Noted in passing: Maritimer and Arlene Dickinson on Poilievre; Andrew Coyne and IFLOZ on America; Black Cloud Six, Philippe Lagassé, and Shankar Narayan on Canadian defense

I have said for years the secret of Trump's appeal is that his followers worship him as The Golden Calf - because he has no philosophy of his own, he can just reflect his followers' own grandiose autocracy combined with racist superiority. And they love him for it.

Now I think Poilievre has decided to model his behaviour after what worked so well for Trump - lying, boasting, promising, pandering.
Poilievre doesn't have Trump's projected charm and bombastic hail-fellow-well-met insouciance, but the rest of it he can do!
First, Poilievre is now lying about Carney all the time:

Pierre Poilievre: "I think the Prime Minister should get away from all of the theatrics, the YouTube videos, and the distractions and tell us how he's going to achieve [tariff free trade]." (Pierre's posted six YouTube videos this week to Mark Carney's one...)

- Scott Robertson

Read on Substack

Today's News: Watching the Dunning-Kruger Effect in real time. Plus an Epstein-gate Update

The Dunning-Kruger effect is when incompetent people do not have enough knowledge to know that they are incompetent, nor do they recognize competency in others. They don’t know what they don’t know.

Right now, we're seeing the Dunning-Kruger Effect in real time.
Now basically, it usually doesn't matter what someone like this believes.
But because they can talk a good game, and aren't tethered to inconvenient realities, people like this can get themselves elected to public office.
And then, its a problem for all of us.
Here is Poilievre taking a leaf from Trump's book and just blatantly lying about how he can easily give Canadians what we want - a good deal with the US and no tarrifs on anything:

“Poilievre claims he can get a trade deal with the US with no tariffs” One had to wonder just what kind of hallucinogens he’s been taking.

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— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) April 23, 2026 at 10:32 AM

Yeah, sure, PP -- its the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

View on Threads

Today's News: Thinking about Canada beyond CUSMA. Plus some Canada Good News

I think Canada needs to understand that the CUSMA negotiations are likely doomed.

Trump no longer has the mental capacity to handle "the art of the deal" - as Iran and the rest of the world are now finding out. 

And Trump will always blame his victims, as his erratic meltdowns tank any agreements or understandings that anyone might have thought he might agree to.
So I think we're stuck with the existing CUSMA agreement, plus those additional tariffs not turfed by SCOTUS (35% on steel and aluminum, 25% on autos and furniture, plus 10% more on energy/potash, lumber and steel.)
As I said in a comment on my previous post, I fully expect Trump will announce he is "ending" CUSMA, even though it will actually stay in effect until 2036.

But such an announcement will threaten to destabilize long-term corporate investment in Canadian business, and that's going to be a problem -- I think Carney's Advisory Committee is actually intended to help the government maintain investor confidence in Canada.

On Wednesday, Radio-Canada broke a major story about the upcoming CUSMA negotiations. Reporters Laurence Martin, Fannie Olivier and Daniel Thibeault reported that the US wants an "entry fee" bribe to start talks:

..."[U.S. President Donald] Trump wants us to make a lot of concessions before we sit down at the table," Charest told Radio-Canada. "Meanwhile, he wouldn’t make any."
On the U.S. side, there are suggestions that Canada should try to get Trump’s attention by making an immediate concession, especially since the president is juggling several major issues right now.
However, Canadian sources said they have twice offered concessions to the U.S. administration without receiving anything in return.
...Last spring, Ottawa dropped a significant portion of the reciprocal counter-tariffs it had put forward as a retaliatory measure against the tariffs on steel and aluminum imposed by Washington.
At the end of June, Canada also scrapped the digital services tax, which would have imposed a three per cent levy on the Canadian revenues of digital giants such as Amazon, Apple and Meta.
"The repeal of the digital services tax will significantly advance negotiations on a new economic and security partnership with the United States," Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said at the time.
More than nine months later however, negotiations do not appear to have made any progress...

But nine months ago was way back in 2025 -- in the good old days when Trump was talking all the time about all the trade deals he wanted to make, and when the world still believed that maybe Trump could "be reasonable".
Now, we all understand that just ain't gonna happen.

Today's News: Renewing CUSMA without losing our minds or our souls

Its getting real now, isn't it.

