🇺🇸🇨🇦 Trade War Escalates: Trump Calls Off Talks, Ford Pulls Reagan Ad — “Canada Playing Games”
The latest twist in the North American trade standoff came swiftly and explosively.
Late Thursday, President Donald Trump announced he was terminating all trade negotiations with Canada, accusing Ottawa of fraudulently using a “FAKE” ad featuring Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Within hours, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his government would pause the ad campaign — a $75 million initiative designed to reach U.S. voters during the World Series — after speaking with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Ford defended the ad’s intent:
“Our goal was to start a conversation about how tariffs hurt workers and businesses on both sides of the border. We’ve achieved that,” he said, promising to keep the message airing until Monday.
The Ronald Reagan Foundation, however, stopped short of calling the ad “fraudulent.” In a statement, it said Ontario “did not seek nor receive permission” to use Reagan’s words and that the spot “misrepresents” a 1987 radio address — even though the ad accurately quotes Reagan warning that high tariffs trigger “fierce trade wars” and collapsing markets.
Trump fired back, claiming Canada was trying to “illegally influence” the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of hearings on his global tariffs and declaring that “ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
The White House doubled down Friday, accusing Canada of “playing games,” while U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was quoted calling Ford a “lightweight.”
Prime Minister Carney, en route to Asia, struck a measured tone:
“We’ve made real progress with our American colleagues on steel, aluminum, and energy. Canada stands ready to pick up where we left off — when the U.S. is ready.”
The fallout exposes deep fault lines in the Carney and Ford government’s approach to Washington. For all the rhetoric about “Team Canada,” Ottawa now faces a blunt reality: in Trump’s America, one misplaced ad can collapse months of diplomacy
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The latest twist in the North American trade standoff came swiftly and explosively.
Late Thursday, President Donald Trump announced he was terminating all trade negotiations with Canada, accusing Ottawa of fraudulently using a “FAKE” ad featuring Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Within hours, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his government would pause the ad campaign — a $75 million initiative designed to reach U.S. voters during the World Series — after speaking with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Ford defended the ad’s intent:
“Our goal was to start a conversation about how tariffs hurt workers and businesses on both sides of the border. We’ve achieved that,” he said, promising to keep the message airing until Monday.
The Ronald Reagan Foundation, however, stopped short of calling the ad “fraudulent.” In a statement, it said Ontario “did not seek nor receive permission” to use Reagan’s words and that the spot “misrepresents” a 1987 radio address — even though the ad accurately quotes Reagan warning that high tariffs trigger “fierce trade wars” and collapsing markets.
Trump fired back, claiming Canada was trying to “illegally influence” the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of hearings on his global tariffs and declaring that “ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
The White House doubled down Friday, accusing Canada of “playing games,” while U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was quoted calling Ford a “lightweight.”
Prime Minister Carney, en route to Asia, struck a measured tone:
“We’ve made real progress with our American colleagues on steel, aluminum, and energy. Canada stands ready to pick up where we left off — when the U.S. is ready.”
The fallout exposes deep fault lines in the Carney and Ford government’s approach to Washington. For all the rhetoric about “Team Canada,” Ottawa now faces a blunt reality: in Trump’s America, one misplaced ad can collapse months of diplomacy
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
💩9❤6😁4👍1👎1
🇻🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦 Pope Leo XIV weighs in on Trump–Canada rupture: “Two close allies have become separated”
Even the Vatican couldn’t ignore the shockwaves from Donald Trump’s sudden suspension of trade talks with Canada.
Speaking Friday at a synod gathering in Rome, Pope Leo XIV — the first American to hold the papacy — broke with tradition by lamenting the “great difficulties” now straining U.S.–Canada relations.
“Two countries that were once considered the closest allies at times have become separated from one another,” he said, in what many saw as a clear reference to Trump’s decision to end negotiations following Ontario’s controversial Ronald Reagan ad.
It’s rare for a pope to comment on trade or economic disputes, but Leo framed his remarks in moral rather than political terms, urging dialogue and humility over confrontation.
“It’s another proof of why listening and dialogue are so important — and how they have concrete applications in our daily lives,” he added.
The pontiff’s intervention comes amid a tense week in North America, where the fallout from Trump’s declaration has rattled markets and shaken diplomatic confidence.
Pope Leo — who has already clashed with Trump over immigration and social policy — appeared to hint that reconciliation, not retaliation, should guide both nations.
Whether Washington and Ottawa heed that message remains uncertain. But when even the Bishop of Rome starts preaching about tariff wars, it’s a sign that this rift between two supposed allies has gone global.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Even the Vatican couldn’t ignore the shockwaves from Donald Trump’s sudden suspension of trade talks with Canada.
Speaking Friday at a synod gathering in Rome, Pope Leo XIV — the first American to hold the papacy — broke with tradition by lamenting the “great difficulties” now straining U.S.–Canada relations.
