There’s a lot here. I look forward to going through it more. Initially though, I share the concern that "wishful thinking and a failure to come to grips with hard choices [is] a real danger going forward”. It could be easy to fall back on old patterns of dependence, and I’m concerned that the political landscape lacks the vision to rebuild creatively… or as likely, the culture of partisan criticism among Federal parties will erode the solidarity needed to move forward. Curious if anyone else feels that way and what could be done about it?
I agree. I believe the whole system of government needs a good looking at. I have come to really dislike the partisan system -the badmouthing and the lack of getting things done. I would love to see a system that actually works together for the people, all the people (who all have diverse needs). This is a big change, but I don’t think we need to actually do away with parties right away to effect a positive change. This could begin within the parties themselves, in parliament, in provincial settings. Don’t sit all as a party, facing each other as in battle. Stop thinking of it as conflict. Sit around tables and talk. Talk and more talk. And a lot of listening. Put aside the party lines and do what’s best for the children who are to follow. I personally love the Indigenous method of thinking forward through seven generations.
We are adding to this two “What must we do?” posts -- Business in Canada's Future andBuilding a Country -- an opinion piece in the Toronto Star by Angella MacEwen called "Canada’s response to Trump’s tariffs has been short-sighted. This is what we need to do instead." It argues that investing in badly needed infrastructure, rather than dropping trade barriers, is key to making Canada more resilient. You can read the entire piece at the top of each of the "What must we do?" posts.
A Guardian article today on the current Greenland election mentions that a friend of Trump's owns a critical mineral mining company. The guy says the 3 hour flight from NYC to Greenland is very "appealing."
Canada's north, from NWT to ON to Newfoundland, sits on vast mineral wealth.
“Today, what is ‘international’ is not the ‘human race’ but the globalized market. This has resulted in corporations and wealthy individuals playing one country against another to avoid paying taxes, while weakening trade unions and decrying government interference, creating a race to the bottom in which each nation seeks to attract investment away from another.”
— Donald Sassoon quoted in Breaking Free of Neoliberalism: Canada's Challenge: What it will take to deal with American decline, inequality and the climate crisis by Alex Himelfarb
I pledge to get a little more draconian in my “buy Canadian” as I go. If you’re like me, you probably think going out of the way to buy Canadian (or other ally) can feel a bit petty and small, (& I don’t consume much anyway), and it would be - except for the multiplying factor.
- Every dollar not spent in the US is a dollar’s worth of political pressure
- Every dollar spent on Canadian goods is a dollar’s worth of enriching and building Canada
So every loonie spent on a Canadian has a toonie’s worth of political power behind it.
I notice on another thread that we have a lot of retirees who are looking for something for the resistance, (a powerful untapped resource). If you’d like to help, I would pick an area that requires a bit of looking into.
For example - I buy a certain amount of product in the bulk section, but can’t find info on where any of it is produced. I’d like to have the time to dig into it, but I don’t. Is there a way to get info on bulk products origins under present legislation? If anyone knows a bit about this, please let us know.
Thanks for hosting this urgent national discussion.
I'm thinking a lot about Canada's leverage with our vast critical minerals - set to become the most valuable resource of the future.
Can we develop our minerals along a Norway oil model, or will we copy AB oil where we sell to the US at a discount on the world price and let them refine it? American companies even export our crude at a higher price. Why???
This has been our history: we have generally sold off our raw resources to American and multinational corporations for a reason - it's given us easy wealth and a high standard of living.
It would take much more investment and time to turn our resources into value-added products.
I would like to see economists look at this question. How does Canada chart a different resource development course where we keep more value and benefits and control here?
I'm wondering if it's feasible to have public subscriptions to nation-building projects. A way for small investors and reasonably well-off seniors like me to invest a moderate amount of money in a range of fixed return projects. Kind of like war bonds.
It’s refreshing to hear consideration given to economic ideas that don’t only enrich the already rich. Also, might we also consider including retired people, and others on fixed incomes, to be among the precariously employed? Retired folks can’t top up their retirement benefits, just as the unemployed may not top up theirs. Inflation, which is likely in our future, effectively cuts fixed incomes. Retirees are too often left out of conversations about precarity.
There’s a lot here. I look forward to going through it more. Initially though, I share the concern that "wishful thinking and a failure to come to grips with hard choices [is] a real danger going forward”. It could be easy to fall back on old patterns of dependence, and I’m concerned that the political landscape lacks the vision to rebuild creatively… or as likely, the culture of partisan criticism among Federal parties will erode the solidarity needed to move forward. Curious if anyone else feels that way and what could be done about it?
