Latest news with #Hoekstra
Winnipeg Free Press
15 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
That this is gaslighting is only in your silly, little mind
If you wanted to see the poster boy for the psychological manipulation technique known as gaslighting, look no further than the American ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra. Hoekstra, you'll recall, recently said U.S. President Donald Trump thought Canadians were 'nasty' because we aren't travelling to the United States and aren't buying American liquor, among other products. Gaslighting is when you try to deny reality to advance your own argument. This is the reality Hoekstra is trying to deny: Trump, without cause or justification, started this series of events. Advertisement Why this ad? For them to get angry at our response is classic gaslighting. Both countries, with the exception of a leader who doesn't understand how global trade works, were happy with their previous trade arrangement. Trump himself praised the deal he now criticizes and wonders which idiot signed it. (Hint: you did, Don.) American businesses were quite content, knowing Canada was America's biggest customer by a large margin. Trump tried to gaslight Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office by denying that; Carney was having none of it. Prime Minister Mark Carney fact-checked U.S. President Donald Trump in May when Trump claimed the U.S. doesn't do much business with Canada: 'We are the largest client of the United States.' (Anna Moneymake / TNS files) Trump tries to gaslight the world by claiming it's so unfair that American manufacturing is in decline, having shifted to lower-wage countries such as Bangladesh, Taiwan and Vietnam, among others. He ignores entirely that the United States has nobody to blame for that but itself, when many American companies were all too happy replacing most of their organizational charts with cheap, foreign labour. Trump's understanding of global trade, of tariffs and what trade deficits and surpluses mean, is absolutely not grounded in any kind of reality. There's a joke making the rounds on social media that goes something like this: 'I was at the grocery store yesterday and bought $100 in groceries. The store didn't buy a thing from me, so to make up that trade deficit, I'm going to impose a 50 per cent tariff on my purchases. My spending $150 for $100 in groceries is really going to show that store!' Prices haven't spiked in the U.S. due to tariffs yet, but economists are saying it's because many businesses and some consumers stocked up on affected items before the tariffs kick in. With the Aug. 1 deadline looming, businesses won't be able to hold the price on items for long.
Politico
5 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Hoekstra calls out the quiet
Presented by Thanks for reading Canada Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → PETE HOEKSTRA: 'No advocates' for U.S.-Canada ties — and that's a problem. → DANIELLE SMITH talks separatism, pipelines — and why Alberta's no 51st state. → No, the Coast Guard wasn't shadowing a Chinese research vessel. MORNING MONEY: CAPITAL RISK — POLITICO's flagship financial newsletter has a new Friday edition built for the economic era we're living in: one shaped by political volatility, disruption and a wave of policy decisions with sector-wide consequences. Each week, Morning Money: Capital Risk brings sharp reporting and analysis on how political risk is moving markets and how investors are adapting. Want to know how health care regulation, tariffs or court rulings could ripple through the economy? Start here. Trade war BOOSTERS WANTED — DONALD TRUMP's man in Ottawa says the Canada-U.S. relationship needs more vocal champions. And he says that includes business leaders — amid high-stakes talks on a new trade and security deal that could define a Trump 2.0 cross-border reset. Amb. PETE HOEKSTRA made the appeal Monday at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region summit in Bellevue, Washington. 'Where I've been for the last 90 days, there's no advocates for the Canadian-American relationship,' said Hoekstra, who insisted he's optimistic despite the swirl of tension and anger north of the border. — Eight days to deadline — or maybe not: While both Prime Minister MARK CARNEY and Trump administration officials play down the odds of a deal by Aug. 1, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC and Carney chief of staff MARC-ANDRÉ BLANCHARD spent Wednesday in Washington, D.C. — and are still in town today. — No advocates in sight: In the other Washington, Hoekstra observed that Canada's business leaders have been 'relatively quiet' when it comes to defending or advancing the bilateral relationship. It was a modest shift from his sharper May critique, when he told the Mackinac Policy Conference the business community had been 'largely silent.' — If this, then that: 'So, when people now come to me and say, 'Well, you know, your favorability has gone down, and China's has gone up ... what's the surprise here?' Hoekstra asked. 'There's nobody been advocating for the strength of the relationship.' — View from the C-suites: Playbook canvassed business groups for reaction to the ambassador's remarks. → Canadian Chamber of Commerce: 'At the recent B7 summit, where we welcomed the U.S. ambassador, business leaders agreed that it's time for both countries to work toward a renewed, reliable relationship,' said president and CEO CANDACE LAING. 