This post was intended to just be a reflection on the individual actions we can take when it feels there isn’t much one person can do in the face of all the chaos in the world. And the need to remain informed even when our inclination might be to turn it all off. But our country is having a moment.
The news at the end of August blew up with Canada’s decision to walk away from the U.S. – Canada “trade negotiations.” That’s in quotes because I don’t believe they were ever a good-faith negotiation about tariffs for the U.S. Administration, but rather an elaborate plan to make a move on Canadian sovereignty.
I guess it was a shock to some Americans that we walked away (huge applause from me) from the table. I say some Americans because I know it isn’t all of them, but there’s also a good number who don’t think about us at all. Their view of the world map ends at the border. A border that their current top administrators think is an arbitrary line. Those people who don’t think or know about us are susceptible to the lies and misinformation being spewed now about Canada by the U.S. Administration.
This has been a challenging post to write. An American psychie has been a part of my blood forever. My mother was born in Michigan; my parents lived in the U.S. at the time of my birth, and it was only because she wanted the same doctor who delivered my four older brothers that my mom flew to Toronto when my arrival was imminent.
My parents made some very close friends during their years in Haddenfield, New Jersey, and trips to the U.S. were frequent in my youth. My eldest brother (after attending a U.S. university) married an American who became the older sister I always dreamed of. They relocated to the U.S. early in his career and raised a family of nieces and nephews I still love to this day. When I was on my way home after his funeral, the airport shuttle driver gave me a hug after learning I was there for a brother’s death. Her warm, southern twang of comfort still rings in my ears. Some of the warmest, kindest people I know speak in a variety of American accents!
Even with all this U.S. influence in my life, my Canadian elbows are strong. My father trained as a navigator with the RCAF in World War II, and I was raised knowing which country did what and when. I mourn every time I hear of a Canadian business being bought out by American interests. I recall being concerned about the access the original free trade agreement gave to the much larger economic entity to our south. Would they just try to take over? As Margaret Atwood said in a recent interview on the matter, “And here we are.”
I’m proud to be Canadian and appreciate what makes us unique. I want to protect that. Not sorry. I also believe we will make it through this, not without some cuts and bruises, but we can do this.
My eldest brother had a big personality. When I explain to Canadians that he had a very American personality, they know what I mean: loud, proud, and lots of bluster with a belief that what they do is bigger and better than anyone else; my brother embodied that persona and he did well in life because of it.
But there’s a downside if the bluster blinds one to reality. The U.S. leadership is blinded by the delusion that they are superior, that they can do what they want, and that everyone will just go – be bullied – along.
In the so-called trade negotiations, they attempted to inject control over the trade that Canada may enter with other countries. They wanted full and sole veto power over any signed agreement with Canada. And they wanted us to tamper with our country’s requirement for two official languages. Direct attacks on our sovereignty. Full stop.
Did they really think they would be successful? I think they did in a huge miscalculation because of their delusion.
It was a breaking point, and it was also clear that the economic demands both throughout the discussions and in the 11th hour were untenable. Prime Minister Mark Carney noted in his address, “The cumulative effect of U.S. demands revealed the limits of their commitment to a true economic partnership.” Their signature would be in pencil, he said.
The word partnership is not understood by people who believe they are the biggest and the best. In their words, they don’t need us (Canada). And they can’t imagine that anyone else would not want to be one of them.
Perhaps you were not surprised by this outcome; I know I was anxious we would give too much away, given how the Gordie Howe bridge agreement was tampered with, and the recent request to put American liquor back on shelves, if a deal were reached. But I think now that we were witness to a classic case of give someone enough rope and they will hang themselves. Especially when they are blind to reality.
In hindsight, and my opinion – it’s been a brilliant unfolding of strategy. I believe our Prime Minister knew, from the start, that these negotiations would be a farce. He knew the “jokes” about the 51st state were not jokes. They still are not funny.
This economic war won’t be without serious ramifications, on both sides of the border. The U.S. Administration is hurting its own (and they are hurting – when you resort to renaming lakes and childish online memes, you’ve lost), but let’s focus on Canada.
Potential business failures for those unable to pivot. Jobs lost. These will impact families and children and towns and neighbourhoods across the country. Canada Strong is going to become a tougher rallying cry for some, yet we need to remain steadfast and support one another as the fallout hits.
While there’s a negative picture ahead, I take heart in the fact that despite comments to the contrary, the U.S. in fact does need Canada. As outlined by our Prime Minister, Canada supplies:
* 99 per cent of the U.S. natural gas imports,
* 85 per cent of U.S. electricity imports, and
* 60 per cent of U.S. crude oil imports.
In Carney’s own words: “I don’t think they want us to stop sending any of that energy.”
The work our Prime Minister has been doing abroad is working in our favour. June 2026 was the fourth consecutive month that Canada held a trade surplus (we sold more to other countries than we purchased from others). This is Canada’s largest trade surplus in over four years, as reported by Trading Economics.
Of course, there are more ways to measure how we are doing and this news does not eradicate the real hurt some businesses (and therefore real people and families) will suffer. We all know that the price of everything is up. I will be watching closely over the coming weeks as Canada implements its retaliation measures. And my family tells me that the impact the mid-term elections in the U.S. will have on the situation is something else we should all be monitoring. Based on my latest reading, we need to encourage all Americans who see what is happening to get out and vote.
These actions are in the hands of others, and so I return to my original thought for this post: what can we as individuals do in the face of all this chaos?
