Which brings me to a moment this week that I found especially refreshing.
I’ll admit that for years, decades if you will, few things had journalists running for cover more than the latest argument surrounding Churchill Falls and the constant battles over the hydroelectric power project between St John’s and Quebec City. It was important, hugely important, but a yawner.
Until this week …. when finally, calmer, saner heads - namely Furey’s and Legault’s - two powerful premiers, cut a tentative deal that would finally put this story right. Two of CBC Newfoundland’s best, John Gushue and Elizabeth Whitten had the details:
Hundreds of billions at stake as N.L., Quebec draft new Churchill Falls deal Read >
A friend of mine, who begged to remain nameless, described the week this way: the “battle of the blowhards.”
He was talking about Donald Trump threatening Canada with 25 percent tariffs, and Doug Ford countering by threatening to cut off power to the U.S. Well, they both may be blowhards, but the countdown is underway to see just who may be blowing hardest. Could either threat happen?
Here's how Tom Howell Jr of the conservative Washington Times wrote the story:
🔒 Ontario’s Doug Ford says Canada will block energy to U.S. in response to tariffs Read >
There are two ways to look at this Canada-US back and forth.
You can argue Trudeau is a fool and Trump is playing him like one, or you can argue the opposite: Trump is a baby, and Trudeau can play him like one.
If those are the only two options, then we have the columns for you. First up John Ivison from the National Post:
🔒 John Ivison: With our ‘post-national’ leader it’s no wonder Trump thinks we aren’t a real country Read >
Okay, the flip side.
Up to bat, Scott Stinson frequent contributor to the Toronto Star:
🔒 Opinion | Donald Trump behaves like a toddler. It’s time for Justin Trudeau to treat him like one Read >
I’ve always been a Stephen Maher fan.
Maher is a writer, reporter, and author whose bylines have appeared in a lot different places over the years. He cut his teeth as a journalist in Atlantic Canada, first in central Newfoundland, then Halifax, then Ottawa. He’s got street smarts and political smarts. He uses all those talents with a short essay type piece in the latest Maclean’s where he doesn’t hold back.
2025, says Maher, will be the year of Poilievre, so get ready:
Canada’s Pierre Poilievre Era Will Begin in 2025 Read >
The murder of a health executive on the streets of New York horrified Americans, but then the story took a twist.
Suddenly to some, the killer became a folk hero. How could that happen? That’s been on the mind of former CBS News anchor Dan Rather who now writes a widely read Substack:
Rage Against the System Read >
Ever been to one of those office Christmas parties that didn’t quite go the way it was supposed to?
Maybe too much drink? Maybe someone gets a little too handsy? Perhaps someone ends up punching someone else. No, of course, you haven’t.
But they can’t say that at Buckingham Palace anymore. Not after this:
