Prime Minister Mark Carney touts that he is a pragmatist, something he repeated throughout his campaign. It's a word we wanted to hear as we dealt with over-the-top, fear-driven concerns advanced by an aggressive bully to the south who continually threatened our sovereignty and imposed killer tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump is waging economic warfare so damaging that he hoped the American stranglehold would break us and we would capitulate to his 51st state blasphemy. It was a threat repeated behind closed doors at the G7 but through Carney, we stood our ground.
At this time of writing, while Trump makes his hasty exit from the all-leaders gathering, we have been told we can expect movement on restructuring the tariffs within 30 days. But this is an unstable president who talked otherwise once back on his airplane. Brain fog. The outcome then is anyone's guess.
We remain hopeful and committed to our own national perseverance. However, this approach to navigating these uncertain times while building a stronger, more resilient economy cannot include an approach that puts human rights, Indigenous recognition and inclusivity plus environmental protection at risk.
There are at least two bills going forward that could affect all three. The first, ironically, is bill C-5, which is expected to be rammed through the House of Commons this Friday. Ironically, National Indigenous Peoples Day is Saturday when, as a country, we gather to celebrate First Nations rights. First Nations are already saying that this bill is being pushed through with little or no input from them.
One of the main functions of this bill is to fast-track large scale projects, such as pipelines, so that their speed through the approval process moves from several years to two. It's all part of the Liberals' strategy to strengthen our economy with nation-based projects so that we are less dependent on the United States. That's admirable, but the Liberal government cannot act unilaterally.
Indigenous people were not included in the consultation for and construction of this bill. They were not even invited to the table.
Several First Nations leaders are crying foul and warning that a failure to consult now could mean lengthy court cases later which will disrupt quick builds. Most of all, the failure to consult is a sign of disrespect that we cannot afford after all the progress we've made on truth and reconciliation. We are a two-nation nation and both must be at the table when we are discussing projects that could impact their lands. Anything else is colonial.
Then there is the new Strong Borders Act, which sounds like something out of the MAGA play list. It would restrict access to asylum, give intelligence more ability to collect data and share it with the U.S., allow mail to be searched - just a few examples. It's draconian and is done to appease Trump. We are better than this.
Carney walks a fine line with this bill and must tread carefully. Pragmatism cannot come at the expense of human and environmental rights.
Finally, in a country already hit hard with wildfires, we absolutely must design environmentally friendly policies and projects that will not only allow Canada to survive, but the world. Fast-tracking approvals is worth nothing if environmental consideration are not a priority. Anything else comes from the Trump play list.
Carney is a smart man working to manoeuvre political policy in dangerous times with a dangerous man. But economic agendas cannot always come first.
After all the No Kings protests in the U.S. last weekend, it became imminently clear that the majority of Americans won't tolerate Trump's behaviour much longer. He will be gone soon. In the meantime, let's develop humanitarian policies that reflect our better selves. We do not need to sink to his level to survive.
Canada is better than that.