“Two countries that were once considered the closest allies at times have become separated from one another,” he said, in what many saw as a clear reference to Trump’s decision to end negotiations following Ontario’s controversial Ronald Reagan ad.
It’s rare for a pope to comment on trade or economic disputes, but Leo framed his remarks in moral rather than political terms, urging dialogue and humility over confrontation.
“It’s another proof of why listening and dialogue are so important — and how they have concrete applications in our daily lives,” he added.
The pontiff’s intervention comes amid a tense week in North America, where the fallout from Trump’s declaration has rattled markets and shaken diplomatic confidence.
Pope Leo — who has already clashed with Trump over immigration and social policy — appeared to hint that reconciliation, not retaliation, should guide both nations.
Whether Washington and Ottawa heed that message remains uncertain. But when even the Bishop of Rome starts preaching about tariff wars, it’s a sign that this rift between two supposed allies has gone global.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤡12😈5👍3🌭2🔥1
🇨🇦🇺🇸 Ford Defends “Reagan Ad” After Trump Halts Trade Talks: “We Won’t Negotiate From Our Knees”
The fallout from Ontario’s $75 million anti-tariff ad continues to ripple across North America — and Premier Doug Ford isn’t backing down.
Speaking Friday, Ford stood by the controversial ad — which features Ronald Reagan warning against trade wars — even after President Donald Trump abruptly terminated all U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, accusing Canada of airing a “fraudulent” clip.
Ford’s office pushed back:
“The clip is unedited and publicly available. President Reagan knew that tariffs hurt the U.S. economy, workers, and families,” said spokesperson Grace Lee.
While Ford agreed to pause the ad Monday “so talks can resume,” he defended the campaign’s message and reach, saying it had “sparked conversation at the highest levels of power in Washington.”
Reaction across Canada was split.
• NDP Leader Marit Stiles called the campaign a waste of public money, saying Ford should “focus on Ontario workers losing jobs now.”
• Liberal MPP Stephanie Bowman blasted Ford for “grandstanding while Ontario’s economy struggles.”
• Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, however, sided with Ford, calling the ad “effective” and saying, “this country is behind you.”
• Unifor President Lana Payne praised Ford for “standing up to unjust and punitive tariffs,” saying Canada “can’t negotiate from its knees.”
Behind the noise, one fact stands out: the Reagan Foundation never accused Canada of fraud, only noting that Ontario failed to seek permission to use and edit Reagan’s 1987 remarks. The ad’s quote — warning that tariffs “lead to retaliation and collapse” — remains historically accurate.
With talks frozen and both capitals trading barbs, Canada’s strategy now teeters between Ford’s defiance and Carney’s diplomacy. One thing is certain — a 60-second ad just rewrote the noscript on Canada-U.S. relations.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The fallout from Ontario’s $75 million anti-tariff ad continues to ripple across North America — and Premier Doug Ford isn’t backing down.
Speaking Friday, Ford stood by the controversial ad — which features Ronald Reagan warning against trade wars — even after President Donald Trump abruptly terminated all U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, accusing Canada of airing a “fraudulent” clip.
Ford’s office pushed back:
“The clip is unedited and publicly available. President Reagan knew that tariffs hurt the U.S. economy, workers, and families,” said spokesperson Grace Lee.
While Ford agreed to pause the ad Monday “so talks can resume,” he defended the campaign’s message and reach, saying it had “sparked conversation at the highest levels of power in Washington.”
Reaction across Canada was split.
• NDP Leader Marit Stiles called the campaign a waste of public money, saying Ford should “focus on Ontario workers losing jobs now.”
• Liberal MPP Stephanie Bowman blasted Ford for “grandstanding while Ontario’s economy struggles.”
• Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, however, sided with Ford, calling the ad “effective” and saying, “this country is behind you.”
• Unifor President Lana Payne praised Ford for “standing up to unjust and punitive tariffs,” saying Canada “can’t negotiate from its knees.”
Behind the noise, one fact stands out: the Reagan Foundation never accused Canada of fraud, only noting that Ontario failed to seek permission to use and edit Reagan’s 1987 remarks. The ad’s quote — warning that tariffs “lead to retaliation and collapse” — remains historically accurate.
With talks frozen and both capitals trading barbs, Canada’s strategy now teeters between Ford’s defiance and Carney’s diplomacy. One thing is certain — a 60-second ad just rewrote the noscript on Canada-U.S. relations.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🇨🇦 Canada to unveil first-ever Defence Industrial Strategy — “Total Defence” meets economic survival
Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed Friday that Canada’s first Defence Industrial Strategy — the country’s long-awaited blueprint for rebuilding its military and defence economy — will be released after the Nov. 4 budget, but no later than Christmas.
The strategy marks a major turning point. Ottawa plans to map out “sovereign capabilities”, identify industries with a commercial advantage, and place a “premium on dual-use technologies” — innovations that serve both civilian and military needs, from AI and quantum computing to climate resilience and biosecurity.
