Canada and America’s Fragile Future

Dave

Hi and welcome to my inaugural podcast entitled My Canada. As we start talking about Canada’s relationship with the United States, it’s important to begin by acknowledging the long, complex history we share. For the most part, we’ve coexisted as peaceful neighbors, often standing shoulder to shoulder in critical moments. Think of the sacrifices made together during the World Wars or even during the Korean War—it’s history that shows how interconnected we’ve been.

Dave

But it’s not just about war efforts. There’ve been these really remarkable times of humanitarian cooperation, moments that stick in our collective memory, like the Iranian hostage crisis, where our embassy stepped up for American diplomats. Or all those flights we welcomed into Labrador during the chaos of nine-eleven. Those moments of unity, they show a kind of trust, a mutual reliance.

Dave

Yet, as much as we’ve had these high points, the relationship hasn’t been without its share of strain. Trade has always been a point of contention, and there’ve been more than a few quarrels about things like tariffs and economic policies. I mean, look at the disputes over softwood lumber or agricultural products for example. They’ve flared up again and again, sometimes feeling like they threaten to destabilize everything. It’s frustrating, honestly.

Dave

And honestly, these disagreements aren’t just historical artifacts—they’ve had real economic consequences for our country. When the U.S. imposed those harsh tariffs on steel and aluminum imports a few years ago, it hit us hard. Jobs were affected, economies in entire communities were shaken. Those were real people’s livelihoods we were talking about. It’s impossible to ignore how similar the current talk of trade restrictions feels to those times. It’s unsettling, to say the least.

Dave

This back and forth in our relationship—it’s like a fragile balance, always teetering between collaboration and conflict. And right now, it feels like we’re tilting towards a more uncertain phase again.

Dave

We’re now looking at a scenario that feels like it’s straight out of, well, some dystopian novel. Trump’s second administration could bring with it a host of troubling developments, not just for the U.S., but for Canada too. I mean, the idea that a sitting president could pardon himself from past convictions? That’s unprecedented. It’s really hard to understate how this kind of move could undermine confidence in democratic norms south of the border.

Dave

And then there’s the possibility of the U.S. pulling out of NATO. This alliance has been a cornerstone of collective security in our part of the world for decades. Without it, Canada’s strategic and defensive posture could be severely weakened. We don’t have the same military resources that the U.S. does, so this is not something we can just shrug off. It’s a pressing concern.

Dave

What really hits close to home, though, is how Trump’s immigration policies might ripple across our borders. The plan to round up immigrants, regardless of their status, is stark. It’s not hard to imagine that these measures might push a significant number of people—both undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens—northward to Canada. Particularly, we could see this concentrated in places like Southern Ontario or Québec. These regions would feel the demographic changes first.

Dave

And economically the stakes are enormous. Canada relies a lot on the U.S. market. If Trump makes good on his threats to impose crippling tariffs on Canadian exports, it’s going to devastate industries like manufacturing and agriculture. Think of the ripple effects, jobs lost, communities disrupted. It could be a real economic storm for us.

Dave

All of this isn’t just speculation. These scenarios stem directly from the policies and rhetoric already outlined in documents like Project 2025. We’re staring at a future that feels more precarious than ever.

Dave

So, where do we go from here? Preparing for the challenges ahead is going to take a lot more than just reactive measures. We, as a country, need to start thinking long-term and strategically, and I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what those steps might look like.

Dave

First and foremost, I believe Canada should seriously consider strengthening its alignment with the European Union. Politically and economically, we already share a lot of values with the EU—in healthcare, democracy, even our approach to climate issues. Moving closer to the EU, or even exploring integration, could give us a more secure international foothold and, honestly, some breathing room from our dependency on the American market. This isn’t going to be a simple process, though. It’ll take time and a clear vision, but it’s worth pursuing.

Dave

Defense has to become a priority, too. We’ve always lagged in meeting our NATO commitments, and now it’s clear we need to do significantly more. Two percent of GDP? That’s just not enough anymore. I’m talking about four to five percent, maybe even more, dedicated to strengthening our military capabilities. This isn’t just about meeting external expectations—it’s about our sovereignty. We need to be capable of protecting ourselves, especially against a more dangerous foe to our south.

Dave

Next, we’ve got to double down on supporting Canadian-made goods and services. The “Made in Canada” push is more than just a slogan—it’s a way to reinforce our economic resilience. We’ve already seen some inspiring examples come to light. I came across this tech startup out of Vancouver that’s using AI to optimize energy grids—it’s cutting-edge stuff. And on the sustainability front, a farmer in Saskatchewan recently started producing 100% Canadian-made biodegradable packaging. These kinds of innovations show what we’re capable of.

Dave

But innovation isn’t enough if we don’t have the right infrastructure in place. We need to invest heavily in technology deployment across the board. AI is going to play a huge role in the future—energy, healthcare, even agriculture. If we don’t lead on this, we’re going to fall behind, plain and simple.

Dave

There are so many pieces of this puzzle—defense, economic independence, technology—that we need to get right if we’re going to secure a future that remains uniquely Canadian. And it’s not just for us today—it’s for our kids, our grandkids. This is about building a Canada that can stand strong, resilient, and forward-thinking in a rapidly changing world.

Dave

And that’s all for today. Thanks for tuning in and taking the time to think through these issues with me. Let’s keep pushing for a brighter, stronger future. Take care, and until next time, let’s stay strong and free. Let me know your feelings on this podcast in the comments and whether you would like to hear more podcasts in the future.