'Canada's business community will continue to be a vocal champion for a thriving, integrated North American economy that remains the envy of the world.' The chamber, which invited Hoekstra to the B7 Summit in Ottawa ahead of the G7 leaders' summit, has led three trade missions to D.C. — and is planning a fourth in October. → Business Council of Canada: 'Having spoken to the ambassador many times, I know he would like to see the temperature turned down on both sides and frankly, we agree,' said president and CEO GOLDY HYDER, who has called for an 'expedited review and extension' of the USMCA. → Canadian American Business Council: 'Across sectors and the border, companies and business groups are engaging deeply, often behind the scenes, to keep this relationship strong and forward-looking,' said CEO BETH BURKE. 'We are in regular conversation with stakeholders and decision makers to ensure that, across industries, the partnership stays resilient and responsive.' — Money where their mouth is: To celebrate July Fourth, Hoekstra hosted Ottawa business leaders and politicos on the lawn of his Rockcliffe Park residence. A placard at the event thanked a long list of event sponsors, including Air Canada, Bell, BMO, Bombardier, Business Council of Canada and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. — Flashback: Shortly after arriving in Ottawa, the new ambassador spoke to POLITICO Canada about the fallout from trade tensions. He pushed back on 'Buy Canadian' and the removal of U.S. products from Canadian shelves. — Let buy gones be buy gones: British Columbia Premier DAVID EBY, whose office leaked a recording of Hoekstra's Monday remarks to The Canadian Press, defended boycotts when asked about them on Wednesday at the premiers' meetings in Ontario cottage country. 'Until they quit their threats to our economy, to our hardworking families … we will not drink their alcohol or visit their country,' he said. — Stand-up routine: Hoekstra told his Cascadian crowd that he knows Canadians are hurt and insulted by Trump's annexation talk, but he joked: 'It's not a whole lot of people or countries that we've asked to become the 51st state that I can remember.' Want more POLITICO? Download our mobile app to save stories, get notifications on U.S.-Canada relations, and more. In iOS or Android . THE ROOMS THAT MATTER — PM MARK CARNEY is in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, to co-chair a meeting of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President NATAN OBED. The PM will deliver opening remarks at 8:20 a.m. (10:20 EDT) before the door closes to cameras. CONVERSATION STARTER THE VIEW FROM THE WEST — Alberta Premier DANIELLE SMITH says Canadians should take her province's scrappy separatist movement seriously. But don't mistake those sovereigntists for wannabe Americans. As they try to gain a foothold in her province amid frustration with Canada's federal government, the premier dismisses any notion that her people want to become the 51st American state. 'Alberta hasn't been treated very well by Washington, either,' she says. As Smith joined her provincial counterparts for their annual summer confab in Ontario's cottage country, she sat down for a conversation with Playbook. The premier talked about her impression of Carney ('an affable, amiable guy' who understands Alberta), her longstanding demands of his government, the state of the separatist movement and the odds a new pipeline will pump Alberta oil to the world. Read MICKEY DJURIC's Q&A here. — In related reading: TREVOR TOMBE writes at The Hub today: A separate Alberta would be a poorer Alberta. For your radar NO SHADOW HERE — It sure appeared as though a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker was recently shadowing the Chinese research vessel Xue Long 2 near the Bering Strait. Ottawa-based researcher STEFFAN WATKINS, who tracks military aircraft and vessels, watched as CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier's path through the North Pacific seemed to parallel Xue Long 2 — a ship the Canadian Armed Forces did confirm was being monitored by a maritime patrol aircraft based in Anchorage, Alaska. — The official word: In a brief statement on Monday, Fisheries and Oceans Canada said the ship's route was coincidental: 'The Canadian Coast Guard was not shadowing the Xue Long 2.' — All according to plan: The Sir Wilfrid Laurier was on a previously scheduled mission, sailing from Japan to Alaska. According to a press release, the ship was deployed to: 'Conduct high seas boardings and inspection operations under international law to ensure compliance with regulations and to detect [illegal, unreported and unregulated] fishing.' — Next up: The 25th annual U.S.-Canadian research cruise. — Seriously, nothing to see here: A Fisheries and Oceans spokesperson said in a second statement that 'all sailing routes used by Canadian Coast Guard vessels are planned in advance.' The Sir Wilfrid Laurier's route to Alaska 'was the most direct, fuel efficient way' — though weather and currents delayed its arrival. MORNING MUST-CLICKS — POLITICO's ANTONIA ZIMMERMANN reports: Brussels has a last-resort 'trade bazooka.' — NIALL MCGEE reports in the Globe that Algoma Steel is seeking up to C$600-million from Ottawa in emergency trade war relief. — From POLITICO's DANIEL DESROCHERS and CHRIS MARQUETTE: Trump's 'massive' deal with Japan is giving US automakers heartburn. — 'We need to pull away from America, as far as we can,' STEPHEN MARCHE tells HARRISON MOONEY in a Q&A with The Tyee. 