McGuinty said the plan will ensure Canada’s national security and economic independence amid what he called a “dangerous and divided world.” The move aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge to raise defence spending from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035, including 1.5% for civilian resilience projects such as energy infrastructure, ports, and emergency preparedness.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly hinted that Canada’s definition of “defence” will expand dramatically:
“Land, sea, air — and cyber. But also pandemics and climate impacts like wildfires. We’re building a broad, modern definition of national defence.”
Analysts say the document could “pick winners and losers” in Canadian industry for the first time in decades. It’s expected to name key domestic sectors for priority investment while reshaping procurement around a new Defence Investment Agency designed to fast-track projects and favour Canadian-made systems.
Yet critics warn Ottawa still lacks a clear sense of threat — or a narrative powerful enough to rally public support.
“Canada only accelerates defence spending when it feels existential pressure,” said Gaëlle Rivard Piché of the Defence Associations Institute. “Trump’s tariff war may have created that pressure, but what’s missing is clarity about the threat we’re actually preparing for.”
As trade tensions with Washington deepen and NATO pushes allies to boost capacity, Canada’s “total defence” approach looks less like a military plan — and more like a national survival blueprint for the turbulent decade ahead.
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed Friday that Canada’s first Defence Industrial Strategy — the country’s long-awaited blueprint for rebuilding its military and defence economy — will be released after the Nov. 4 budget, but no later than Christmas.
The strategy marks a major turning point. Ottawa plans to map out “sovereign capabilities”, identify industries with a commercial advantage, and place a “premium on dual-use technologies” — innovations that serve both civilian and military needs, from AI and quantum computing to climate resilience and biosecurity.
McGuinty said the plan will ensure Canada’s national security and economic independence amid what he called a “dangerous and divided world.” The move aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge to raise defence spending from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035, including 1.5% for civilian resilience projects such as energy infrastructure, ports, and emergency preparedness.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly hinted that Canada’s definition of “defence” will expand dramatically:
“Land, sea, air — and cyber. But also pandemics and climate impacts like wildfires. We’re building a broad, modern definition of national defence.”
Analysts say the document could “pick winners and losers” in Canadian industry for the first time in decades. It’s expected to name key domestic sectors for priority investment while reshaping procurement around a new Defence Investment Agency designed to fast-track projects and favour Canadian-made systems.
Yet critics warn Ottawa still lacks a clear sense of threat — or a narrative powerful enough to rally public support.
“Canada only accelerates defence spending when it feels existential pressure,” said Gaëlle Rivard Piché of the Defence Associations Institute. “Trump’s tariff war may have created that pressure, but what’s missing is clarity about the threat we’re actually preparing for.”
As trade tensions with Washington deepen and NATO pushes allies to boost capacity, Canada’s “total defence” approach looks less like a military plan — and more like a national survival blueprint for the turbulent decade ahead.
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤡17😈3❤2
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🇨🇦 Mark Carney’s Canada: virtue as policy, slogans as strategy.
“Canadians care about the world and we care about each other.”
That’s how the Prime Minister frames a nation staring down trade collapse, spiralling debt, and an identity crisis — with platitudes polished for Davos, not Parliament Hill.
While Canadians line up at food banks and manufacturers brace for another round of U.S. tariffs, Carney’s message is clear: moral branding over material reality.
He speaks of “fighting climate change” and building a “competitive economy,” yet Ottawa’s industrial strategy is being written by the same class that outsourced Canada’s energy, gutted its manufacturing, and now wants to “greenwash” austerity as virtue.
This isn’t compassion. It’s choreography — the politics of empathy masking the economics of managed decline.
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
“Canadians care about the world and we care about each other.”
That’s how the Prime Minister frames a nation staring down trade collapse, spiralling debt, and an identity crisis — with platitudes polished for Davos, not Parliament Hill.
While Canadians line up at food banks and manufacturers brace for another round of U.S. tariffs, Carney’s message is clear: moral branding over material reality.
He speaks of “fighting climate change” and building a “competitive economy,” yet Ottawa’s industrial strategy is being written by the same class that outsourced Canada’s energy, gutted its manufacturing, and now wants to “greenwash” austerity as virtue.
This isn’t compassion. It’s choreography — the politics of empathy masking the economics of managed decline.
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤮16💯5🤯3👎1
🇨🇦🇺🇸 Trade War Escalates: Trump Slaps New 10% Tariff on Canada After “Reagan Ad” Fallout
The diplomatic freefall continues.
On Saturday, Donald Trump announced an additional 10% tariff “over and above” existing duties on Canada, claiming Ontario’s anti-tariff commercial featuring Ronald Reagan was “fraudulent” and deliberately aired again during the World Series after being ordered down.
Trump accused Canada of “trying to illegally influence” a pending U.S. Supreme Court case over the legality of his global tariffs — calling it “THE MOST IMPORTANT CASE EVER.”
The $75-million ad, aired by Doug Ford’s government, quoted Reagan warning that tariffs “lead to trade wars and job losses.”