I mean Canada's attempt to renew CUSMA so we don't lose our minds or our souls doing it, so Trump will get a win without Canada getting a loss. And Mexico, too.
Carney has now set up an Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations and included in it some excellent people.
The CBC reports:

...The list includes experts, industry and union leaders and retired high-profile politicians such as former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole and former Conservative cabinet minister Lisa Raitt....
The committee, which will meet for the first time on Monday, will be led by Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade. ..
The members of the committee include:
Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Darryl White, CEO of the Bank of Montreal.
Lisa Raitt, former Conservative cabinet minister.
Tracy Robinson, president and CEO of the Canadian National Railway.
Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association.
Ron Bedard, president and CEO of steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal Dofasco.
Ken Seitz, president and CEO of fertilizer giant Nutrien.
Dennis Darby, president and CEO at Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.
Lana Payne, national president of Unifor.
François Poirier, president and CEO of Calgary-based TC Energy.
Émile Cordeau, CEO of Agropur, the largest dairy co-operative in Canada.
Luc Thériault, CEO of Pulp and Wood Products, and president of Domtar Canada.
Magali Picard, president of the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec.
Jonathan Price, president and CEO at Teck Resources Ltd., a mining and resource company based in B.C.
Susan Yurkovich, president and CEO of Canfor, a large forest products company based in B.C.
Michael Harvey, executive director of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance.
Tabatha Bull, president and CEO of Canadian Council for Indigenous Business.
Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Valérie Beaudoin, expert in U.S. policy and politics at the University of Quebec.
Erin O’Toole, former federal Conservative leader.
Jean Charest, former Progressive Conservative leader and Liberal premier of Quebec.
P.J. Akeeagok, former premier of Nunavut.
Ralph Goodale, former Liberal finance minister and high commissioner to the U.K.

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Today's News: Carney is playing power forward now

I expect anyone who follows Canadian politics - and, hopefully, even some who don't - have watched Mark Carney's Forward Guidance video released on Sunday:

The video has had more than 430,000 views on YouTube, and 7,000 comments - no wonder Carney released it online rather than just doing a speech in the House of Commons as Dale Smith suggested .
But if 10 minutes is too long for you to watch, here are some good excerpts:

PM Carney on forward guidance: "I promise you, I will never sugarcoat our challenges. Instead, I will talk with you directly and regularly about our plan, why we're doing what we're doing, what's working, what isn't, and what we're going to do next."

- Scott Robertson

Read on Substack

Sunday Funday: Schrodinger's Blockade, Trump v Pope, plus other posts, sports stuff, musical notes, getting old(er), Carney hat trick, TrumpWatch, Animal Crackers

It's being called Schrodinger's Blockade tonight, because nobody knows anymore whether the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed or both at once.

"You put your blockade in You pull your blockade out You put your blockade in and you sail it all about Do the Hokey Trumpy cuz your brain is full of doubt That's what he's all about"

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— Wayne Exclaims (@waynesbrain.bsky.social) April 18, 2026 at 12:10 PM

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Noted in passing: comments about Poilievre v reality, the Canadian economy, and the Iran War

Comments about Poilievre v reality

Chantal Hébert: "The issue is not if the old Pierre Poilievre would be back, but when the old Pierre Poilievre would be back, and that is basically what everyone was watching this week."

- Scott Robertson

Read on Substack

Pierre Poilievre and Yankie Doodle Andy keep whining about Carney backroom deals to get a majority. Most conservatives are probably whining on how their leadership was so bad that 4 MPs were so unhappy that they took a deal. This majority is thanks to PP and nothing else.

— Dale Burnay (@daleburnay.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM

Today's News: Getting a grip - on the scattered complexity of US wars now, and on the impact of the Liberal majority

From Phillips's Newsletter 

Getting a Grip on all of Trump's Wars?

Our son follows a "This Week in World War 2" podcast and when I hear it I am struck by the scattered complexity of that war - events going on simultaneously in theatres in Europe, Ukraine, Greece, the Baltics, Libya, Africa, Europe, the Philippines, India-Burma, Hong-Kong, on the Atlantic and Pacific.
I'm feeling like that now -- we seem to be reaching a level of scattered complexity in today's conflicts too, where I find it all too nonsensical and its increasingly hard to keep track of how they affect Canada in some manner or that Canada is dealing with-- we have the Russia-Ukraine War, Israel-Hamas/Gaza War, Trump's tariff wars, US-Venezuela War, the US-Israel-Iran War, Lebanon-Israel War, and the US blockade of Cuba. 

I also think that America's ICE Gestapo are making war on the American people, with raids, arrests with no warrants, disappearances, and concentration camps now being built across the United States.

And Trump seems to be declaring war against the Pope now too.
So maybe its just me, but I am finding it increasingly difficult to get a grip on what is going on with all of Trump's wars -- I don't spend all day on social media, so when I open it up I often see that he has announced something, or lied about doing something else, then I realize it already got changed, or everybody just ignored it, or something just fell apart again.

When it comes to the Iran War, I can't follow whether Hormuz is open, or closed, or partly open, or closed for some countries, or open only for China, or something else. And I don't know if the Houthis are also blocking Red Sea shipping. According to Phillips P. OBrien - see the illustration above - the financial markets aren't taking Trump very seriously anymore.