'This means reorienting our trade. It means all the stuff that Carney talked about.' — From DONALD J. SAVOIE in the Globe: Shaving department budgets won't be enough to rein in federal spending. — DEBORAH LYONS spoke to The Canadian Jewish News in her first interview since leaving her post as Canada's special envoy on preserving Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism: 'I've been really quite amazed and often become quite despondent and despairing about the fact that it was hard to get people to speak up, to speak with clarity, to speak with conviction about what we were seeing happening here on Canadian soil.' — As the Epstein drama continues to drive the news cycle in Washington, the mood inside the White House is quickly souring, POLITICO's DASHA BURNS reports. — MICHAEL KOVRIG wrote a piece for The Walrus. PROZONE For POLITICO Pro subscribers, here's our latest policy newsletter. In news for Pro subscribers: — Trump AI Action Plan slashes regulation, speeds data center construction. — World's top court says climate inaction can breach international law. — Trump moves trigger nearly $1B writedown of Equinor's US offshore wind projects. — UK moves to force rules on Apple and Google app stores. — Steel plant in Vance's hometown trades clean future for more coal. LOBBY WATCH — SHIMON FOGEL registered to lobby for Inkas Group. One of the company's priorities: 'Securing Export Certificates for Canadian-manufactured armoured vehicles for international sales.' — ISABEL METCALFE logged several recent meetings on behalf of the First Nations Bank of Canada and FNB Trust, including with Energy and Natural Resources Minister TIM HODGSON. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to Crestview's DAN MOULTON and Cardus CEO MICHAEL VAN PELT. Former MPs GERARD KENNEDY, TERENCE YOUNG and BRENT RATHGEBER also celebrate today, along with former Ontario minister SEAN CONWAY and Emdash CEO CAITLIN KEALEY. Movers and shakers: KAREN RESTOULE joined Oyster Group as senior adviser … GREGORY FRAME is now senior comms adviser and press secretary to Energy Minister TIM HODGSON … MATHIEU BÉLANGER, a former staffer to two Liberal infrastructure ministers, is leaving the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for a new gig as vice president at engineering firm CIMA+. Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way. TRIVIA Wednesday's answer: In 'Value(s)', MARK CARNEY credits Amazon with advising him how to make decisions. Props to RÉMI AUTHIER, MALCOLM MCKAY, BARRIE FRIEL, CULLY ROBINSON, ELIO PETERSON, ADAM C. SMITH, ELIZABETH ARSENAULT, MARC LEBLANC, JENNA LEAVY, CATHERINE DONG, ELIZABETH BURN, GANGA WIGNARAJAH and PAULA DRISCOLL. Today's question: On this date in history, the first televised debate held solely in French took place during a Canadian general election campaign. Who debated? Send your answer to canadaplaybook@ Writing tomorrow's Playbook: NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY and MICKEY DJURIC. Canada Playbook would not happen without: Canada Editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and POLITICO's Grace Maalouf.
7 days ago
- Politics
B.C. premier slams U.S. ambassador for saying Trump thinks Canadian boycotts are 'nasty'
Do they think Canadians are not going to respond when the president says, 'I want to turn you into the 51st state and begger you economically unless you bow to the U.S.'? Eby said in an interview on CBC's Power and Politics Monday evening in Huntsville, Ont., where premiers are meeting this week. Obviously, Canadians are outraged. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra made the remarks about Canadians avoiding U.S. travel and booze when he was speaking at the annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Foundation summit in Bellevue, Wash. The Canadian Press was provided with a recording of the ambassador's comments by Eby's office, which said it received the audio from someone who was in the audience. WATCH | Hoekstra says call '51st state' comments term of endearment: Boycotts 'having an impact,' says Eby Eby said in a statement that Hoekstra's remarks show Canadians' efforts to stand up to Trump are having an impact, and he encouraged people to keep it up. The ambassador made the remarks in response to a question from a conference moderator about what could be done to get people travelling again as Vancouver and Seattle prepare to host games as part of next year's FIFA World Cup. Canadians staying home, that's their business, you know. I don't like it, but if that's what they want to do, it's fine. They want to ban American alcohol. That's fine, Hoekstra said. There are reasons why the president and some of his team referred to Canada as being mean and nasty to deal with, OK, because of some of those steps. WATCH | What you need to know about Canada's premiers meeting in Ontario: Eby says regular Americans understand Hoekstra added that he can get alcohol across the border if [he] wanted to. We go back and forth to Michigan and they don't check my car when I come back, he said, drawing laughs from the crowd. In a statement to CBC News, a U.S. Embassy spokesperson said Hoekstra spoke for nearly an hour and, in response to a question, pointed out that some Canadian provinces banning the sale of U.S. alcohol does not contribute to a positive relationship. As Ambassador Hoekstra has expressed on several occasions, the U.S. government sees the provincial bans on U.S. alcohol as counterproductive to resolving the broader issues, the spokesperson said. Throughout his remarks, Ambassador Hoekstra emphasized his optimism about the future of the U.S.