The evening wasn’t about me as much as it was all about the long-standing friendship our two countries share. It hadn’t been that long since the shock and horror of 9-11 just down the street so there was still emotion in the room. In my acceptance speech I talked about that emotion and that friendship which together have lasted centuries. About how we have always been there for each other at the critical times of war, conflict and natural disasters. How the relationship is so much more than just huge stretches of undefended border. About shared symbols of our past – the beaver is one. It's on both the coat of arms of the NY Canadian Club and the city of New York’s flag. It was a wonderful evening shared by my family and some of our closest friends.
When it was all over, in the wee hours of the following morning, I went outside the hotel, crossed Fifth Avenue and sat beside a pool fountain near the famous Plaza Hotel. I thought about what I’d just been a part of and just how lucky I was, but how lucky we are as Canadians to have such great friends.
But that was 2004 and this is 2025 and while you can’t erase history, these are very different times for our relationship. Canadians are upset and angry in a way I’ve never seen before. Will we get over it? Of course we will, but it may take a while and it sure isn’t over yet.
Which brings me to our first look of this week which is the current state of play between our two countries and how it’s affecting the various political races in Canada.
It comes from CTV News and journalist Jeremie Charron:
Which leader would Canadians prefer to negotiate with Donald Trump? Nanos poll results Read >
I’ve been saying this for a few years now.
Certainly, since the 2016 election. You want to know what Donald Trump is really thinking behind all the bluster? Just listen to Steve Bannon. He’ll tell you and given his Trump whispering past, I think he knows better than anyone. Ashleigh Stewart of Global News went to find out. I think you’ll find her piece more than interesting:
Trump’s plan for ‘hemispheric control’: Steve Bannon on why tariffs may only be the start Read >
I was swamped with letters this week to my podcast The Bridge.
I had asked listeners whether their view of the United States and Americans in general had changed as a result of the Trump threats. The response was overwhelming – you can check it out by downloading the Thursday episode of The Bridge on whatever podcast platform you use.
All this has produced a surge in Canadian patriotism unlike anything I’ve witnessed before. The American online magazine Newsweek wrote about it this week:
Patriotism Surges in Canada as Citizens Band Together to Fight Trump Read >
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It’s an unprecedented time for Canadian politics: A looming trade war with the US. An Ontario provincial election. And a race for the new federal Liberal leader and a federal election in 2025.
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Here’s a different take on the same issue from the Toronto Star’s contributing columnist Denise Balkissoon:
🔒 Our newfound, America-booing patriotism is missing something crucial Read >
It’s common to read central Canadian opinion pieces that don’t have any good things to say about Alberta premier Danielle Smith’s position on various national issues, and especially the tariff issue.
Sometimes she gets similar treatment at home, but certainly not from Rick Bell of the Calgary Sun. He owns the praising-Smith-ground these days:
Bell: Trudeau no hero — Danielle Smith's diplomacy helped win the day on tariffs Read >
I’m sure the Premier will love knowing The Buzz is giving all of Canada a chance to hear a pro-Smith piece.
She might not be so hot on this one though, from opinion writer Seth Klein in the National Observer:
Canada should hit Trump where it hurts the most — oil and gas Read >
Don’t think the Americans aren’t reading these possibilities about limiting, taxing or putting tariffs on Canadian oil heading into the US?
Think again, and think why. Here’s a good breakdown of the facts and figures from online magazine Invezz:
Analysis: what are the US options if Canadian oil imports stop? Read >
You have to love these kind of stories.
A major news scoop but not from a major news organization. And this is a major scoop. Associated Press tells us how it happened and who we can thank for it:
The power of independent journalism: From her Brooklyn apartment, she ‘scooped’ the nation’s media Read >
What’s going on in the James Bond world?
For more than 60 years the Ian Fleming character has been THE spy, the one we wish we were, the one with the licence to kill, the one who liked things shaken not stirred. But since Daniel Craig left the role a few years ago, there’s been no replacement named, and so not a frame has been shot for a new production. Are we suddenly going to be Bondless? Check this out in last week’s Air Mail:
Who Killed James Bond? Read >