#1 Buy Canadian
Our collective action is having a real impact.
In 2025, U.S. spirits exports to Canada fell 85 per cent in the second quarter; a U.S. Travel Association report forecast a loss of $5.7 billion due to the decline primarily of Canadian visitors; and orange juice imports plummeted, according to CBC reporting
Check out Canada List , a website that sorts products by category, ownership, manufacturing location, and more and then scores them 1 – 10 for how much the product or brand supports the Canadian economy. For instance, Heinz and French’s ketchup were each rated 6, for their Canadian ingredients but both are owned by a U.S. parent company.
The list was reported in The Globe and Mail and is the work of Matthew Shane, an associate professor of psychology at Ontario Tech University.
I also came across a suggestion that when you find an American product on a shelf, return it to the shelf upside down and turn more of the same item upside down so the next shopper knows to skip that product! Small action of defiance, but perhaps it sends a message to the grocer as well.
Remember locally – Home Depot is American, Home Hardware is Canadian. Tim’s has American ownership while Coffee Time, Balzac’s, Second Cup, and Robin’s are all Canadian.
A podcaster I follow is also promoting small Canadian business across Canada and just recently published a list of Canadian social media to replace American sites.
Listen also to an interview with him on CBC’s The Current. He explains really well how the little things we do can make a difference.
# 2 Remain informed and media savvy
The media you choose to read, watch, and follow will matter as you try to stay informed. It is easy to be both disheartened and agitated by the many outrage platforms online. Even in this time when we clearly need to pull together, there are actors out there who perpetuate misinformation and misleading details. If you find the posts ramp up your blood pressure rather than inform and educate with researched documentation, consider unfollowing them. Recognize the power of AI to create something that looks real.
There are some thoughtful contributors in the online space, some who have valuable insights and background context to offer. Here are some, but if you know of others, please share.
When I see information on my feed that causes a reaction, I tend to do a couple things. One is to check the comments, which can often provide a variety of views. Then, I wait to see if the traditional media I respect pick the story up.
I can’t stress this enough – love it or hate it, a free media is a cornerstone of a democratic society. Once the media are owned by those with vested interests, the values that underpin professional journalism can be eroded.
Social media has delivered a gut punch to traditional media and we are seeing the results when local radio stations are shuttered or newspapers are a shadow of their former selves. Good journalism needs our support. (It’s why I maintain a subscription.)
Media ownership is important to know because that can be reflected in the writing.
Who owns what media in Canada?
Postmedia Network, which is majority-controlled (66%) by an American hedge fund based in New Jersey, owns the following (plus a host of other publications across Canada): National Post, Financial Post, Canoe.com, Vancouver Sun, Edmonton Journal, Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, Regina Leader-Post, Saskatoon Star Phoenix, London Free Press, Toronto Sun, Ottawa Citizen, Windsor Star, Montreal Gazette, The Chronicle Herald (in Halifax), The Telegram (in St. John’s Newfoundland & Labrador).
The Globe and Mail, generally accepted to be the most respected newspaper in Canada, is owned by The Woodbridge Company Limited, the Canadian private investment arm of the Thomson family. Woodbridge holds majority ownership. It leans centre-right to right-wing politically, and has also supported Liberals.
The Toronto Star is owned by Canadian Jordan Bitove who took full control of the Canadian parent company Torstar Corporation in 2022. It leans centre-left to progressive.
Also owned by Torstar: Waterloo Region Record and the Hamilton Spectator.
CTV Television Network- owned by Bell Media, a subsidiary of BCE (Bell Canada Enterprises), Canada’s largest private broadcaster.
CBC – is a Crown corporation owned by the government of Canada, on behalf of all Canadians. Its operations are overseen by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. (CRTC) as are all other broadcasters and telecommunication providers. CBC leans centre and left but I have also heard them challenge left-leaning politicians. It is funded by our tax dollars and most democratic countries have a tax sponsored broadcaster. If it were closed, we would miss a broadcaster that covers our country the way only CBC does.
CNN – is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a global mass media and entertainment company in the United States. (And I learned recently, employs a Canadian as a fact checker!)
Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and The Times – are owned by the Murdoch’s, a family of Australian-American media tycoons.
The Washington Post is owned by Jeff Bezos (the founder of Amazon).
All media will have some bias – be an intelligent reader and understand the bias while reading from a diverse source.
#3 Vote
If you think it can’t happen here, then we are on a very slippery slope to losing our democracy. Don’t let polls fool you into thinking the decision is made – it can’t be made until YOUR vote is in and counted. Elections can be won/lost on a single vote.
Inform yourself. Don’t let apathy interfere with your civic responsibility. Municipal, provincial, and federal politics need your attention and your vote!
***
You may have other ideas about how to take individual action that can make a difference. If so, please share!
***
Links
Trading Economics, https://tradingeconomics.com/canada/balance-of-trade
CBC, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/boycotts-buy-canada-2025-9.7026211
Tod Maffin’s Unplug list of Canadian sites, https://unplug.todmaffin.com.
Todd Maffin CBC The Current interview, https://overcast.fm/+AAAAc7UdMAU?fbclid=IwY2xjawUFSHpwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAGJyaWQRMTA3NWI1Szlnb0hoUzR4QmdzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeFa4pSHwlTjzWWRJB2nJBHTMbTsxAcQWiMmEtLf_-Rx-rgCUtGEspThlv9Sg_aem_Sd0sbTRbf9q3xM9lUmHk5A
StillKim 
What do you think?