-Canada relationship. On Power and Politics , Eby said Canadians should stick with it, hold the line, but at the end of the day, we need to get past that. The premier said he believes Americans don't share their government's stance. They're saying things like, 'I'm sorry.' We're friends. We're neighbours. We're partners. Canadians feel the same way about everyday Americans and I think the president is out on his own on this, Eby said. B.C. is among the provinces that banned the sale of U.S. alcohol from government-run stores after Trump slapped steep tariffs on goods from Canada, a move that has prompted some Canadians to cancel their cross-border trips (new window) . With files from The Canadian Press
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Trump thinks Canadians ‘nasty' for avoiding U.S. travel, banning booze: ambassador
Canadians avoiding travel to the United States and banning American alcohol are among the reasons U.S. President Donald Trump thinks the country is 'nasty' to deal with, the U.S. ambassador to Canada said Monday. Pete Hoekstra told a conference audience on Monday that such steps 'don't send positive signals' about Canada treating the United States well. Hoekstra was speaking at the annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Foundation summit in Bellevue, Washington. The Canadian Press was provided with a recording of the ambassador's comments by the office of B.C. Premier David Eby, which said it received the audio from someone who was in the audience. Eby said in a statement that Hoekstra's remarks show Canadians' efforts to stand up to Trump are 'having an impact,' and he encouraged people to 'keep it up.' Read more from the Canadian Press
National Observer
7 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Trump thinks Canadians are 'nasty' for avoiding US travel, banning booze: ambassador
Canadians avoiding travel to the United States and banning American alcohol are among the reasons US President Donald Trump thinks the country is "nasty" to deal with, the US ambassador to Canada said Monday. Pete Hoekstra told a conference audience on Monday that such steps "don't send positive signals" about Canada treating the United States well. Hoekstra was speaking at the annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Foundation summit in Bellevue, Washington. The Canadian Press was provided with a recording of the ambassador's comments by the office of BC Premier David Eby, which said it received the audio from someone who was in the audience. Eby said in a statement that Hoekstra's remarks show Canadians' efforts to stand up to Trump are "having an impact," and he encouraged people to "keep it up." A statement from a spokesperson for the US Embassy said later Monday that Hoekstra had also expressed "optimism" about the future of the relationship between the two countries during his remarks that lasted nearly an hour. The email said Hoekstra also told the crowd there will be "more opportunity to grow this relationship in a much stronger, in a much bigger way than what we have today." The ambassador made the remarks about some Canadians turning away from the United States in answer to a question from a conference moderator about what could be done to get people travelling again as Vancouver and Seattle prepare to host games as part of next year's FIFA World Cup. "Canadians staying home, that's their business, you know. I don't like it, but if that's what they want to do, it's fine. They want to ban American alcohol. That's fine," he said. "There are reasons why the president and some of his team referred to Canada as being mean and nasty to deal with, OK, because of some of those steps." Hoekstra added that he "can get alcohol across the border if (he) wanted to." "We go back and forth to Michigan and they don't check my car when I come back," he said, drawing laughs from the crowd. Eby's statement in response to Hoekstra's remarks said people should keep buying Canadian products and keep their vacations Canadian. "We won't take these attacks on our jobs, our economy and our sovereignty, lying down. We'll stand strong together," the premier said in the emailed statement. BC is among the provinces that banned the sale of US alcohol from government-run stores after Trump slapped steep tariffs on goods from Canada. Trump's actions have prompted some Canadians to cancel their cross-border trips. In March, the number of Canadians returning home by car from south of the border fell nearly 32 per cent compared to the same month last year. It was the third consecutive month of year-over-year declines and the steepest plunge since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Statistics Canada. Return trips by air meanwhile fell 13.5 per cent year-over-year that month. The statement from the US Embassy said Hoekstra has expressed on several occasions that he sees provincial bans on US alcohol as counterproductive to resolving broader issues between the two countries. "In response to a question, Ambassador Hoekstra pointed out that the decision of some Canadian provinces to ban the sale of US alcohol does not contribute to a positive relationship between our two countries," the statement said. Still, it said the ambassador also emphasized his optimism. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.