The Reagan Foundation, however, never called the ad fake — only that Ontario did not seek permission to use and edit the 1987 remarks.
The fallout is now economic.
Trump’s new tariff could add tens of billions in costs for North American manufacturers.
“A TV commercial is about to cost American consumers $50 billion,” said Flavio Volpe, head of Canada’s auto parts association.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney, traveling in Malaysia, said Canada “stands ready” to resume talks “when the Americans are ready.”
But critics at home say Carney miscalculated. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre blasted the PM for failing to secure a deal by his own summer deadline — “The cost of broken promises is higher U.S. tariffs and lost jobs.”
The irony? Reagan and Mulroney built free trade on shared trust.
Now, 40 years later, a single Reagan quote has become the spark for a 21st-century tariff war — where symbolism, not policy, dictates the price of everything.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The diplomatic freefall continues.
On Saturday, Donald Trump announced an additional 10% tariff “over and above” existing duties on Canada, claiming Ontario’s anti-tariff commercial featuring Ronald Reagan was “fraudulent” and deliberately aired again during the World Series after being ordered down.
Trump accused Canada of “trying to illegally influence” a pending U.S. Supreme Court case over the legality of his global tariffs — calling it “THE MOST IMPORTANT CASE EVER.”
The $75-million ad, aired by Doug Ford’s government, quoted Reagan warning that tariffs “lead to trade wars and job losses.”
The Reagan Foundation, however, never called the ad fake — only that Ontario did not seek permission to use and edit the 1987 remarks.
The fallout is now economic.
Trump’s new tariff could add tens of billions in costs for North American manufacturers.
“A TV commercial is about to cost American consumers $50 billion,” said Flavio Volpe, head of Canada’s auto parts association.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney, traveling in Malaysia, said Canada “stands ready” to resume talks “when the Americans are ready.”
But critics at home say Carney miscalculated. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre blasted the PM for failing to secure a deal by his own summer deadline — “The cost of broken promises is higher U.S. tariffs and lost jobs.”
The irony? Reagan and Mulroney built free trade on shared trust.
Now, 40 years later, a single Reagan quote has become the spark for a 21st-century tariff war — where symbolism, not policy, dictates the price of everything.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
❤6😁6🤡6🔥4🤬1🤨1
🇺🇸🐺🇨🇦 Trump admin to Colorado: no more Canadian wolves
Colorado planned to bring in 10–15 more grey wolves from B.C. this winter to build its voter-approved reintroduction. After two seasons of releases (about ~30 wolves now), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under Trump told the state to stop importing wolves from Canada and source only from the U.S. Northern Rockies—where Idaho/Montana/Wyoming don’t want to help.
Why it matters (Canada angle):
• B.C. had an agreement on deck; Ottawa/Victoria just got undercut by a U.S. policy pivot.
• If Colorado can’t source wolves domestically, its program stalls—putting a cross-border conservation partnership in limbo.
• Another Canada–U.S. flashpoint in a week already full of trade drama.
Colorado now: weighing “all options” to keep releases on schedule; conservation groups say FWS is stretching its own rules; ranchers in CO still pushing back after livestock kills.
What to watch:
• Does B.C. pause cooperation or press ahead?
• Lawsuit from Colorado or NGOs challenging the sourcing restriction.
• Knock-on effects for other cross-border wildlife work (caribou, grizzlies, salmon).
Bottom line: Politics just howled into wildlife policy. The border isn’t a fence for wolves, but it is for bureaucracy.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Colorado planned to bring in 10–15 more grey wolves from B.C. this winter to build its voter-approved reintroduction. After two seasons of releases (about ~30 wolves now), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under Trump told the state to stop importing wolves from Canada and source only from the U.S. Northern Rockies—where Idaho/Montana/Wyoming don’t want to help.
Why it matters (Canada angle):
• B.C. had an agreement on deck; Ottawa/Victoria just got undercut by a U.S. policy pivot.
• If Colorado can’t source wolves domestically, its program stalls—putting a cross-border conservation partnership in limbo.
• Another Canada–U.S. flashpoint in a week already full of trade drama.
Colorado now: weighing “all options” to keep releases on schedule; conservation groups say FWS is stretching its own rules; ranchers in CO still pushing back after livestock kills.
What to watch:
• Does B.C. pause cooperation or press ahead?
• Lawsuit from Colorado or NGOs challenging the sourcing restriction.
• Knock-on effects for other cross-border wildlife work (caribou, grizzlies, salmon).
Bottom line: Politics just howled into wildlife policy. The border isn’t a fence for wolves, but it is for bureaucracy.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
❤3🗿3👍2🔥1💩1
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Experts say Ontario’s “Reagan ad” was clever, legal — and hit its mark
The $75-million anti-tariff ad that sent Donald Trump into a rage did exactly what political strategists dream of: it cut through the noise and dominated the conversation.
