The Buzz Feb 15th 2025: Was the Premiers’ Trip to Washington a Bust?

The Buzz Feb 15th 2025: Was the Premiers’ Trip to Washington a Bust?

Welcome to the weekend, welcome to The Buzz.

As most of us, certainly most of us of a certain age, know well, the last time the Canada-US relationship became a major issue for Canadians was 1988. The free trade debate. Was Canada selling out and running the risk of erasing the border, or were they wisely adapting to a changing trade world? Everyone had an opinion. Canadians were engaged in a big way, but at a very different level than the anger we see today over Trump’s open disdain for our right to protect our sovereignty. 1988 was about the economy, about how we do business. And it wasn’t just the people who were engaged; it was also about Canadian business leaders who took a very active role in the debate. There were organized campaigns by senior business people with their organizations, mostly supportive of the pro-free trade side.

Where’s business this time round?

You see hints of activity but perhaps not as organized on a wide scale, at least not yet. This week, though, did see a key Canadian leader stepping forward with a loud voice and a clear message. Michael McCain has never been shy about national issues and he certainly wasn’t this week. McCain is the executive chair of the giant Maple Leaf Foods powerhouse, and he had this to say in a piece he wrote for the Toronto Star:

🔒 Canada's economy and sovereignty are under threat. We can't let this crisis go to waste Read >

Part of the fight this week saw the premiers, all thirteen of the first ministers from the provinces and territories.

They paraded down to Washington to work the corridors of power, where all, or mostly all, the US players seem to be cowing to the man playing King. So, what did you think of the impact the politically-based Team Canada had over the few days it was in the American capital? Let’s be clear here - quite possibly the largest, highest-ranking Canadian political delegation to ever visit DC met with a lot of people, but they didn’t even get close to breathing the same air as the guy they are trying to impress. When they got inside the White House, they couldn’t get a meeting with anyone higher than a deputy assistant something or other. Thirteen premiers and some relative nobody they’ve probably never heard of before. A fellow who then blew them off on their 51st state concerns.

Maybe I’m being too harsh. So, let’s get another take. Here’s Kate McKenna and Alexander Panetta of the CBC:

How a meeting with Donald Trump Jr. led Canada's premiers to an $85,000-a-month lobbying firm Read >

We touched on a lot of this during this week’s two YouTube podcasts.

Listen to Good Talk here, Listen to Smoke, Mirrors and The Truth here

By the way, one thing the premiers were trying to push in their little outing to the White House was the Arctic and its importance to Canada.

Perhaps they should have taken Anne-Raphaelle Audoin with them, who wrote this for The Hub:

Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin: Building the North is critical for a stronger Canada Read >

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Shifting focus to the Liberal leadership race.

A lot of observers think this is all over but the counting. That Mark Carney has it in the bag. Maybe. But has the race been one that’s caught the public’s imagination? Has it been, or is it being, a good, vigorous search for the top? Not according to Campbell Clark in the Globe and Mail:

🔒 Liberal leadership race is contest that isn’t testing anyone Read >

So where is the national race now?

Another good piece in The Walrus this week, this time by Philippe J. Fournier:

Pierre Poilievre’s Lead Was Supposed to Be Unshakable. It Isn’t Read >

If you were one of those who thought the premiers were kissing butt this week, well that’s kind of what the White House wants from everyone these days.

Just ask the Associated Press who had the temerity to call the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico, and not what his master’s voice had told everyone to call it. Here’s how Newsweek told the story:

Reporter Barred from Oval Office Over 'Gulf of America' Clash, Outlet Says Read >

So, imagine this. Picasso is sitting in his studio and suddenly has an inspiration. It’s his blue period, so he has a lot of inspirations.

This time he wants to paint a portrait of a fellow by the name of Fernandez De Moto. “Damn,” says the revolutionary artist, “I’m out of canvases.”

“No problem,” says his inner voice, “grab the canvas of that beautiful young woman you used to spend time with, and just do a paint over.”

Okay, I just made that up, but who knows? Cue Niha Masih of The Washington Post:

Portrait of mystery woman found hidden beneath century-old Picasso Read >

My wife is a painter. A good one, too. She says she does paint overs all the time. Guess I’ll start looking to see whether there are any Picassos under hers.
That’s it for The Buzz this week. See you again in seven days.

The Buzz is a weekly publication from National Newswatch that shares insights and commentary on the week’s developments in politics, news and current affairs.