Maxime Bernier Has A Better Idea
“ Ontario premier Doug Ford tried to intimidate Donald Trump this week by announcing he would impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the US.
It didn’t last long.
A few hours later, he backed down when Trump announced he would DOUBLE tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%.
This is so silly!
Is it that difficult to understand?
WE’RE NOT GOING TO WIN A TRADE WAR WITH THE US!
We’re hurting our own economy ten times more than theirs with these silly retaliatory tariffs, and giving Trump just another pretext to escalate the dispute.
What should we do instead?
We should unilaterally stop all forms of retaliation.
Then we should take Trump at his word and tell him we accept his idea of having reciprocal tariffs, and that the best situation for both countries is therefore to lower all tariffs.
We should tell him that we’re willing to put dairy supply management on the table and get rid of the sky-high tariffs that protect this unfair system.
We should tell him that we are open to lower or eliminate any other tariffs in the context of reciprocity.
We should tell him we’re willing to reopen the North American free trade agreement and sit down right away to have a wide-ranging discussion over all these issues.
That is how to disarm the situation and find our way to a deal.
But neither Ford, nor Carney or Poilievre, will take that route.
Meanwhile, the Australians are lucky to have a prime minister who understands economics and won’t play this stupid game of retaliation.
This is what he said:
“Tariffs and escalating trade tensions are a form of economic self-harm and a recipe for slower growth and higher inflation. They are paid by the consumers. This is why Australia will not be imposing reciprocal tariffs on the United States.”
If only we had such politicians in Canada…
We need to elect Members of Parliament who will work with President Trump to strike a deal instead of blustering ridiculously.’
I would add two more:
Immediately commit to keeping out word in NATO and pay our 2% of GDP and eliminate the internet tax.
…
by The Honourable A. Brian Peckford
peckford42@wordpress
March 14, 2025