The ad, quoting Ronald Reagan’s 1987 warning that tariffs “lead to trade wars and job losses,” prompted Trump to cut off trade talks and impose new tariffs on Canada. But legal experts say the outrage is more political theatre than substance.
Legally sound:
The Reagan Foundation said Ontario “did not seek permission,” but U.S. scholars note the clip is public domain and protected under political speech — a category given the broadest latitude under U.S. law.
“That ad worked. It got attention,” said Acadia University’s Alex Marland. “If it’s not manipulated, it’s fair game.”
Politically potent:
The ad was so effective that it provoked the U.S. president into escalating a trade war over a 38-year-old quote. Even critics admit it pierced the American media bubble in a way few Canadian messages ever do.
Airing again this weekend during the World Series, the campaign has already been seen by millions — including the White House.
Doug Ford says it achieved its purpose: “We reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels.”
The irony? Reagan and Mulroney once signed the Free Trade Agreement. Today, a Reagan soundbite has done more to expose U.S. protectionism and Canadian vulnerability, than any modern speech.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The $75-million anti-tariff ad that sent Donald Trump into a rage did exactly what political strategists dream of: it cut through the noise and dominated the conversation.
The ad, quoting Ronald Reagan’s 1987 warning that tariffs “lead to trade wars and job losses,” prompted Trump to cut off trade talks and impose new tariffs on Canada. But legal experts say the outrage is more political theatre than substance.
Legally sound:
The Reagan Foundation said Ontario “did not seek permission,” but U.S. scholars note the clip is public domain and protected under political speech — a category given the broadest latitude under U.S. law.
“That ad worked. It got attention,” said Acadia University’s Alex Marland. “If it’s not manipulated, it’s fair game.”
Politically potent:
The ad was so effective that it provoked the U.S. president into escalating a trade war over a 38-year-old quote. Even critics admit it pierced the American media bubble in a way few Canadian messages ever do.
Airing again this weekend during the World Series, the campaign has already been seen by millions — including the White House.
Doug Ford says it achieved its purpose: “We reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels.”
The irony? Reagan and Mulroney once signed the Free Trade Agreement. Today, a Reagan soundbite has done more to expose U.S. protectionism and Canadian vulnerability, than any modern speech.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤡19💯7🔥5
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao — ties deepen between White House and crypto empire
In a stunning move that’s already shaking both Washington and the blockchain world, Donald Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, the Canadian-born architect of the world’s largest crypto exchange.
Zhao, who served time after pleading guilty to failing to stop illicit activity on Binance, had personally petitioned Trump for a pardon. His timing and connections, couldn’t be more strategic.
Deep ties:
Zhao’s company is now intertwined with World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s new crypto venture. The firm’s flagship product, USD1, a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, is already being used in a $2 billion UAE investment fund deal to buy a stake in Binance.
Trump’s financial disclosure shows he earned $57 million last year from World Liberty Financial, underscoring how the line between public policy and private profit has blurred.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Zhao’s prosecution under Biden “a politically motivated attack on crypto.” She emphasized that Zhao’s conviction involved no allegations of fraud or direct victims.
Zhao, for his part, said in court last year:
“I failed here. I deeply regret my failure, and I am sorry.”
The bigger picture:
Trump’s pardon cements his image as crypto’s political champion — and signals a new era where the digital economy merges with the political-industrial complex.
If Bitcoin was rebellion, USD1 may be regulation’s revenge — minted by the establishment itself.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
In a stunning move that’s already shaking both Washington and the blockchain world, Donald Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, the Canadian-born architect of the world’s largest crypto exchange.
Zhao, who served time after pleading guilty to failing to stop illicit activity on Binance, had personally petitioned Trump for a pardon. His timing and connections, couldn’t be more strategic.
Deep ties:
Zhao’s company is now intertwined with World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s new crypto venture. The firm’s flagship product, USD1, a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, is already being used in a $2 billion UAE investment fund deal to buy a stake in Binance.
Trump’s financial disclosure shows he earned $57 million last year from World Liberty Financial, underscoring how the line between public policy and private profit has blurred.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Zhao’s prosecution under Biden “a politically motivated attack on crypto.” She emphasized that Zhao’s conviction involved no allegations of fraud or direct victims.
Zhao, for his part, said in court last year:
“I failed here. I deeply regret my failure, and I am sorry.”
The bigger picture:
Trump’s pardon cements his image as crypto’s political champion — and signals a new era where the digital economy merges with the political-industrial complex.
If Bitcoin was rebellion, USD1 may be regulation’s revenge — minted by the establishment itself.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
👎4🤔3🤡3❤2
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🇨🇦🇺🇸 Trump still very "very dissapointed in Canada" for using Ronald Reagan address over tarrifs in a commercial spearheaded by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Trump think he'll be meeting Mark Carney anytime soon...
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Trump think he'll be meeting Mark Carney anytime soon...
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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The controversial 1995 vote was RAZOR thin, 1% of voters swayed to NO for independence.
