The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge - Your Turn: What's On Your Mind Part Two and The Random Ranter

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

Week Two of your letters under the title, "What's on your mind".  Mostly it's about our differences with our neighbor and long time ally The United States.  Plus the Random Ranter is here with his view on what Pierre Poilievre has to say.

And hello there, Peter Mansbridge here. You're just moments away from the latest episode of The Bridge. It's Thursday. It's your turn. What's on your mind? Part 2. Coming right up. And hello there. Love Thursdays. Love hearing what you have to say. And, you know, last week our question was, what's on your mind? There were so many answers that came in that we spread it out over two weeks. So this is What's on Your Mind, Part 2. Plus, of course, coming up a little later, The Random Renter. Let me start with the quote of the day.

I love this one. Our friend David Frum. Friend of the program. Friend, obviously, of Canada. Lives in the States, but he's Canadian. David writes, Donald Trump is a flim-flam man who will promise anything to anybody and count on the suckers forgetting tomorrow what he said yesterday.

That's what David wrote in The Atlantic. And it's particularly interesting to remember that quote when you see yesterday's flim-flam story about Trump saying, no, I don't like Pierre Polyev. I don't like him at all. I like liberals in Canada. They're easier to deal with. This, of course, after his administration has endorsed Pierre Polyev.

J.D. Vance has endorsed Pierre Polyev. Elon Musk has endorsed Pierre Polyev. And Donald Trump has said, in the past, things that we're now expected to forget about Pierre Polyev. Anyway, it worked for Pierre Polyev because he was within seconds telling everybody, see, he doesn't like me. He likes the liberals. He likes Carney. Anyway, stand by.

I think you might find the random rancher's comments interesting a little later this morning or today, depending on where you are. But let's get to your letters. Wave two of what's on your mind. Starting with Cam Beefus in Edmonton. I've been wondering what it would look like to be more self-sufficient when it comes to civil defense. As a child during the Cold War, I saw relatives in Europe have mandatory military service,

and now as a parent of young adults, I wonder what that looks like in an increasingly more dangerous world, not to mention all the natural disasters we expect the military to step in to help. Richard Lutfi in Montreal. Will the current warfare on tariffs escalate to a military warfare? I pray that we can all live in a peaceful world. The reality?

Our American neighbors' government talks about making us the 51st state and refer to our leader as governor. The narrative is abusive and mean, treating us like we took advantage of them. The USA has become the evil empire wanting to conquer us. Military warfare is around the corner.

How are we preparing? Cindy Zampa in Airdrie, Alberta. My daughter, currently living in Latvia, is on my mind a lot lately. She's with the Canadian Armed Forces, serving in NATO's Operation Reassurance, part of the Canada-led multinational brigade. With global tension and the level of uncertainty spiraling upwards, I am more concerned than ever about the status of NATO, our alliances, and our defense capabilities. I've always had a sense of gratitude and respect for those who choose to serve in any capacity that protects peace. Lately, these feelings have grown immensely.

A little background, Operation Reassurance is currently the Canadian Armed Forces' largest overseas mission, contributing to NATO deterrence and defense measures in Central and Eastern Europe. About 1,900 CAF members are employed on the operation. That's big. Michael Lalonde in Ottawa. Two things stand out, Trump and the fascist rabbit hole

that the USA is going down in cozying up to Putin and other dictators, and in the dismantling or disregarding of the safeguards which were in place to rein in the executive. Two, all is not lost, as I have found love at the age of 76, a state of mind sorely missing in the political right. Well, there you go, Michael. Good for you. Ken Pelshock in Newstead, Ontario. I'm just hoping when Carney meets Trump, it's not televised,

and J.D. Vance isn't in the room. Maybe Carney ought to wear a suit and shout thank you a few times for good measure. I'd suggest he doesn't even go, but that's just my opinion. Lois Nisbet Wall in Weimar, Saskatchewan. It has been said that we just have to get through these next four years and then Trump will be gone. I don't think that will happen. He said during his last election that the Americans won't have to ever worry about voting again.

