The consensus if econ. types is that the 50% tariffs of 12:01 Saturday will cost an estimated 90,000 Canadian jobs, mainly in the timber sector of the economy.
The 50% automotive industry tariffs scheduled for Jan. 1 will shut down the Canadian auto industry which will move to the U.S. where their factories and businesses can operate tariff free. The Toronto Star.
Carney, and others say that it was Trump's intent for the last year to "break" Canada in order to "own it," and that the New Year's tariffs were predictable. My judgment is that there is more truth in those statements than the other way around. However. if the 12:01 tariffs and the Jan. 1 tariffs were predicted then I would have expected a ready-made plan for the foreseen inevitable. I don't see that so far.
I trust Mark Carney's judgment. But the judgment of even the most sober and erudite can be wrong. That I can see, only the Energy Bombs can flip the tables on the Americans. But Alberta's Premier has said no way Jose to that. Other than the Energy Bombs, I don't see an effective Canadian plan.
Stephen Marche wrote today:
For nearly a decade, I was a columnist at Esquire magazine. During that time, one of the greatest discrepancies I noticed between Canadians and Americans — and Canadian and American men in particular — was in their basic idea of what earned respect. For Americans, the capacity to project power, the ability to make things happen and to win are the primary virtues. For Canadians, the defining virtue is toughness, the capacity to endure.
I take Mr. Marche at his word, although it is difficult. His was not a scientific poll, it's anecdotal. I don't know to what degree his characterization and contrast is accurate but if totally accurate endurance of pain is not a strategy to mitigate pain. It seems to me that a government, if possible, should work single-mindedly to reduce pain on its citizens. Maybe I'm wrong. But I still don't like "the capacity to endure" as a strategy for an advanced empathetic nation. Is that regardless of level of suffering? A-bombs? tariffs? alike, same response, "We will endure"? Imo, Prime Minister Carney should look to avoid pain for Canadians at almost all costs and to ameliorate unavoidable pain. I see suffering. Marche says, "But we will suffer." I'm not Canadian but I always thought I was close enough. I didn't realize, if it was to be realized, that "the capacity to endure" "suffering" is Canadians' "defining virtue." A virtue it may be, I'll shelve that for argument's save, it is not a strategy. Inflicting reciprocal pain on Americans at least brings company to misery. I strongly lean toward the Energy Bomb.
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