Quebec separatism remains popular across Francophone Canada.
#Quebec
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🇨🇦🚗 Canada’s auto industry at a crossroads as U.S. incentives lure production south
The Trump administration’s aggressive push to re-industrialize America’s auto sector is shaking Canada’s manufacturing backbone — and business leaders are warning Ottawa to face hard realities before the wheels come off entirely.
The shift:
U.S. President Donald Trump has made no secret of his goal: “bring auto manufacturing home.”
This month alone, GM ended BrightDrop EV production in Ingersoll, and Stellantis moved Jeep Compass production from Brampton to Illinois, eliminating over 4,100 Canadian jobs. Washington’s new 3.75% domestic rebate on U.S.-assembled vehicles until 2030 — effectively a built-in subsidy — now makes relocation irresistible.
Business leaders sound the alarm:
Goldy Hyder, head of the Business Council of Canada, said it bluntly:
“No agreement is not an alternative. We have to hear what is being said.”
Rather than clinging to a fading status quo, Hyder and other insiders say Canada must rethink its strategy — focusing on parts manufacturing, where the U.S. isn’t targeting Canada directly, and developing new value chains immune to Trump’s protectionist squeeze.
The numbers:
• 54,000 Canadians still work in vehicle assembly.
• 66,000 in the parts sector.
• Over 600,000 jobs depend directly or indirectly on auto manufacturing.
But with the Detroit Three now producing just 20% of Canada’s vehicles, the trend line is clear: production is leaving, not growing.
What Ottawa can do:
Experts like Toyota’s former VP Stephen Beatty urge Canada to tie tariff-free imports to domestic production quotas, forcing automakers to build more cars here if they want market access. Others suggest targeted incentives — not bailouts — to direct the industry toward electric and autonomous manufacturing.
“Making vehicles is pound for pound about twice as valuable as making parts,” said Brendan Sweeney of the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. “Keeping production in Canada is an economic necessity, not nostalgia.”
The bottom line:
Trump’s tariffs and subsidies have flipped the noscript, Canada is now fighting to keep a seat at the auto table it helped build. Ottawa’s next move will decide whether the industry adapts or fades into memory.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The Trump administration’s aggressive push to re-industrialize America’s auto sector is shaking Canada’s manufacturing backbone — and business leaders are warning Ottawa to face hard realities before the wheels come off entirely.
The shift:
U.S. President Donald Trump has made no secret of his goal: “bring auto manufacturing home.”
This month alone, GM ended BrightDrop EV production in Ingersoll, and Stellantis moved Jeep Compass production from Brampton to Illinois, eliminating over 4,100 Canadian jobs. Washington’s new 3.75% domestic rebate on U.S.-assembled vehicles until 2030 — effectively a built-in subsidy — now makes relocation irresistible.
Business leaders sound the alarm:
Goldy Hyder, head of the Business Council of Canada, said it bluntly:
“No agreement is not an alternative. We have to hear what is being said.”
Rather than clinging to a fading status quo, Hyder and other insiders say Canada must rethink its strategy — focusing on parts manufacturing, where the U.S. isn’t targeting Canada directly, and developing new value chains immune to Trump’s protectionist squeeze.
The numbers:
• 54,000 Canadians still work in vehicle assembly.
• 66,000 in the parts sector.
• Over 600,000 jobs depend directly or indirectly on auto manufacturing.
But with the Detroit Three now producing just 20% of Canada’s vehicles, the trend line is clear: production is leaving, not growing.
What Ottawa can do:
Experts like Toyota’s former VP Stephen Beatty urge Canada to tie tariff-free imports to domestic production quotas, forcing automakers to build more cars here if they want market access. Others suggest targeted incentives — not bailouts — to direct the industry toward electric and autonomous manufacturing.
“Making vehicles is pound for pound about twice as valuable as making parts,” said Brendan Sweeney of the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. “Keeping production in Canada is an economic necessity, not nostalgia.”
The bottom line:
Trump’s tariffs and subsidies have flipped the noscript, Canada is now fighting to keep a seat at the auto table it helped build. Ottawa’s next move will decide whether the industry adapts or fades into memory.
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🇨🇦🏠 Trump’s new tariffs rattle Canada’s housing market
The weekend’s 10% tariff hike — Trump’s latest trade broadside against Canada — is already sending shockwaves through markets far from the negotiating table. Analysts say the escalation may delay housing recovery, push the Bank of Canada toward more rate cuts, and erode buyer confidence just as the market was finding its footing.
The trigger:
After the Ontario government aired an anti-tariff ad quoting Ronald Reagan, Trump called it “fraudulent,” tore up ongoing trade talks, and announced new tariffs “over and above” existing ones. The move, driven by politics more than economics, threatens to deepen uncertainty at a time when many Canadians are barely regaining optimism about affordability.