Their constitution states that a president can only have two consecutive terms in office. Well, at the moment, he hasn't had that. So, would he be allowed to run again? Well, actually, that's not what the U.S. Constitution says. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, after FDR's four election wins, says this,

No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice. Nothing about consecutive terms. Of course, the way Trump treats laws, you never know. Lynn Post in Nepean, Ontario. On a recent Your Turn pod, people described the qualities they wanted to see in politicians. Great answers. As I listened, many of the descriptions sounded like so many federal public servants I worked with for over 30 years. I don't think Canadians know how fortunate they are to have dedicated professionals working for

them every day. They are anonymous and non-partisan. Many could have made a much better living elsewhere, but they care more about Canada than personal gain. That's true. Patrick Mitchell in Ottawa. I'm a 27-year-old who's trying to find his voice when it comes to current affairs. What's on my mind is how little of what we were told about joining society is true today. Homes, weddings, kids, vehicles, etc. are unaffordable, and our closest ally is waging a trade war against us. Add social media and the loss of trust in

historically factual outlets, and it feels like nothing we were taught about the world is true. I'd love to hear from those with more experience, but it's certainly a trying time for young people seeking to carve out a comfortable life for themselves. Kyle Ady in Peterborough, Ontario. If Canadians can avoid American groceries, why not avoid this American export, social media? It wasn't Californian winemakers or Georgian peach growers who sat front row at Trump's inauguration, but tech CEOs.

Joseph Goebbels said Nazis could not have obtained power and use it the way they did without the radio. Now imagine what will be said someday about social media. The same won't ring true for peaches and vintage wines. Ronnie Villampallo in Edmonton. As Europe goes, so goes the world we love. Europe is the bedrock and fountainhead of rules-based democratic systems, and there is not a free society anywhere that does not owe a debt to what arose from Europe. From classical Greece through the Renaissance and the Franco-English Enlightenment,

all global human rights have European roots. It's time now for Europe to rediscover its positive achievements, and for us, beyond her borders, to support Europe unreservedly. Norma Jack in Stouffville, Ontario. Politicians, advisors to politicians and news media that keep bringing up the subject of where Mark Carney lives and what his assets are, etc. That's what's on my mind.

As an average Canadian, I honestly have no interest in his wealth or where he lives. What is truly important right now is how he deals with Trump and what he can do for Canadians to get through this crisis we're facing. Renner Grieg in Elmira, New York, a couple of hours south of Syracuse, near the border with Pennsylvania. As a longtime friend of Canada and a frequent visitor,

I'd like to remind Canadians that no matter what Trump says about punishing or annexing Canada, we Americans are not your enemies. So buy Canadian, vacation in in Canada, if you like. But don't disrespect our anthem and create feelings that will be hard to overcome once things get back to normal. I look forward to standing for O Canada

at a ball game this summer. Don Thompson in Winnipeg. I'm thinking that I don't want to hear or read another apology from an American. I don't care that you didn't vote for him, or that you're embarrassed by him, or that you're appalled by his actions. Apologies are meaningless at this point. Pat Wharton in Vernon, BC. I think the world has emperor's clothes syndrome. Everyone knows that Trump has lost it, but are afraid to say it. The world needs their leaders to address the situation from a position of what is real,

not all this political posturing. Febrian Bunneman in Milton, Ontario. That's west of Toronto. I listened to the announcement of a high-speed train between Toronto and Quebec while riding a high-speed train in a third-world Southeast Asian country between my birth city and the city I grew up in. It has been 18 years since the Eglinton LRT in Toronto was announced, and it has yet to be opened.

In the same time period, the city I grew up in has built two LRT, light rail transit systems, one MRT, mass rail transit, and a high-speed train run. I think this is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but maybe not. We're just guessing. If Canada continues, I used to live there. It's my old hometown, the 1950s. If Canada continues developing infrastructure at a snail's pace,

don't be surprised if Canada, a G7 country, is soon overtaken in technology by countries that are not even in the OECD, let alone the G7. Constance Blundy in North Vancouver, BC. I'm wondering why Canada is so bad at completing big infrastructure projects on budget and on time, and why are we especially incompetent

at military procurement? It seems to me we waste huge amounts of money by mistakes and inefficiency. The obvious next question is how do we fix it? Do we need another C.D. Howe? And will Mark Carney be that guy? Linda King-McKitchen in Paris, Ontario. There is talk here in Brantford regarding Wayne Gretzky's loyalty to Canada following his lackluster appearance as Honorary Canadian Captain of the Four Nations Final versus the USA. There is also dismay about his friendship with Donald Trump, including a recommendation by the President

that Gretzky should be the Governor of Canada. Gretzky has been defended by many friends, such as Doug Ford. However, given the optics, it sure would be nice to hear from the great one himself. A little boost from Wayne would go a long way. Until then, the truly great Gretzky here in Brantford is his late father, Walter.

