Economy A little context on Canada and "free trade"

[jeremyemilio]

As a Canadian, it's honestly been a little embarrassing watching so many of my fellow Canadians coming down with the vapours about Trump's tariffs. Is the guy unhinged and chaos personified? Yup. Is Canada, of all nations, in any position to lecture anyone on free trade? Gawd no. We're one of the worst, most petty, protectionist sorts of nation in the developed world... to the expense of our citizens.

Our telecoms are protected from competition so that we are left paying double and triple what people in other countries pay.

Our prices on dairy products are fixed at artificially high prices and American's shut out of the market so that households are stuck paying double what they ought for milk and dairy dependent businesses from pizza joints to ice cream stands to cafes have a near impossible task in attempting to squeeze out a profit margin.

Canadians are entirely left at the mercy of a very few large (often predatory) banks.

We are forced to watch, listen to, and pay for "Canadian Content" that many people don't want rather than international content that many people do want.

Our government allows big lumber to cut on crown land for free, making small woodlot ownership and management a completely futile endeavor.

And, perhaps worst of all, our provinces are in continued and constant trade wars, placing tariffs on one another. You read that right. Not between countries, but between provinces in the same country.

And now, all of that BS is being brought to the fore due to Trump's BS, and we're supposed to be all "ra ra, Canada!" about it. Like any of this would have ever changed if Trump's acute bout of nonsense hadn't highlighted our own longstanding chronic nonsense. Just terrible, terrible people all around. Any Canadian being sucked into this WWE style rage bait should be embarrassed. These guys have been selling us out for decades, and now they want a pat on the back for "taking on Trump," while they try to get us to ignore the fact that they've been force feeding us the exact same garbage that Trump has now placed on the menu.

Video evidence of the above:

 

[tastaylvr]

you are conflating two topics that have no relevance to each other

Either go live in America sucking trumps dick of fuck off

 

[Seano]

fuck off

No one is forcing you to post in this thread. Take your own advice.

 

[jeremyemilio]

you are conflating two topics that have no relevance to each other

Either go live in America sucking trumps dick of fuck off

Of course they are related. The entire reason for this new interprovincial trade deal is that Trump started his trade war.

And I've stated that Trump's trade war is garbage as well, even though that goes without saying, because I know that people like to think everything is about Trump and that any critique of someone who is vocal against Trump is considered and endorsement of Trump.

Well guess what? These nosebleeds of human beings know that, too. They are leveraging the (well earned) disgust with Trump as cover for their own awful policies and behaviours. It's both the simplest and most cynical political move imaginable. You can literally get free credit for being a strong leader and paragon of effective government for doing nothing but call out Trump.

Which is my point. Just because Donald Trump is a buffoon and needs calling out, doesn't mean that these guys should get a pass, or that they don't need to be called out, as well.

This is Doug, frigging, Ford we're talking about here. Give your head a shake.

 

[BFoe]

As a Canadian, it's honestly been a little embarrassing watching so many of my fellow Canadians coming down with the vapours about Trump's tariffs. Is the guy unhinged and chaos personified? Yup. Is Canada, of all nations, in any position to lecture anyone on free trade? Gawd no. We're one of the worst, most petty, protectionist sorts of nation in the developed world... to the expense of our citizens.

Our telecoms are protected from competition so that we are left paying double and triple what people in other countries pay.

Our prices on dairy products are fixed at artificially high prices and American's shut out of the market so that households are stuck paying double what they ought for milk and dairy dependent businesses from pizza joints to ice cream stands to cafes have a near impossible task in attempting to squeeze out a profit margin.

Canadians are entirely left at the mercy of a very few large (often predatory) banks.

We are forced to watch, listen to, and pay for "Canadian Content" that many people don't want rather than international content that many people do want.

Our government allows big lumber to cut on crown land for free, making small woodlot ownership and management a completely futile endeavor.

And, perhaps worst of all, our provinces are in continued and constant trade wars, placing tariffs on one another. You read that right. Not between countries, but between provinces in the same country.

And now, all of that BS is being brought to the fore due to Trump's BS, and we're supposed to be all "ra ra, Canada!" about it. Like any of this would have ever changed if Trump's acute bout of nonsense hadn't highlighted our own longstanding chronic nonsense. Just terrible, terrible people all around. Any Canadian being sucked into this WWE style rage bait should be embarrassed. These guys have been selling us out for decades, and now they want a pat on the back for "taking on Trump," while they try to get us to ignore the fact that they've been force feeding us the exact same garbage that Trump has now placed on the menu.

Video evidence of the above:

No nation is “perfect” on trade. We spend money, we gain goods, sometimes the countries we trade with spend as much with us and sometimes they don’t. That doesn’t mean it’s unfair or a waste.

What Trump is doing to your country is unnecessary, cruel, and of no benefit to the US or Canada. Oppose it at every turn and be proud to do it.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Yes, canada does partake in a lot of protectionism...its just such a meek and bland country that no one cares

 

[jeremyemilio]

No nation is “perfect” on trade. We spend money, we gain goods, sometimes the countries we trade with spend as much with us and sometimes they don’t. That doesn’t mean it’s unfair or a waste.