Real estate on edge:
CREA had forecast a cautious rebound for 2026. That optimism now hangs on whether cooler heads can resume negotiations. CMHC warns that tariff turbulence remains the single biggest variable for housing stability. If the trade war drags on, construction costs and supply chains could tighten, stalling projects and slowing sales.
The rate-cut question:
With Canada’s economy already fragile, economists expect the Bank of Canada to cut interest rates by 25 basis points this week — and possibly more in early 2026. CIBC’s Benjamin Tal put it bluntly:
“We need to cut interest rates now… and if they don’t cut, they will cut after that, because they have to.”
Carney stays calm:
From Malaysia, Prime Minister Mark Carney struck a diplomatic tone, saying Canada “stands ready to build on progress” once Washington is prepared to return to talks. But until then, Canadians are left with a familiar feeling — waiting for Washington’s volatility to pass while hoping their mortgage rates follow the opposite direction.
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The weekend’s 10% tariff hike — Trump’s latest trade broadside against Canada — is already sending shockwaves through markets far from the negotiating table. Analysts say the escalation may delay housing recovery, push the Bank of Canada toward more rate cuts, and erode buyer confidence just as the market was finding its footing.
The trigger:
After the Ontario government aired an anti-tariff ad quoting Ronald Reagan, Trump called it “fraudulent,” tore up ongoing trade talks, and announced new tariffs “over and above” existing ones. The move, driven by politics more than economics, threatens to deepen uncertainty at a time when many Canadians are barely regaining optimism about affordability.
Real estate on edge:
CREA had forecast a cautious rebound for 2026. That optimism now hangs on whether cooler heads can resume negotiations. CMHC warns that tariff turbulence remains the single biggest variable for housing stability. If the trade war drags on, construction costs and supply chains could tighten, stalling projects and slowing sales.
The rate-cut question:
With Canada’s economy already fragile, economists expect the Bank of Canada to cut interest rates by 25 basis points this week — and possibly more in early 2026. CIBC’s Benjamin Tal put it bluntly:
“We need to cut interest rates now… and if they don’t cut, they will cut after that, because they have to.”
Carney stays calm:
From Malaysia, Prime Minister Mark Carney struck a diplomatic tone, saying Canada “stands ready to build on progress” once Washington is prepared to return to talks. But until then, Canadians are left with a familiar feeling — waiting for Washington’s volatility to pass while hoping their mortgage rates follow the opposite direction.
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🇨🇦🇺🇸 Ford says mission accomplished after Trump furor over Ontario’s anti-tariff ad
Premier Doug Ford doubled down Monday, calling his government’s Reagan-themed anti-tariff campaign “very effective” — despite it triggering President Trump to abruptly cut off U.S.–Canada trade talks.
The spark:
Ontario’s $75 million U.S. ad campaign quoted Ronald Reagan’s 1987 warning that tariffs destroy jobs and markets. Trump branded the spot “fraudulent,” accusing Canada of manipulating Reagan’s legacy — before adding new tariffs and suspending negotiations.
Ford’s defense:
“You know why President Trump is so upset right now? Because it was effective. It woke up the whole country.”
Ford says the commercial ran during both World Series games, reached over a billion impressions, and forced Americans to confront the real cost of tariffs. After consulting Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ford agreed to pause the ads Monday to reopen the door for dialogue with Washington.
Reagan Foundation pushes back:
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation called the ad “misrepresentative,” saying Ontario never sought permission and it’s “reviewing legal options.” Ford insists Reagan’s words were unedited and public-domain:
“He was a free trader. He hated tariffs — and you can look at the clips.”
Political fallout:
Opposition leaders blasted the premier. NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Ford “screwed up,” while Liberal Leader John Fraser called it “thoughtless.” Yet Ford says every premier he spoke with backed him — and that he “got his money’s worth.”
The bigger picture:
What began as a provincial ad buy is now reshaping continental trade politics. For better or worse, Ontario just forced tariffs and free trade back onto America’s nightly news — and onto the front line of U.S.–Canada relations.
#Canada #USA
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Premier Doug Ford doubled down Monday, calling his government’s Reagan-themed anti-tariff campaign “very effective” — despite it triggering President Trump to abruptly cut off U.S.–Canada trade talks.
The spark:
Ontario’s $75 million U.S. ad campaign quoted Ronald Reagan’s 1987 warning that tariffs destroy jobs and markets. Trump branded the spot “fraudulent,” accusing Canada of manipulating Reagan’s legacy — before adding new tariffs and suspending negotiations.
Ford’s defense:
“You know why President Trump is so upset right now? Because it was effective. It woke up the whole country.”
Ford says the commercial ran during both World Series games, reached over a billion impressions, and forced Americans to confront the real cost of tariffs. After consulting Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ford agreed to pause the ads Monday to reopen the door for dialogue with Washington.
Reagan Foundation pushes back:
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation called the ad “misrepresentative,” saying Ontario never sought permission and it’s “reviewing legal options.” Ford insists Reagan’s words were unedited and public-domain:
“He was a free trader. He hated tariffs — and you can look at the clips.”