Mariam Rajabali in Kelowna, B.C. Lately, there's this quiet tension in the world. Fighter jets in the news, submarines docking, rising military budgets, but no one's really talking about it. Living in British Columbia, we've got Russia to the north, the U.S. to the south, and it makes me wonder. Some people are renewing passports, thinking about options, just in case. Is the whole world at risk?

I'm not panicking, but I can't ignore it. What happens if things escalate? Allison Scanlon in Anthem, Arizona. That's near Phoenix. The snowbird from Toronto. To sell or not to sell, that's the question. The U.S.-Canada trade war and new immigration rules are making life harder for Canadian snowbirds.

Rising costs, a weak Canadian dollar, and political tensions are prompting some to sell their U.S. homes. Starting April 11th, a new rule requires Canadians staying over 30 days to register with U.S. immigration. Speculation about a potential alien housing tax further fuels uncertainty. Should they stay or sell? Good question. Here's another letter on that from Barry Smith in Melbourne, Florida. I'm a snowbird in Florida, as I write.

What's on my mind is dread that my American friends don't care about the chaos the U.S. is wrecking on Canada, Mexico, and the world. I fear they now believe they are owed a great debt, and any negative consequences suffered by others is of the other's own doing. On a personal level, among my friends here, I feel I am now a likable person of suspicion, treated with reticence, and my cautions are alarmist. Selling may be my resistance.

Roger Lovreson in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Whenever I see Trump on television with his muted collection of courtiers, I imagine them all as two-year-old toddlers with tiny Trump excitedly dropping a basket of metaphoric executive order golf balls and everyone gleefully colliding into one another chasing down bouncing balls, all to the tune of the Benny Hill theme song. With the end result of crying toddlers rubbing the bumps on their head and pointing to one another for the misery they themselves have caused. Boy, do I ever miss Rick Mercer. Nothing like the pointy end of the sword of Newfoundland and Labrador humor. Shelley Farrow in Niagara Region, Ontario. Talking respectfully and genuinely to people I disagree with is on my mind. I just watched a YouTube video with Dr.

Janice Stein and she said that phrase in response to, what can we do? I recently had a blow up with my son or with my own dad over political differences and I'm about to sign up to the Liberal Party to get involved with the federal election. I can feel the cracks and divisions and even fear in my community and I want to do more to help. I've feel the cracks and divisions and even fear in my community and I want to do more to help. I've been more vocal on social media and in person with people I know. I want to help unify, not alienate.

Janie Grimes in North Dundas, Ontario, just south of Ottawa. Things have changed. If the U.S. or Canada faced a national disaster, would they help each other? Canada likely would. The U.S. might, but they'd send a bill. Jason Brough in Nagawak, New Brunswick,

along the Acadian coastline. I have this uncustomary confidence that Canada will come out of this uncertainty with a new sense of purpose that will make us more of this uncertainty with a new sense of purpose that will make us more of a power player in the world. I just hope we don't oversell ourselves. Scott Clement in Ottawa. Looking inward, Canada is going to have to launch some nation-defining megaprojects that solidifies the economics of our country,

beginning with densifying our cities through infill and updating zoning codes, building out high-speed frequency rail in order to eliminate our reliance on highways, and building critical infrastructure in our Arctic to protect our nation's interests in the geopolitical tug-of-war that is increasing in the region. Both main parties are promising stuff for the Arctic. I hope they deliver, whichever one has the opportunity on this, instead of it just being election campaign talk. Ryan Legault in Brasilia, Brazil. I've been wondering why we don't boost defense spending by

investing in needed infrastructure, new train tracks that move troops, equipment, and civilians, icebreakers that increase our Arctic capacity and bring food to remote northern communities, road tunnels through hills and mountains that serve as bomb shelters. A Canadian Starlink-type network that provides rural internet and supports our military connectivity. We decide what is our national defense, so why not invest in Canada defense through dual purpose mega investments? And we had another letter from Brazil as well,

from Jason Burke in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Canada is rich, but the majority of Canadians have no opportunity to enjoy the riches. Most profits disappear at the top of the pyramid and any trickle-down trickles down too slowly to be noticed by most. Capitalist democracies work, but they need referees. Solution, living wages.

Pay your CEO $10 million in a year if you want, but you can't pay the majority of your staff minimum wage. Governments must stop the money from disappearing at the top of the pyramid. John Minchell in Comox Valley, B.C. What's on my mind? The friendship between Canadians and Americans. I am one who has more friends and family in the USA than in Canada. XPM Craychan said it in his speech,

we will be friends again. While we should be patriotic and proud of our country, we should not be hostile to ordinary Americans who are mostly supportive of us. One just has to look at some of the border towns to see how Americans feel about Canadians. Don Burke in Calgary. I identify as a politically progressive voter. I'm Canadian first, Calgarian second.

