Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Catching up with the news: "Maîtres Chez Nous", wildfire update, and some good news stories


I think we have a new slogan to add to "Elbows Up".
And this one comes with a fist - Maîtres Chez Nous.
It happened on Monday, during Prime Minister Carney's press conference at the Churchill Falls announcement
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The Churchill Falls project is very very big news for Canada, and it came together at the right time.
The Globe and Mail reports:
Ottawa is calling it the largest clean energy investment in North American history.
Prime Minister Mark Carney was in St. John’s Monday to announce a new agreement on Churchill Falls and other electricity projects in Labrador, alongside N.L. Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette.
“We are finally turning the page on one of the darkest chapters in our past, and replacing both the notorious 1969 Churchill Falls agreement and the 2024 [memorandum of understanding] with a better deal for all of us," said Wakeham.
Ottawa will provide $10 billion in financing to upgrade and expand the Churchill Falls generating station, develop the Gull Island hydroelectric project, build transmission lines and implement a 2,000 MW onshore wind energy project in Labrador — with the exact location and other details for that wind project under consideration by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.
According to the federal government, altogether these projects represent the largest clean energy investment in North American history — valued at nearly $70 billion — and will nearly triple the current generating capacity of Churchill Falls, with enough power to light, heat and cool all the homes in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver combined.
“Just put this in context. Tripling the current generation capacity of Churchill Falls to that 14,000 megawatts of renewable power — that's more than the entire generating capacity of B.C. Hydro. It's more than double the output of Bruce Power, the largest nuclear plant on this continent," Carney said.
The projects will create 23,000 jobs, according to both levels of government....
Very exciting.
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With just a day left now before Trump's August 19 tariff threat deadline, Carney's press conference included lots of questions about whether there will be a deal:

My Prime Minister, Mark Carney, says he will talk to Bronzolini before the idiotic US bullying tariff deadline. He also dropped this nice little soundbite: "Maybe I will translate 'maîtres chez nous' for the President as well." Which means... "Masters of our own house." www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

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— Trevor Foster (@darthfos.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 3:43 PM

Lol. Maitres chez nous = “Masters in our own home”. I'll take that as a strong signal on how Carney is going to respond to their overreaching demands for our critical minerals and defense procurement.

- Impolite Goose

Read on Substack
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Donald Trump and Mark Carney spoke by phone about trade negotiations on Monday. The Trump-Carney call was confirmed by a spokesperson for the [Canadian] PM. Automotive sector rules are proving to be a major obstacle toward an agreement. Source: www.businesstimes.com.sg/internationa...

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— Kirsten Ostermann (@kirstenostermann.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 11:50 PM

Canada isn't weak like Trump wanted us to be. As I expected, international businesses are increasing Canada investments - in the short term they know Carney will guarantee them a safe and sensible country, and in the long term, they can anticipate new customers in America if the US regains its sanity.



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— The Globe and Mail (@theglobeandmail.com) August 15, 2026 at 8:14 AM

Trump is obsessed with the booze boycott because he enraged by the defiance of the Canadian people. This is not a trade dispute. It is an attempt to break our will. Hold the line. There are no deals that can be made with predators. charlieangus.substack.com/p/there-is-n...

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— Charlie Angus (@charlieangus104.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 1:28 PM

TrueNorthEmpath summarizes:
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Or, as Wab Kinew said it:
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Enjoy the newest version
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Wildfire Update
A month ago there were almost a thousand wildfires burning, two weeks ago almost 700, today less than 600.


BRITISH COLUMBIA: “What you need to know about B.C. wildfires on Aug. 17” www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... - CBC News BC #BaldRangeWildfire #BCWildfire #BostonBar #BrunswickComplex #ClintonBC #Okanagan #PearLakeWildfire #Summerland #Wildfires

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— BC Wildfire Weekly - Wildfires + More (@bcwildfirewkly.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 1:59 PM

Excellent government messaging on AI 🎯

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— Jim Vanderwal (@jimvanderwal.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 12:25 PM

The BC SPCA says it has taken in over 100 pets through emergency boarding services as wildfires continue to force evacuations across the province. https://cheknews.ca/bc-spca-caring-for-over-100-pets-during-wildfire-evacuations-1342387/

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— CHEK News (@cheknews.ca) August 17, 2026 at 10:51 AM

102 wildland firefighters arrived from Costa Rica to assist us in our wildfires in British Columbia, Canada. 🇨🇦🇨🇷 Gracias, Amigos!

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— JD Lagrange (@grumpa.ca) August 17, 2026 at 5:17 AM

On The Recovering Environmentalist, Hayley Easto does a Weekly News Roundup and I thought this week had some excellent links relating to wildfire stories plus other interesting topics. Well worth your time: Wildfires, heatwaves, and two kinds of fish - weekly links for August 17 This new normal is not normal - how the heat wave impacts First Nations communities, marine biodiversity, dairy industries, nuclear energy, and people who live alone.


Good news
Canada's largest icebreaker
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Simon Fraser University has won the World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow.


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A great story here - Plaid It Forward
How it started
The Globe and Mail writes:
Over the weekend, the Heated Rivalry star sparked a tote bag frenzy when he was seen holding a branded red, white and black plaid Canadian Tire reusable tote bag while out in Toronto alongside his co-star Connor Storrie. The actors are reportedly filming the second season of the hit show in the city.
The shopping bag quickly took off. Online, social-media posters were eager to snag their own $1.99 piece of Hudson Williams-approved Canadian merch, with fans snapping photos and filming videos of their victorious purchases. Some chimed in from across the border, asking if successful buyers would be willing to ship the bag internationally to places including the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.
“Is this the Canadian answer to Trader Joe’s?” asked one commenter on Instagram.
“He could have saved HBC,” another wrote, referring to the now-shuttered Canadian department store Hudson’s Bay Company (whose iconic stripes are now in fact owned by Canadian Tire).
How it's going
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