Political fallout:
Opposition leaders blasted the premier. NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Ford “screwed up,” while Liberal Leader John Fraser called it “thoughtless.” Yet Ford says every premier he spoke with backed him — and that he “got his money’s worth.”
The bigger picture:
What began as a provincial ad buy is now reshaping continental trade politics. For better or worse, Ontario just forced tariffs and free trade back onto America’s nightly news — and onto the front line of U.S.–Canada relations.
#Canada #USA
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🇨🇦🇺🇸 “Canada burned the bridges”: U.S. ambassador says no tariff deal before new year
U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra says any hope of a Canada–U.S. trade breakthrough is dead for now — blaming Ottawa for “burning bridges” after Ontario’s Reagan-themed anti-tariff ad triggered Donald Trump’s fury. Speaking to manufacturers on Monday, Hoekstra said a potential deal on steel, aluminum, oil, and uranium was days away before the fallout. Now, he says, “Donald Trump didn’t slam the door — Canada did.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking from Malaysia, admitted talks had been making progress before the controversy but remains ready to resume when Washington is. Ford, meanwhile, stood firm: “Mission accomplished. We woke America up. They’re talking about it now.” The premier said he won’t apologize for fighting for Ontario workers, adding, “If it wasn’t the ad, Trump would’ve found another excuse.”
Once again, the fallout of one ad has turned into a full-scale diplomatic chill — with the U.S. accusing Canada of interference and Ottawa insisting it simply told the truth.
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U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra says any hope of a Canada–U.S. trade breakthrough is dead for now — blaming Ottawa for “burning bridges” after Ontario’s Reagan-themed anti-tariff ad triggered Donald Trump’s fury. Speaking to manufacturers on Monday, Hoekstra said a potential deal on steel, aluminum, oil, and uranium was days away before the fallout. Now, he says, “Donald Trump didn’t slam the door — Canada did.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking from Malaysia, admitted talks had been making progress before the controversy but remains ready to resume when Washington is. Ford, meanwhile, stood firm: “Mission accomplished. We woke America up. They’re talking about it now.” The premier said he won’t apologize for fighting for Ontario workers, adding, “If it wasn’t the ad, Trump would’ve found another excuse.”
Once again, the fallout of one ad has turned into a full-scale diplomatic chill — with the U.S. accusing Canada of interference and Ottawa insisting it simply told the truth.
#Canada #USA
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🇨🇦 Tariffs bite hard: Canada’s GDP shrinks for first time in over a year
Canada’s economy has officially stumbled under the weight of Trump’s escalating tariff war. According to new data from Statistics Canada, real GDP fell 0.4% in the second quarter of 2025, marking the first contraction in more than a year and the steepest quarterly drop since 2009 (excluding the pandemic years).
Exports plunged 7.5%, hammered by U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos, and other goods outside the CUSMA framework. The impact rippled across key sectors — manufacturing, wholesaling, and employment all slowed or declined. Businesses tied to cross-border trade say they’re now scrambling to find ways around U.S. tariffs, with 54% of manufacturers and 44% of wholesalers reporting direct impacts by May.
The pain is showing up on store shelves too. Prices for cars, clothing, appliances, groceries, and even travel services have all climbed as companies pass rising costs onto consumers. Roughly a third of businesses have already raised prices, while nearly half expect to do so within the next year.
Employment, meanwhile, has stagnated — with no net job growth between February and August. Public sector hiring has cooled, and private sector growth has stayed below 2% for 17 consecutive months.
The takeaway: the tariff war is not just a political spat — it’s now a full-fledged economic drag. Canada’s manufacturing heartland is feeling it first, but consumers across the country are next in line.
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Canada’s economy has officially stumbled under the weight of Trump’s escalating tariff war. According to new data from Statistics Canada, real GDP fell 0.4% in the second quarter of 2025, marking the first contraction in more than a year and the steepest quarterly drop since 2009 (excluding the pandemic years).
Exports plunged 7.5%, hammered by U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos, and other goods outside the CUSMA framework. The impact rippled across key sectors — manufacturing, wholesaling, and employment all slowed or declined. Businesses tied to cross-border trade say they’re now scrambling to find ways around U.S. tariffs, with 54% of manufacturers and 44% of wholesalers reporting direct impacts by May.
The pain is showing up on store shelves too. Prices for cars, clothing, appliances, groceries, and even travel services have all climbed as companies pass rising costs onto consumers. Roughly a third of businesses have already raised prices, while nearly half expect to do so within the next year.
Employment, meanwhile, has stagnated — with no net job growth between February and August. Public sector hiring has cooled, and private sector growth has stayed below 2% for 17 consecutive months.
The takeaway: the tariff war is not just a political spat — it’s now a full-fledged economic drag. Canada’s manufacturing heartland is feeling it first, but consumers across the country are next in line.
#Canada
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