There are many progressive voters eager to participate in the democratic process at a federal level, but feel left out of the federal government where focus is retained in the east and the concerns they have. Most federal elections see minimal, if any, stops in the prairie provinces. I would like to see the federal government stay progressive, but don't feel that my vote will impact the outcome of federal elections, so why vote? You vote because you're Canadian, you care, and you should vote. I understand your frustrations.

I lived in the West for 10 years. I understand that frustration. But every vote is a signal. Michelle Kaufman in Toronto. I'm thinking about Carney and Polyev getting ready to verbally duke it out. So here's what I say to them both. Gentlemen, the world has enough alpha males currently in power and doesn't need any more. So please stick to talking about policy and protecting Canadian citizens

and keep the nasty mudslinging contained. That's a good place to take a break because the random ranter has something to say on that particular point. We'll get to that right after this. And welcome back. Peter Mansbridge here with The Bridge for this Thursday. It's your turn. What's on your mind? And we're certainly hearing a lot from Canadians from coast to coast to coast and around the world. You're listening on Sirius XM, Channel 167, Canada Talks,

or on your favorite podcast platform. It's back to your letters in a moment, but let's hear what the random ranter has to say this week. Here he is. You know an election is near when every second commercial during the hockey game is an attack ad. While I'm no fan of attack ads, I find the contrast between what the liberals are doing and what the conservatives are doing to be quite telling. The liberal ads address the all-consuming issue of the moment, Trump.

But the conservative ads, well, they're focused on the issues of the past, and they're done more in an American style of straight-up character assassination. To me, they just come off so desperate to link Carney to all things Trudeau that they're really kind of going over the top with it, to the point where I question how long will it be before they start setting all their commercials to circus music and calling Carney an actual Carney. It's just so juvenile, and with all the negativity that's going on in the world, now is really not the time. Canada needs hope, not commercials with a crooked flagpole on top of a hill and a list of empty promises. We're all sick of the Mount Vesuvius of grievance constantly erupting to our south.

The last thing we need is more of it from our own political leaders. But that's what we're getting from Polyev. I honestly don't know what's going on with the guy. He's always managed to stay one step ahead of the liberals, but since the Trump-NATO hit, he's been looking lost and sounding tone deaf. I mean, the carbon tax is gone, but he just can't seem to let it go. And I'm not sure why. Did they sink all their money into axe attack signs? Did he fall in love with his own rhyme? You'd think he'd be able to take the win and pivot, but nope. He's still going on about it, even though it's obvious to everyone else this is not going to be a carbon tax election. This one will be all about how we respond to Trump. It might even be about how we survive Trump. There really is that much on the line.

It really is that dire. So as much as he's trying to will it, Axe the tax is dead, and Carbon Tax Carney will never be. Second place Pierre might not be able to see it, but by now the polls should be making it perfectly clear. He's off message and out of touch. Look, I don't know how else to say it, but as Canadians, we can't afford to have a government that goes all deer in the headlights the moment circumstances change.

And that's exactly the vibes Polyev is giving right now. Just watch one of his press conferences. His lines aren't landing, his speeches are formulaic, and they all devolve into some form of festivus for the rest of us, airing of grievances. I mean, this week he even started talking about naming more things for John A. MacDonald. I'm not kidding. John A. MacDonald. Our country is under existential threat, and he's twaddling on about how wokeism is affecting the legacy of the guy on the $10 bill.

Look, I love history, but with our future at stake, I want leaders that are looking out for our future, not pointlessly dwelling on how we interpret our past. I don't want a leader who wants to make Canada great again. I want a leader who recognizes that Canada is great now and who has a vision to make it even greater. These are precarious times. The forecast is cloudy, maybe even dark.