Apparently Europe is due to run out of aviation fuel in six weeks. So what happens next?
Is Venezuela OK? Is anyone helping Gaza now? Is Cuba getting any supplies? Will American concentration camps be operational before the midterms or can individual communities stop them? Will American immigrants try to escape to Canada, and will the Carney government be merciful or cruel?
I just read in the New York Times that there is going to be a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon (gift link) and maybe also Hezbollah. And talks are on-going between the US and Iran, I guess, though Hegseth is still blustering about bombing.
I'm pretty sure Trump or Hegseth can screw this up somehow:

Via REUTERS: “A Pakistani security source told Reuters: A deal between the US and Iran is close, with talks in their final phase. Backchannel diplomacy via Pakistan is ongoing, alongside direct contact between technical teams. He said that next round will be more of a deal signing ceremony.”

- Yashar Ali

Read on Substack

And about those financial markets:

Apparently the dudes behind the biggest financial institutions in the world follow absolutely no news except the few Truth Social posts that make it to Fox.

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— 🗽LOLGOP🗽 (@thefarce.org) April 16, 2026 at 7:33 PM

Stock markets represent the combined judgements of millions of investors with a fearsome interest in being right. My judgement is just stuff I think. It is obvious that I should be extremely cautious in dismissing the judgements of markets. Which is why I say the following only a soft mutter not intended to be heard by others: The markets have lost their flipping minds.

- Dan Gardner

Read on Substack

Today's News: Carney and his majority know how to play this game

Cartoon by Greg Parry, The Tyee

I don't have a lengthy post tonight, but I saw some very good clips today about Carney and his new majority government so I thought I would share them.

First, Carney and Poilievre were jousting in the House on Wednesday and I think Carney unhorsed him.

View on Threads

Good reads: about Carney, about Elbows Up, about Trump, about Iran, plus other interesting stuff like Bieber and cabbages and character and Google

The Bookworm Carl Spitzweg 1850 

I found several "good reads" today and a few good posts too, so I thought I would share them.

About Carney

View on Threads

Today's News: Carney gets his majority, Mamdani does the right stuff, while Trump just trips over his own big mouth. Plus Epstein-Gate Update and Canada Good News

Mark Carney is showing the world how to do politics better:

View on Threads

The CBC At Issue panel tonight couldn't find much to criticize about Carney's wins - except for their lingering regret that they won't have an election campaign to talk about for four more years! 

And they also couldn't resist speculating if Poilievre would wise up. 

My prediction: Not!

Sunday Funday: What a week, more funny stuff, Getting Old(er), Carney Hat-Trick, TrumpWatch, Animal Crackers

What a week

View on Threads

A bit of humor for you to brighten your day.

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— Texas Paul (@realtexaspaul.com) April 11, 2026 at 11:41 AM

Today's News: Moon Joy comes down to earth, plus some good sports stories, Poilievre's political obit, and Canada Good News

They're back! Hooray!

They're back! Damn...
Because for a few days we had Moon Joy. But now that the astronauts are safely back, its back to doomscrolling I guess. When I saw this Finding Nemo photo 🠅 on Threads tonight, it really spoke to my mood right now.
But that said, everyone was glad to see them safe:

View on Threads

View on Threads

Today's News: Whither the Liberals?, Melania talk, Trump talk, Iran War talk, Pope Leo talk, Artemis II Briefing, and Hot Daddy Summer

MP Gladu enters Liberal Party Conversion Therapy, by Graeme MacKay 

"Whither the Liberals?" after the Gladu crossing 

The At Issue panel tonight (with Rob Shaw from CHEK TV Victoria)

TLDW: "If Gladu is accessible to the Liberals, then who isn't?" 

But the CBC At Issue panel persists in discussing "whither the Liberals?" in an academic way - they still don't seem to where Carney is coming from or where he is going. He is saving Canada from Trump, and nothing else actually matters. To get a majority government so he can get his agenda passed without having to negotiate, then he'll do whatever it takes.

View on Threads

Today's News: Comics roundup, Liberal majority nears, Iran ceasefire ceases, Pope Leo won't be silenced, plus Carney talks to Artemis II

Comic roundup
I found lots of good comics about Wednesday's events.

Today's News: It used to be called "brinksmanship" but now its just called TACO Tuesday. Plus Artemis II Briefing

It used to be called "brinksmanship"

What Trump did to the world on Tuesday used to be called "brinksmanship" during the Cold War.
Now its just called TACO Tuesday.
It was a stupid and dangerous tactic then, and its even more stupid and dangerous now - Trump is nuts himself and he is surrounded by sycophants whose actions he cannot anticipate or control. Iran is just as desperate.
It was a terrible, frightening day.