What Trump is doing to your country is unnecessary, cruel, and of no benefit to the US or Canada. Oppose it at every turn and be proud to do it.

I do oppose it (or, more accurately, I think of it as part of the larger sh*t show that is a Donald Trump administration).

But, yes, it's annoying to see Canadians only now getting enraged at this sort of thing, and only because it's coming from Trump.

Canada is terrible with this stuff, and it hurts all of us every day in all of the ways that I mentioned (and more), and we can't muster a little outrage at our own leaders who have done this to us consistently over decades, but are all pitchforks out for the President of a whole other country.

For a little more context, I owned a cafe for a while. It was my own start-up. The supply management system was a direct attack on my business... from my own government. When I look at my cell phone bill I see the same thing.

It's crazy to me that Canadians shrug this stuff off when our government is so overtly selling us out to special interests and big business. And then we let these same politicians who have sold us out lead us in these 1984 style "two minutes of hate" sorts of moments against Trump. It's not that he doesn't deserve some hate. It's that it's so cynical and transparent what they're doing and how they're using that distaste for him to lend them power and approval and cover for their own garbage policies.

 

[Deleted member 577981]

As a Canadian, it's honestly been a little embarrassing watching so many of my fellow Canadians coming down with the vapours about Trump's tariffs. Is the guy unhinged and chaos personified? Yup. Is Canada, of all nations, in any position to lecture anyone on free trade? Gawd no. We're one of the worst, most petty, protectionist sorts of nation in the developed world... to the expense of our citizens.

Our telecoms are protected from competition so that we are left paying double and triple what people in other countries pay.

Our prices on dairy products are fixed at artificially high prices and American's shut out of the market so that households are stuck paying double what they ought for milk and dairy dependent businesses from pizza joints to ice cream stands to cafes have a near impossible task in attempting to squeeze out a profit margin.

Canadians are entirely left at the mercy of a very few large (often predatory) banks.

We are forced to watch, listen to, and pay for "Canadian Content" that many people don't want rather than international content that many people do want.

Our government allows big lumber to cut on crown land for free, making small woodlot ownership and management a completely futile endeavor.

And, perhaps worst of all, our provinces are in continued and constant trade wars, placing tariffs on one another. You read that right. Not between countries, but between provinces in the same country.

And now, all of that BS is being brought to the fore due to Trump's BS, and we're supposed to be all "ra ra, Canada!" about it. Like any of this would have ever changed if Trump's acute bout of nonsense hadn't highlighted our own longstanding chronic nonsense. Just terrible, terrible people all around. Any Canadian being sucked into this WWE style rage bait should be embarrassed. These guys have been selling us out for decades, and now they want a pat on the back for "taking on Trump," while they try to get us to ignore the fact that they've been force feeding us the exact same garbage that Trump has now placed on the menu.

Video evidence of the above:

how did you learn to talk with trumps balls in your mouth?

 

[jeremyemilio]

how did you learn to talk with trumps balls in your mouth?

Until you become literate, and can actually read what I write, it's gonna remain tough for us to have a conversation.

 

[Deleted member 577981]

Until you become literate, and can actually read what I write, it's gonna remain tough for us to have a conversation with trumps balls in my mouth.

fixed.

 

[avenue94]

I do oppose it (or, more accurately, I think of it as part of the larger sh*t show that is a Donald Trump administration).

But, yes, it's annoying to see Canadians only now getting enraged at this sort of thing, and only because it's coming from Trump.

Canada is terrible with this stuff, and it hurts all of us every day in all of the ways that I mentioned (and more), and we can't muster a little outrage at our own leaders who have done this to us consistently over decades, but are all pitchforks out for the President of a whole other country.

For a little more context, I owned a cafe for a while. It was my own start-up. The supply management system was a direct attack on my business... from my own government. When I look at my cell phone bill I see the same thing.

It's crazy to me that Canadians shrug this stuff off when our government is so overtly selling us out to special interests and big business. And then we let these same politicians who have sold us out lead us in these 1984 style "two minutes of hate" sorts of moments against Trump. It's not that he doesn't deserve some hate. It's that it's so cynical and transparent what they're doing and how they're using that distaste for him to lend them power and approval and cover for their own garbage policies.

Last I checked Canadians pay less for milk than Americans.

Is there a reason you think American Telcom companies would charge less than Canadian options?

 

[jeremyemilio]

fixed.

I had some long, snarky comeback written out, but let me clarify, in good faith, instead.

I get that you don't believe me, but in my OP I feel I was very clear (again) that I'm not a fan of Trump and that I don't like what he's doing. In fact, my entire point was that the politicians we are expected to rally behind right now are guilty of doing these same things to us as Canadians.

So, as much as I know you would like to disbelieve my sincerity concerning my distaste for and opposition to Trump, just based on pure logic, it's quite difficult for me to understand how you work out that I can be critiquing one set of people for doing the same things that another person is doing, and that I could be somehow praising one and criticizing the other.

For a little more context, the video that I posted was video of Doug Ford. He (and his infamous and now deceased brother Rob) are Conservative politicians from Ontario, well known for their corruption, scandals, family lunacy, and crass and outrageous behaviour that is every bit as nutty and unhinged as Trump.