Our next government is going to have to deal with all kinds of chaos raining down on them. We need serious thinkers who are nimble and, above all, pragmatic. We need leaders that can hit Trump's curveballs. What we don't need are ideological leaders mired in social conservatism who have a knack for rhyming. If Mr. Polyev wants to be taken seriously, then I suggest he start taking the job of leading Canadians seriously. Enough with the grievances, enough with the carbon tax, enough with the hair gel, the contacts, and the makeover. Get your security clearance. Give us your vision. Give us your plans. Flesh out some of your precious soundbites into actual policies. And first and foremost, clean up your house. It's time you take a stand and reject the fringe

elements that form a sizable part of your base. I look at it this way, and many of you out there may take issue with me here, but there are some Canadians who are anti-vax, there are some who are climate change deniers, there are some who are openly racist. There are homophobes, misogynists, and there are active supporters of Trump and his annexation plans for Canada. And the one thing they have overwhelmingly in common is they all vote conservative. I've never heard Mr. Polyev rebuke, rebuff, or repudiate any of those supporters, but I have seen him serve them coffee. Well, there you go. The random ranter for this week. Let's get back to your letters. With Ken Gresley-Jones in Christina Lake, British Columbia,

that's in the West Kootenai region. I remember as a boy in Rossland, B.C., the Governor General, Romeo LeBlanc, came to town and I was one of two Boy Scouts holding the door open as he entered the building. He took time to shake our hands, with the left hand, and comment on how well we were turned out. He reminded us he was the chief scout for Canada and took a few minutes to just talk to young boys who were in awe. That is only one example of how Canadians treat each other

with mutual respect no matter who you are. I'm a very proud Canadian, and while we may not be as flamboyant as the Americans, we are every bit or more proud of who we are at home and abroad. That is important to me. Irv Remedios in Toronto. People should embrace paradoxes. For example, Elon Musk is the greatest builder of this generation, Tesla, SpaceX, yet he doesn't understand free speech or how to run a social network.

Bitcoin is secure, decentralized, and a hedge fund against currency devaluation. Other crypto assets can be complete scams. Reducing government waste and bureaucracy while increasing transparency is extremely beneficial. The way Dodge is doing it is haphazard and dangerous. Corey McQueen in Burlington, Ontario. It feels like some Americans are experiencing buyer's remorse for electing Donald Trump, realizing the consequences of their choice. I've seen skepticism and frustration grow in places

as people reflect on the impact of their choice. On a lighter note, I'm excited to get back outside for golf season that first heat of spring and I instantly get the golfing itch. Okay, that'll solve everything. Ron Greening in East Selkirk, Manitoba. He's wondering about governance, when hunger migrations loom because of climate change, when information and capital slop globally

like a pizza pan full of water and carried by a toddler, when the capacity to wage war and revolt is technologically overjuiced. And three, finally, four, totalitarianism meets rotted democratic traditions crafted for swords. Where's the credible path to my granddaughter's happy future? Don't we all worry about that, right? Calgary, where Kirk Bailey writes this. The U.S. has treated Canada like an enemy, threatening our sovereignty while supporting Putin's Russia. Canada can't assume that this is a temporary negotiating position.

Canada's trade and defense has been weakened. We can offset that temporary damage by becoming more self-reliant and strengthening relationships with partners that share our values. Canada's sovereignty, prosperity and security cannot be bargaining chips for anyone. Hard work lies ahead. It will test us, but will prevail. Canada strong, eh? Danella Anderson in Edmonton.

In the upcoming election, I will support the party that upholds the principles of universal health care, that has a plan to get Alberta's oil to market, and that will continue to fund the CBC. I expect a positive battle of ideas between Poliev and Carney. Criticism of the other side is genuine, or sorry, is germane to a meaningful debate, but respect for one's opponent is essential to put Canada first and make Canada strong. David Lépine in Ogden, Quebec. That's in the

eastern townships. I find it ironic that the liberals are criticizing Pierre Polyev because he is a career politician. Why? Because last Sunday, Jean Chrétien, arguably one of our finest PMs, made a terrific keynote speech. But Jean Chrétien was also a career politician who never had to meet a payroll.

President Zelensky was a comedian on Russian language TV before becoming the inspiring president of Ukraine. My point is leadership abilities are qualities that are not specific to career occupations. You either have the royal jelly or you don't, and it's not a function of your CV. It's true that Jean Chrétien never had to meet a payroll, but he was a practicing lawyer for five years before he became a member of Parliament. Martin Prince, given his use of French in part of his letter,

he may pronounce Prince as Ponce. He's in Delmas, Saskatchewan, just west of North Battleford. Tariffs on agriculture products. That's what's on my mind. Discourages youth from entering the industry. Puts environmental stewardship efforts on hold. Why invest when there are no dollars? Limits investment in our support industries.