This post has plot twists, cliffhangers, and no adult supervision.

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— 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 (@sundaedivine.lol) April 7, 2026 at 6:46 AM

Today's News: Rumours of floor-crossings, plus Artemis II Briefing and Canada Good News

Rumours of floor-crossings 

Ten might be crossing the floor? Wow. I would expect that idiotic "justify your shadow cabinet job" email didn't go over very well.

View on Threads

View on Threads

Sunday Funday: Happy Easter and other good stuff, plus posts about Getting Old(er), Artemis II Briefing, Carney Hat Trick, TrumpWatch, Animal Crackers

In honour of Easter weekend, a bunch of "Last Supper" pictures.

First, the original, by DaVinci:

Next, the tributes:

House MD

Mel Brooks:

Lost season 6 cast:

The Sopranos:

Weekly Wrap-up: On Poilievre and his inept leadership, On NATO and Trump, plus some Canada Good News and Friday's Artemis II Briefing

About Poilievre and his inept leadership 

Two months ago, people predicted that Poilievre would win his leadership vote but actually be weakened by his experience. Now, that is proving to be the case. Stunts like flying to Europe and chatting with Joe Rogan aren't impressing his colleagues, and neither is his leadership style.

Althia Raj

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is shuffling his deck, sending Elon Musk-style letters to his shadow ministers asking them to prove their worth.
Monday’s email was referred to by one Conservative as “DOGE-like” — a reference to Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” which sent emails to U.S. federal government workers last year demanding that they list their past week’s accomplishments or resign.
This email from Poilievre’s office was met with a shrug by some, but others saw it as insulting — and further proof their leader is out of touch with his caucus.
“It’s ridiculous!” said one MP, among several granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal party affairs. “There’s a lot of malcontents.”
“Pierre has two good weeks in a year and he’s back to default mode of, ‘Prove yourself every five minutes,’” said another MP. “If you are going to do a shuffle, just do one. Don’t play this stupid game.”
The email to Conservative shadow ministers asked them to give examples of their best social media posts, media interviews, and examples of how they have public reach in their portfolios. It also asked if they were still interested in remaining in their roles.
For those who aren’t among Poilievre’s favourite few, the need to showcase media interviews they weren’t given permission to give was seen as particularly bewildering. Even those who don’t believe they’ll be shuffled were annoyed by the exercise and the message it sent.
It’s the latest expression of frustration from Poilievre’s caucus. Since January’s convention in Calgary, which was intended to settle the leadership question — Poilievre received 87.4 per cent of delegate support — the mood internally is bleak, described by several as “dispirited.”
Many Tory MPs have concluded their leader will never win, that he cannot offer an alternative proposal to the one Canadians already rejected.
“How much time and effort do you put into a leader who can’t win?” asked a third MP.
“They’ve got no strategy,” concluded another caucus member.
Conservative MPs are tired of sitting in opposition benches....

Today's News: Conservatives talking - Ford, Poilievre and Scheer. Plus Artemis II Briefing and good news about Ayla Lucas

Conservatives talking

A lot of the news I read today was just various Conservatives talking. So here they are:

Doug Ford
Thursday in the Toronto Star

Premier Doug Ford is appealing for political “certainty” in Canada ahead of contentious trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ford, in Texas on a trade mission to promote Ontario, stressed “it was the right move” when he called an early Ontario election last year to give his government a stronger hand against Trump.
“Again, it goes back to certainty,” the premier told the Star in a wide-ranging interview Thursday.
“It’s no different than the federal government. They have three byelections, and if they win them, then they’ll have a majority. And again, a magical word in both countries is everyone wants certainty. Everyone wants to move forward,” said Ford. That was a reference to byelections in Toronto’s University—Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest and the suburban Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne on April 13.
Prime Minister Mark Carney will secure a majority government if his Liberals win two of the three.
Should they sweep all three, the governing party would not need Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia to break a tie vote in the Commons.
“I just believe in majority governments,” said Ford, noting his Progressive Conservatives have won three in a row at Queen’s Park.
“As far as I’m concerned Prime Minister Carney is a good man. He’s a very astute business person. He’s a sharp guy,” he said, noting their relationship got off to a great start 13 months ago over breakfast at Wally’s Grill in the premier’s Etobicoke North riding.
“I’ll never forget when I met him the first time, the first words out of his mouth: ‘I’m more conservative than you.’ And I said: ‘well that sounds good.’”...
While the Tory premier — who has had his differences with federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre — insisted he was agnostic in the byelections, he expressed hope the Bloc Québécois does “absolutely not” prevail in Terrebonne....