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So, Donald Trump is going to be president for the next four years. What is the panic? He is putting tariffs on all Canadian imports. Yes, but do we all understand what that means?
“The way tariffs work is, it’s the American importer that pays the tariff and then tries to pass it along to the consumer. High tariffs are an indirect tax on American taxpayers,” says John Bolton, who served as Trump’s adviser, 2018-19, in an interview with The West Block. Canada still receives the same amount per item as before, only much less will most likely be bought by the Americans, unless they really need that.
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Canadians must react with our feet and our wallets. Don’t do Vegas or Florida vacations in the next four years. Don’t buy American cars, American groceries, anything American. Do some research if you’re not sure where a product is coming from. Most supermarkets already show where groceries are imported from; don’t buy those.
These are only small things that you can do, but imagine 15 million Canadian households doing this. Wouldn’t that send a message of “Don’t mess with us Canadians” to Washington?
Klaus Kurth, Edmonton
Smith knows what she’s doing
To all the Albertans that keep bashing Danielle Smith over her unwillingness not to go along with all the other Canadian premiers and not put “Canada first.” Name one other Canadian premier that was invited to Mar-a-Largo to meet with President Trump? Exactly.
Maybe she knows what she is doing and how the president is going to work.
Mark van Berkel, Edmonton
Tariffs on other exports? Not likely
I see Trudeau and the Liberals are talking about putting tariffs on Western gas and oil products. So this would then have tariffs placed on Quebec hydro and cheese exports to the U.S. And also they would put tariffs on all vehicles and vehicle parts exported to the U.S. from Ontario. Of course, tariffs will be placed on all seafood products from our East Coast provinces.
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That seems to be a fair solution. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.
John P. Thompson, Edmonton
Most Albertans oppose Smith’s agenda
When Donald Trump threatened and insulted Canada, Premier Smith was the first to stand and clap like a trained seal. She immediately tried to appease him by throwing $28 million at Alberta border security, a cost that should be borne by the U.S.
Her refusal to support Team Canada is not surprising. From Day 1, she has pursued a separatist agenda and has endlessly attacked our federal government over jurisdictional and sovereignty issues. Her executive director is Rob Anderson, one of the authors of the Free Alberta Strategy, a guide to transform Alberta into a sovereign jurisdiction.
Smith has idolized MAGA extremists like Ron DeSantis and even had the gall to appear with conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson, who advocated for a military takeover of Canada. A Léger poll indicates 19 per cent of Albertans would support becoming a 51st state. These are the people she serves while ramming through legislation most Albertans oppose.
D.P. Dufresne, Edmonton
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Trump’s Putin-style oligarchy begins
As Trump’s second term begins, he has the Supreme Court pretty much locked up for favourable rulings with a majority of GOP-leaning conservatives and has a House in Congress that appears to be totally under his direct control through Speaker Mike Johnson. Three of the wealthiest men in America: Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg, have made their pilgrimage of fealty to Mar-a-Lago, and, after apparently putting up a million each for his Inauguration, will attend it on Monday with front-row seats.
With his imminent purging of the FBI, departments of Justice and Defence and surrounded by sycophants in the White House, all the guard rails will be off that restrained him in his first term. Trump stated he would be a dictator on Day 1 of his second term. The Putin-style oligarchy of government begins on Monday. His mentor must be so proud. Stay tuned; it will be wild.
Brian Iwanicki, Edmonton
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