Fertilizer, seed, research, equipment, technology, affects our mental health. Working on resilience is not easy when dealing with Mother Nature, even worse when resulting from geopolitical movements and policy. Malcolm Bridges in Peterborough, Ontario. Lately, my mind drifts to a troubling thought. If Trump and his cronies truly wanted to, they could take all they want, just as authoritarian leaders have before.

Whether through economic ruin caused by tariff wars or troops at our border, the path isn't unthinkable anymore. He's built a Stalinist light regime where loyalists can't speak against the lies and injustice. So in my mind, the real question is, who can stop him? Sherry Moran in Ottawa. The thing uppermost on my mind is that so many important issues will not be thoroughly discussed during the federal election campaign because of the ongoing threats to our sovereignty from the American president. He has diminished our electoral choices as most Canadians focus solely and necessarily on who we think can best lead us through these turbulent years. Maya Olson in Vancouver. I wonder if either Mark Carney or Pierre Pelliev have ever themselves or their advisors listened to Janice Stein. And do they consider her advice, holding our own with forthright firm and reasoned dialogue without the publicly uttered insults?

Are they going to be able to get beyond saying what they think will score points with voters and win them the next election. I see egos and a desire to win, and I just don't feel confident that we will be in capable hands, whoever wins the next election. Gary Westall in Picton, Ontario. The upcoming federal election is on my mind. I will ignore or at least discount the negative attack ads from both the liberals and conservatives. Their contrived exaggerations render them worthless in informing voters on issues that matter. I will listen for the substance of their messages.

Of the two main contenders, Polly Ever Carney, one is better suited by virtue of his political experience to unite Canadians, take on the Trump administration, and fix the many problems inflicted by the Trudeau government. Canada needs a change. Sarah MacDonald in Toronto. Recently in Quebec, for a short ski vacation, one of our party wore a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey over his jacket.

Leafs won last night over Colorado, by the way. You can imagine he got some ribbing from the Quebecers on the hill, but on more than one occasion, at the end of the teasing, the Quebecer would say, but we're all Team Canada, to which we would enthusiastically agree. As Chantel noted, the alignment of French and English Canada in this matter is one benefit of Trump's words and actions. Kay Crawford in Cambridge, Ontario. The past few years has seen me feeling more hopeful about reducing human damage to our planet. We have a long way to go, but there is more awareness now generally,

and trends seem to be gathering momentum towards a better future. Now we have an orange menace south of the border who doesn't believe in science and his only criteria in decision-making is money. And he wants our resources. My anxiety is back. James Radke in Victoria. Bullies are on my mind.

We all grew up learning that if you get bullied in the schoolyard, ignore them or fight back. As adults, we were told that bullying in business is bad since that does not lead to repeat business. Yet the White House bully views every transaction as a winner-take-all event, and if anyone pushes back, they lose bigly. There are schoolyard bullies out there watching and taking notes. Do we need to rethink how we respond to bullies before it's too late? Steve Dolling in Squamish, B.C. It's an abusive relationship. Forget what it was. It's time to safely move on. We start by buying some French jets, some German tanks,

and commissioning a few more Canadian icebreakers. Let's build pipelines, gas and oil, some German tanks, and commissioning a few more Canadian icebreakers. Let's build pipelines, gas and oil, east and west, and strengthen our electric transmission grid. Begin negotiations for joining the EU. The U.S. can buy whatever they like from us, tariffed however they want, but we should decline to engage in this nonsense and pursue friendly trade and security partnerships with like-minded nations. Joshua Winters in Surrey, BC calls himself a recovering windbag because he worked to get his thoughts down to 75 words. Thank you for that. When my partner and I were moving to BC,

we were surprised by the number of apartments that didn't include a dishwasher. For a province that experiences frequent drought and is well known for environmentalism, we were amazed by the number of people under the misconception that dishwashers are energy wasters. Scientists at the University of Bonn in Germany found that a dishwasher uses half the energy, one-sixth of the water, and less soap than hand washing an identical set of dishes. This past Saturday was the birthday of Josephine Cochran, inventor of the dishwasher. It debuted at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, where it won first prize for best mechanical construction. While it might seem odd to get so excited over an appliance, any machine that saves both time and resources

will always hold a special place in my home. Charles Anthony in Montreal. Been lots of commentary in recent weeks comparing Trump to Neville Chamberlain and his apparent appeasement of Russia. Chamberlain, of course, was the British PM who in 1938, agreed to give Adolf Hitler control of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland

in order to avoid war. Czechoslovakian officials were not part of the negotiations. Hitler said he had no territorial ambitions beyond that. We know how that turned out. As we begin to see more clearly, is it possible that we, Canada, EU, UK, UN, and much of the civilized world, are collectively the conciliatory chamberlains conversing with the USA in a way to try to convince Kajol and Koch's new administration to be restrained under the seemingly incorrect belief that we can somehow contain the craziness?

