🔒 It’s impossible to undo all the damage Trump has wrought to Canada-U.S. relations, says ex-UN ambassador Bob Rae
So, what’s up with that potential ICE purchase of Canadian made bulletproof and bomb proof vehicles, and is anyone questioning whether Canada should allow the sale?
The paper that broke the story was Britain’s Independent, and they’ve been following it all week. This is what they wrote on Thursday:
‘Deeply troubling’: Canadian legislators call for halt to ICE armored vehicle sale after report by The Independent
While we are at it, let's take a look at the increasing costs of heavy-duty military equipment going the other way across the border.
David Pugliese had this in the Ottawa Citizen:
More U.S. equipment ordered for new Canadian warships
In a minority parliament, opposition parties matter. A lot.
We saw that on display during the drama around the budget - even if it did turn out to be a lame one-act play.
Next month, the Conservatives will gather to decide the fate of Pierre Poilievre's leadership. Just a few weeks later, the NDP will choose who they think can lead them out of the abyss. What should we expect from what should be some key political maneuvering? I mean, these should be pretty interesting times, right? Well, maybe we need to manage our expectations according to veteran political observer Lawrence Martin in The Globe and Mail.
🔒 It’s turning-point time for the Conservatives and NDP – but don’t expect much
This is as good a moment as any to promote this week’s podcasts.
On Tuesday, Althia Raj and Rob Russo joined The Bridge for their Reporter’s Notebook segment, including the F-35 / Gripen debate. You can find the audio here.
And yesterday’s Good Talk with Bruce Anderson and Chantal Hebert took on… well, check it yourself with the YouTube version right here.
Time for our AI segment on The Buzz, where each week I try to find something you might be interested in.
I really liked this piece. We all know that powering the millions of daily AI requests will require an enormous increase in electricity, needed to power the data centres that are sprouting up across this continent. You have almost certainly heard of data centres, but have you actually seen one? Check this video out from the Wall Street Journal:
How Many Steaks Can One AI Video vs. AI Image Cook? | WSJ
Data centres are popping up all over the place, and it’s no surprise given the demand.
Canada is well behind on this, but we are getting in the game. South of the border, they’re on it in a big way - just look at Nevada. The Guardian did just that:
The AI boom is heralding a new gold rush in the American west
As if Pete Hegseth isn’t already in enough trouble, now he’s got Franklin the Turtle after him.
Slow but steady, Franklin thinks with his heart and head, because Franklin is, as I’m sure you know, Canadian:
Pete Hegseth's use of Canadian character Franklin the turtle in post about boat strikes prompts anger, mockery
While I’ve spent a fair amount of time pointing out that we are different from our American neighbours, there are universal truths we observe that resonate here.
Social trend surveys can be useful. Like this one about the growing numbers of those suffering from loneliness - not solely an American problem:
The loneliest Americans, according to a survey of 3,000 adults
Okay, this last one may not make you feel any better, but maybe it’ll make you reach higher.
I’m old enough to remember when we never thought there would ever be anyone worth a billion dollars. Well, now billionaires are a dime a dozen (yeah, I know, bad metaphor):