If you don't believe me, take a few minutes to watch some of their greatest hits:











That's who and what I am critiquing, and who and what you are here defending.

 

[Deleted member 577981]

I had some long, snarky comeback written out, but let me clarify, in good faith, instead.

I get that you don't believe me, but in my OP I feel I was very clear (again) that I'm not a fan of Trump and that I don't like what he's doing. In fact, my entire point was that the politicians we are expected to rally behind right now are guilty of doing these same things to us as Canadians.

So, as much as I know you would like to disbelieve my sincerity concerning my distaste for and opposition to Trump, just based on pure logic, it's quite difficult for me to understand how you work out that I can be critiquing one set of people for doing the same things that another person is doing, and that I could be somehow praising one and criticizing the other.

For a little more context, the video that I posted was video of Doug Ford. He (and his infamous and now deceased brother Rob) are Conservative politicians from Ontario, well known for their corruption, scandals, family lunacy, and crass and outrageous behaviour that is every bit as nutty and unhinged as Trump.

If you don't believe me, take a few minutes to watch some of their greatest hits:











That's who and what I am critiquing, and who and what you are here defending.

hey man. I must apologize. I'm in a really good mood and was just fucking around mostly and have wasted your time...... I wish I had not after this thoughtful reply.

 

[The Diplomat]

As a Canadian, it's honestly been a little embarrassing watching so many of my fellow Canadians coming down with the vapours about Trump's tariffs. Is the guy unhinged and chaos personified? Yup. Is Canada, of all nations, in any position to lecture anyone on free trade? Gawd no. We're one of the worst, most petty, protectionist sorts of nation in the developed world... to the expense of our citizens.

Our telecoms are protected from competition so that we are left paying double and triple what people in other countries pay.

Our prices on dairy products are fixed at artificially high prices and American's shut out of the market so that households are stuck paying double what they ought for milk and dairy dependent businesses from pizza joints to ice cream stands to cafes have a near impossible task in attempting to squeeze out a profit margin.

Canadians are entirely left at the mercy of a very few large (often predatory) banks.

We are forced to watch, listen to, and pay for "Canadian Content" that many people don't want rather than international content that many people do want.

Our government allows big lumber to cut on crown land for free, making small woodlot ownership and management a completely futile endeavor.

And, perhaps worst of all, our provinces are in continued and constant trade wars, placing tariffs on one another. You read that right. Not between countries, but between provinces in the same country.

And now, all of that BS is being brought to the fore due to Trump's BS, and we're supposed to be all "ra ra, Canada!" about it. Like any of this would have ever changed if Trump's acute bout of nonsense hadn't highlighted our own longstanding chronic nonsense. Just terrible, terrible people all around. Any Canadian being sucked into this WWE style rage bait should be embarrassed. These guys have been selling us out for decades, and now they want a pat on the back for "taking on Trump," while they try to get us to ignore the fact that they've been force feeding us the exact same garbage that Trump has now placed on the menu.

Video evidence of the above:

You're basically saying "we suck, and we deserve punishment"

 

[Lycandroid]

you are conflating two topics that have no relevance to each other

Either go live in America sucking trumps dick of fuck off

how did you learn to talk with trumps balls in your mouth?

Why does every conversation with a liberal eventually lead to male genitalia ?

 

[Deleted member 577981]

Why does every conversation with a liberal eventually lead to male genitalia ?

I was just fucking around man.. I say it later I the thread. too good of a mood and just ribbing the guy.

 

[The Diplomat]

Why does every conversation with a liberal eventually lead to male genitalia ?

Would you prefer MAGAs sucking Trump's clit?

At the end of the day the terminology means the same thing. Republicans are afraid to stand up to Trump because their voters are MAGA, and the politicians are afraid of any retaliation.

So yeah. Sucking balls sounds about right, man.

 

[jeremyemilio]

Last I checked Canadians pay less for milk than Americans.

Is there a reason you think American Telcom companies would charge less than Canadian options?

What? We pay much more than Americans for milk. We have a supply management system that enforces price minimums. We regularly pay about double what Americans pay: See Here.

Our Telecom situation is pretty bad due to having only three big (protected) players. For more, read This. The US has small players mixed in and just a whole lot more companies competing for customers that, depending where you are, have unlimited data plans starting from $30 or so. We don't really have unlimited plans in Canada, but to get 200 GB or so it will cost you in the $80-$100 range (which is MUCH better than a few years ago when that was the price for literally 6-8 GB).

 

[Lycandroid]

Would you prefer MAGAs sucking Trump's clit?

At the end of the day the terminology means the same thing. Republicans are afraid to stand up to Trump because their voters are MAGA, and the politicians are afraid of any retaliation.

So yeah. Sucking balls sounds about right, man.

no this crap is just what you idiot liberals resort to everytime you can't call someone a racist or a homophobe to win an argument, you call them gay without realizing the contradiction.

 

[The Diplomat]

no this crap is just what you idiot liberals resort to everytime you can't call someone a racist or a homophobe to win an argument, you call them gay without realizing the contradiction.

Okay.