Liska Sorge in Diamond Valley, Alberta. I'm thinking about the influence of excessive wealth that is deliberately undermining the well-being of humanity and the health of the planet, leading to a future that will be more challenging for the next generations. We've met these challenges in the past with citizen awareness, but with mass disinformation, solutions can't be counted on anymore. Jamie Fraser in Spruce Grove, Alberta.

The most important thing in Canada over the coming weeks is how our new PM responds to the Trump chaos agent. I think he's right to not take the bait as Ford has. Do not engage as long as the 51st state nonsense is on the table. We have nothing to talk about. Phil Weiner in Hamilton. It's spring, it's baseball, it's time to follow the Jays and hopefully they cannot help but do better this year

because last year was a total write-off. I'm a numbers guy. I'd like to see every game I can or listen on the wireless as much as possible. Can Atkins avoid being fired? Can Vlade stay in Toronto? Can the Jays finish first or second and make the playoffs? Can Springer make a comeback? Can the new closer Hoffman replace Romano?

So many questions. What a great six months we have to look forward to. That's one way of looking at the next six months. Dennis Heathcote in Markham, Ontario. Given our upcoming national election, I think we should mandate, legislate that social media platforms like X, Facebook, Blue Sky, etc. must fact check their content as well as remove all hate-related content. If the platforms decide they will not do this, then they should be barred from the Canadian public. In addition, Fox non-news should be barred from broadcasting Canada since it is largely state Trump propaganda. Without an accurate and truthful set of facts and information, how can any citizen really make a proper informed decision?

Steve Loudon in Simcoe, Ontario. I'm wondering why the Wharton Business School has not revoked the business degree that it granted to the Orange Tariffist. I made that word up. When he's doing his 100% contrary to everything I learned in attaining my honestly earned business degree, did he ever attend a class? What he is doing is 100% contrary to everything I learned

in attaining my honestly earned business degree. I hear the facts. Trump graduated from Wharton in 68, but he's never allowed his marks to be made public. The school has never invited him to make a commencement address. Michael Wolff, who's written several Trump books, says, I've spoken to friends of Trump from that time,

and this was a guy that was obviously not interested in school and possibly never read a book in his life. For everyone that had known him then and years afterward, the assumption was that he had terrible grades. He was a lackluster student at best. Chris Hildebrand in Kelowna, BC. What's been on my mind lately is why Canada does not have a nationalized crown corporation related to the oil fields, similar to some Scandinavian

countries like Norway. I voted for Carney and I'm happy with his leadership win and very much hoping the Liberals stay in power compared to what a conservative government could look like. But is there any appetite from any party to nationalize oil? I hope we eventually move away from oil and go towards renewables, but for the next few decades while oil is in demand, wouldn't it be better to own a project, reap the profit, and give it back to the people instead of just getting a small taxed revenue from large corporations, mainly U.S.-owned ones? Okay, well, this isn't the place for a full history lesson, but in 1975, a Crown Oil Company

was created, Petro-Can Canada. Over time, more and more of it was privatized until the final 19% interest owned by the government was sold in September of 2004 for almost $3.2 billion. In a similar vein, this from Danielle Crawford in Lethbridge, Alberta. I've been thinking about victory bonds from the World Wars and wondering if we could use the same principle to create a new crown corporation that is owned by Canadians and where the dividends from natural resources Canadians all own end up in the pockets of Canadians. Elizabeth Bossman in Mississauga, Ontario. I worry about how an isolated Canada will survive the next five to ten years. Canada is besieged by the Trump administration's economic warfare lust

for our resources and alliance with Russia, the disintegration of the Canada-U.S. friendship and the transatlantic alliance, Russian and Chinese aspirations in the Arctic, and China's bullying trade practices. No other nations seem willing to come to our aid. The daunting task of defending our sovereignty will be Canada's alone. Beth Clough in Ottawa. Somewhere between extreme woke liberalism and MAGA avarice lies the golden rule,

love your neighbors as yourself. This statement demands a genuine, generous spirit of mutual respect. It guides us to respond to bullying, to acknowledge all affected, to listen, to work resolutely together and address it. It takes a team chosen by our diverse population to understand and address the concerns of Canadians. May those who can identify clearly what they genuinely offer towards this collaborative process represent each riding across our great nation in our next parliament. Zachary Drake in Ottawa. With all of Trump's flip-flopping and disinformation,

I don't know what to think. 51st State, tariffs, World War III. All I know for sure is that I am scared. Trump's alignment with Putin is terrifying. Sherry Nellis McGrath in Windsor, Ontario. Especially living so close to the border, I'm exhausted. Is this what life felt like during the Cold War? Just hoping cooler heads and logic will prevail.