I agree. I believe the whole system of government needs a good looking at. I have come to really dislike the partisan system -the badmouthing and the lack of getting things done. I would love to see a system that actually works together for the people, all the people (who all have diverse needs). This is a big change, but I don’t think we need to actually do away with parties right away to effect a positive change. This could begin within the parties themselves, in parliament, in provincial settings. Don’t sit all as a party, facing each other as in battle. Stop thinking of it as conflict. Sit around tables and talk. Talk and more talk. And a lot of listening. Put aside the party lines and do what’s best for the children who are to follow. I personally love the Indigenous method of thinking forward through seven generations.
We are adding to this two “What must we do?” posts -- Business in Canada's Future andBuilding a Country -- an opinion piece in the Toronto Star by Angella MacEwen called "Canada’s response to Trump’s tariffs has been short-sighted. This is what we need to do instead." It argues that investing in badly needed infrastructure, rather than dropping trade barriers, is key to making Canada more resilient. You can read the entire piece at the top of each of the "What must we do?" posts.
A Guardian article today on the current Greenland election mentions that a friend of Trump's owns a critical mineral mining company. The guy says the 3 hour flight from NYC to Greenland is very "appealing."
Canada's north, from NWT to ON to Newfoundland, sits on vast mineral wealth.
Is Trump simply extorting us for his buddies?!
“Today, what is ‘international’ is not the ‘human race’ but the globalized market. This has resulted in corporations and wealthy individuals playing one country against another to avoid paying taxes, while weakening trade unions and decrying government interference, creating a race to the bottom in which each nation seeks to attract investment away from another.”
— Donald Sassoon quoted in Breaking Free of Neoliberalism: Canada's Challenge: What it will take to deal with American decline, inequality and the climate crisis by Alex Himelfarb
https://a.co/iQ9jrlP
I pledge to get a little more draconian in my “buy Canadian” as I go. If you’re like me, you probably think going out of the way to buy Canadian (or other ally) can feel a bit petty and small, (& I don’t consume much anyway), and it would be - except for the multiplying factor.
- Every dollar not spent in the US is a dollar’s worth of political pressure
- Every dollar spent on Canadian goods is a dollar’s worth of enriching and building Canada
So every loonie spent on a Canadian has a toonie’s worth of political power behind it.
I notice on another thread that we have a lot of retirees who are looking for something for the resistance, (a powerful untapped resource). If you’d like to help, I would pick an area that requires a bit of looking into.
For example - I buy a certain amount of product in the bulk section, but can’t find info on where any of it is produced. I’d like to have the time to dig into it, but I don’t. Is there a way to get info on bulk products origins under present legislation? If anyone knows a bit about this, please let us know.
Sounds a lot like neocolonialism or the age of empires again.... not sure it wasn't ever thus?
Pillaging resources is what wealthy nations and their corporations do.
The question now is: How can Canada use its power and leverage to get good deals?
We have so much of what the US and Europe and Asia need!
Our policies must be strategic to build long-term resilience and value.
Investing in climate change solutions will help us become leaders in the energy transition.
Now is the time to be bold and confident.
Thanks for hosting this urgent national discussion.
I'm thinking a lot about Canada's leverage with our vast critical minerals - set to become the most valuable resource of the future.
Can we develop our minerals along a Norway oil model, or will we copy AB oil where we sell to the US at a discount on the world price and let them refine it? American companies even export our crude at a higher price. Why???
This has been our history: we have generally sold off our raw resources to American and multinational corporations for a reason - it's given us easy wealth and a high standard of living.
It would take much more investment and time to turn our resources into value-added products.
I would like to see economists look at this question. How does Canada chart a different resource development course where we keep more value and benefits and control here?
You may find this discussion useful though unfortunately it’s behind a paywall. We will be sure to engage some economists on the crucial questions you raise on how we break from the staples trap. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/canada-economy-shift-resources/article30715265/ More to come.
I'm wondering if it's feasible to have public subscriptions to nation-building projects. A way for small investors and reasonably well-off seniors like me to invest a moderate amount of money in a range of fixed return projects. Kind of like war bonds.
Why not
It’s refreshing to hear consideration given to economic ideas that don’t only enrich the already rich. Also, might we also consider including retired people, and others on fixed incomes, to be among the precariously employed? Retired folks can’t top up their retirement benefits, just as the unemployed may not top up theirs. Inflation, which is likely in our future, effectively cuts fixed incomes. Retirees are too often left out of conversations about precarity.