carney and the Canadian govt famously fired Air Canada’s CEO because he shamefully didn’t speak French. This week he hired American, Maia Johnson, as his Chief Operations Officer (COO), she also doesn’t speak French and the Canadians are perplexed.

Hired by Prime Minister Mark Carney, the role of Democrat party operative and former Michael Bloomberg associate, Maia Johnson, seems directly related to the strategy of leveraging U.S. Democrat resistance against the CUSMA (USMCA) termination.

[Note: Mark Carney and Michael Bloomberg connect through their banking and finance network with prior associations. This relationship also connects to U.K Mayor Andy Burnham who is likely to become the next U.K Prime Minister to replace Keir Starmer.]

Readers to CTH likely remember in 2018 former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leveraged Democrat House Leader Nancy Pelosi to regain position in the USMCA negotiations (NAFTA elimination) with USTR Robert Lighthizer.

It appears that Carney is attempting a similar maneuver through the connections of Democrat operative Maia Johnson.

Specifically, because positioning American resistance to the CUSMA (USMCA) termination is a key part of the Carney strategy, a COO from U.S. Democrat politics is the best strategic approach. A Canadian in that role would be of far lesser value.

TORONTO SUN – […] This week, it was reported that Carney was promoting a woman unknown to most Canadians to the position of chief operating officer in the PMO.

It appears to be a first for Canada to have a COO in the PMO, but it’s who the woman is that is truly interesting.

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The issue was never really about Canada tolling; the real issue was about ‘cost overruns’ against the backdrop of how the tolling revenue was being used for repayment to the govt of Canada.  It’s a rather sticky situation.

The Canadian government backstopped the financing of the bridge construction.  The deal was that Canada would use tolling to pay the govt back and subsequent tolls would split 50/50 with U.S.  However, cost overruns made the Canadian payback a little less clear as the govt expected more revenue than originally proposed.  Sketchy.

[SOURCE]

The deal currently being revealed as a compromise includes an immediate 50/50 split where Canada gets 50 per cent of the toll profits — after operational expenses — and the other half will go to a U.S-run regional development project for a 15-year time frame.

According to Global News, “The agreement also requires the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority to consult the U.S. on any toll changes greater than 10 per cent, the source said, or if it’s looking to lower tolls below those of comparable regional averages.”  Additionally, in Politico “they will guarantee and ensure that we’re not pouring Chinese cars over that bridge.”

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The European auto industry is a case study on how short-sighted trade policy goals, results in consequences.

Previously, German auto companies like Volkswagen entered into trade agreements with China and began manufacturing their vehicles with immediate financial success in the market.  However, it did not take long for Chinese auto companies to reverse the engineering and begin to deliver the same quality vehicles at much lower prices.

The Chinese then stop purchasing the Volkswagen vehicles and purchase the cheaper version, while simultaneously begin exporting those same vehicles into the home market from where the technology originated.

Today, with a double-digit decline in production, Volkswagen announces they will cut almost half of their models due to diminished sales.

BLOOMBERG – BERLIN — Volkswagen reported weak sales numbers on Friday, a day after the giant German automaker announced plans to slash the number of models by nearly half as sales plunged, particularly in China.

The Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said group sales fell 8.6 per cent in the second quarter to just under 2.1 million vehicles, with sales in China alone plummeted by more than one-third.

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An interesting report from Bloomberg following a survey conducted by KPMG of Canadian manufacturers.  Keep in mind this is a survey of companies within Canada that do traditional manufacturing of products; this is not a survey of companies that assemble foreign goods for export – there is a substantial difference.

As noted within the report, approximately 10% of Canadian GDP comes from Canadian manufacturing.  Within that sector there are multiple companies now planning or considering moving out of Canada into the United States.

Many will claim the trigger for the consideration is based on the potential elimination of the USMCA (CUSMA) trade agreement, and there is truth to that aspect.  However, the systemic issues within Canada -including energy policy, regulation and corporate tax burdens- represent the larger problem; the termination of the USMCA is the straw that breaks their back.

The domestic hurdles to manufacturing, are the bigger issues that cannot be negotiated away in U.S-Canada trade agreements.  Specifically, the low-price and stable energy policies are the core consistencies that are no longer present in Canada; that fundamental cannot be easily fixed.

BLOOMBERG – […] KPMG Canada said on Tuesday that 42 per cent of Canadian manufacturing companies indicated they have or are considering moving production to the United States. Of those considering relocating, 77 per cent expect to make the transition within the next two years.

[…] the issues go beyond the trade situation though, with Canada needing to create a competitive environment for manufacturers to grow.

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In discussing the role of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to block the geopolitical split caused by U.S. President Trump’s America-First policy, the Wall Street Journal did a deep dive into Carney’s travels and conversations.

This part was interesting: “Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration had been startled when ¹Trudeau’s government discreetly asked British intelligence chiefs to start discussing how they might band together if the U.S. left Five Eyes, the U.S.-led intelligence-sharing alliance. MI6 turned them down, as the vast majority of intelligence that flowed through that club came from Washington. The idea never gained traction, Canadian officials said, and Carney didn’t try to resurface it.”  {SOURCE}

The Wall Street journal also inadvertently outlined why the generally unknown Mark Carney was selected by the Canadian leftists: “he texted European leaders he’d known from the finance world, like Rothschild banker Emmanuel Macron, now France’s president; onetime chairman of BlackRock’s German subsidiary, Friedrich Merz, now German chancellor; and the European Investment Bank’s Alexander Stubb, now Finland’s president.” Now you understand why CTH began watching Carney closely, as Trudeau was announcing his exit. Carney was planned as a counter to Trump’s 2024 victory.

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Turkish President Recep Erdogan is disliked by EU NATO elites in precisely the same manner as they dislike President Donald Trump.  Erdogan is not a good guy in regional politics, but he is respected for the national strength he has created.

¹The five-eyes intelligence construct, specifically the Intelligence Community actors within it, is not the good guys.  There’s a reason why Vladimir Putin says, ‘I do not hate Americans, I dislike the CIA.’

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WOW…

Things are coming together quickly now as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney begins unveiling details to support his illusion of meeting NATO obligations, with a smart money laundering assist from Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

To establish part of the background, remind yourself that former Canadian Minister Chrystia Freeland was appointed by Zelenskyy to lead a Ukraine redevelopment operation.  Today, speaking from Ankara, Turkey, Carney and Zelenskyy announced a $900 million fund for short, mid-term and long-term investment in Ukraine. WATCH:

But wait, it gets much better.  A few hours later Prime Minister Carney and Volodymr Zelenskyy announced a new Canada-based financial institution called the Defense, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB). {citation}

CANADA – […] “Mark Carney, welcomed the support for the Canada-led DSRB by: Albania, Belgium, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine. These countries will be entrusted with defining the initial policies and directives of the Bank, shaping its operations and ensuring benefits flow to members’ economies.”

[…] Leveraging a strong credit rating, the Bank will provide long-term, low-cost financing for defence, security, and resilience initiatives across supply chains.” (more)

When you see the term “resilience initiatives” think climate change. Specifically, think carbon capture and carbon trading mechanisms.  The DSRB banking approach, in combination with Chrystia Freeland heading the Ukraine Economic Development operation, then takes us to the carbon capture deal with Alberta [carbon capture and storage (CCS) project] and then, wait for it,…. The TKMS submarine purchase contract with Germany.

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FACT: It has been over 60-years since Canada purchased a submarine.  FACT: Canada has never built one.  FACT: Currently the Canadian military have ONE operable submarine out of a fleet of four used ones previously purchased. FACT: Canada recently proclaimed themselves as the North American defender of the Arctic.

Now, put all those facts in the overlay of the December 2024 meeting in Mar-a-Lago between President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  President Trump was demanding that Trudeau increase their NATO spending and develop a working Canadian military.

Someone recently asked in the comments section why I have an issue with Canada, specifically why a new level of distain for our Northern neighbors.  Quite simply, there is a level of lying that exceeds my tongue bite capacity; that level of deceit comes when fabricating lies is accompanied by pretending. The Canadian government is the worst type of political abuser.  They willfully pretend and simultaneously lie to the Canadian people. That’s the answer.

Today, the government of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announce that German industrial shipbuilder TKMS will be awarded a contract for “up to 12 submarines” valued between $20 and $30 billion {source link}.  Now, let’s not pretend.

First, the submarine contract is intended to get Canada back into reasonable position on their NATO obligations.

In reality, it is quite remarkable to think about the Canadian nation with only one currently functional submarine. “Canada hasn’t purchased unused submarines since the 1960s, during the Cold War, and has never ordered anywhere near 12 at once. Canada currently owns four subs, all of which were purchased second-hand, and only one of which is typically operational.” {citation} Now, think about that Mar-a-Lago conversation again.

Second, Canada can’t build their own submarines?

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U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra appears for an interview on CBC News to share perspectives on U.S-Canada relations.  However, what happens within the interview is a case study on how Canadian media represent an extension of the Canadian government.

This example is exactly why the Canadian people have no reference point for information counter to the official propaganda policy from their government offices. Rebecca Zandbergen, host of CBC’s Ottawa Morning represents the voice of government in combative tone, condescending attitude and refusal to accept counter arguments.

The level of passive-aggressive condescension highlights why Canada has continued to lose position in a world where pretending has become devalued.  However, it’s clear why the Canadian people will be stunned when it all collapses around them.  They have no reference points. Ambassador Hoekstra should get hazard pay. WATCH (prompted):

I like how Hoekstra reminds Rebecca Zandbergen that the 51st state issue surfaced as an outcome of a discussion between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Trump in Mar-a-Lago that centered around NATO spending and reciprocity in trade via non-tariff barriers.  The points Ambassador Hoekstra makes at the end of this interview are exactly on point, and yet Zandbergen pretends not to understand them.

The American govt is not running anti-Carney advertising in Canada. Americans are not banning Canadian products. The American Government is not telling Americans not to travel to Canada.  The American govt has not banned Canadian companies from bidding on contracts.  These are all actions taken by the Canadian government.

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The media and Canadian government discussions around the U.S-Canada trade and economic relationship, specifically as they pertain to the USMCA (CUSMA) continue to be fascinating.

As we noted over a year ago, the expressed perception from the Canadian side was remarkably disconnected from the most likely scenario.

The level of entrenched disbelief that the U.S. could completely separate from a trilateral trade deal in favor of a bilateral replacement has been remarkable to watch.

However, for the first time today Canadian media began admitting to themselves the USMCA can technically be terminated within six months; albeit buried at the end of the article.

GLOBAL NEWS – […] “I’m not in a position to guarantee anything. These decisions are made at the White House. They are made by the president,” Hoekstra said.

His comments come just days after the Trump administration declined to extend the trilateral pact with Canada and Mexico for a new 16-year term, citing what the U.S. calls “shortcomings” and “trade deficits.” Mexico and Canada both publicly pushed for a renewal.

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested last month that the U.S. is “better without” CUSMA, and that he’d even prefer to see it “terminated.”

When asked by Global News, Hoekstra would not say if the administration is considering ripping up the deal, which can be done by any party with six months’ formal notice. 

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