Mary Caldwell in Vancouver. How do you negotiate with a chronically dishonest leader? By relentlessly hammering the truth. In 2024, Canadians spent $8,700 per capita on U.S. goods, while Americans spent just $1,200 per capita on Canadian goods. Why aren't we shouting facts like this constantly? Don't let lies become reality. Use real facts and beat the liar at his own game. Repeat, repeat, repeat. And attack, attack, attack.

In a nice, neighborly way. Sarah Puckran in Port Perry, Ontario. Six months ago, I was questioning if my children would be the first generation, 200 years after their ancestors came to Canada, in search of a better life, who would need to leave Canada in search of a better and more affordable life. Now what keeps me up at night is that my sons, currently aged 13 and 15 years old, will be turning 18 just as the world may be careening headlong into World War III.

Richard Favreau in Kelowna, B.C. The world order is under attack by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea using political interference, misinformation, military and economic warfare tactics, but always at a level that does not prompt a major retaliation, so-called low-threshold warfare. Canada is in the crosshairs geographically. We are exposed economically and militarily. Washington's tariffs are dumb, but they are also a major distraction

from the bigger issues at hand. Janice Barr in Howick, Quebec. In order to make residential real estate more affordable, it would be great to see more tax disincentives for those who own multiple properties, especially for businesses who use residential properties for investment purposes. While this would be unpopular with those who benefit from the current system,

I believe it would help to level the playing field for first-time homeowners as well as for renters. Kimberly Batta in Montreal. Just wondering why conservatives like to mention that Mark Carney has been the economic advisor to Trudeau for the past five years. Is this true or exaggerated? If so, did Trudeau take any of his advice and can anyone say which policies he influenced while Trudeau was in office? I would love more details on this subject. Well, what we know from the outside is that Mark Carney was announced in September of just last year as an official advisor to Justin Trudeau on economic growth and productivity. That was not a government position, but instead a position within the Liberal Party.

Before that, Carney spoke at numerous Liberal events over the years and was in occasional contact with Trudeau. In the summer of 2020, Bloomberg reported Carney was informally with Trudeau. In the summer of 2020, Bloomberg reported Carney was informally advising Trudeau on how to pull Canada out of the economic shocks of the COVID pandemic. Beyond that, we don't know what specific advice Carney offered or whether Trudeau acted on any of it. Mark McLeod in London, on American friends. Seven million of our so-called American friends

couldn't be bothered or had some issue with the Democrats and sat at home on election day. We are living with what they voted for by not voting. Some friends. Hey, we have problems at the turnout rate too. Christine McDonald in LaSalle, Ontario. Anger. I don't want to direct it to the entire population of the U.S., but it is extremely difficult.

I have family there who are Republicans. I cannot bring myself to talk to them as common sense and reason are pointless. Michael Donovan in Halifax. When Parliament resumes after the upcoming election, the new Prime Minister should invite the King to open the Canadian Parliament personally and read the speech from the throne. This is within protocol. Queen Elizabeth did it in 57 and 77. If the King agrees, this would be meaningful support for Canada in these troubled times. If not, then maybe it's time to rethink whether we need the monarchy in Canada.

Graham Mount in Pointe du Baril, Ontario. I, like you, am disappointed with the lack of public support from the UK and royal family in the past several weeks. Just imagine, the UK, Australia, New the past several weeks. Just imagine the UK, Australia, New Zealand, perhaps other Commonwealth nations, even France and Denmark, some of our greatest allies, joining together in a public statement denouncing the disrespectful rhetoric against Canada's sovereignty. Wouldn't that be a powerful message? I only hope it's happening behind closed doors. Kate Wilson in Toronto, totally believe in pushing back on the Donald's attempts to use economics to destroy our sovereignty.

But I don't think most people realize that pulling the plug on the electricity we send to some states will impact hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other vulnerable populations. We don't want thousands of deaths on our hands. Let's find other ways to get our point across. And our final letter from Terry Sims in Victoria, B.C. I visited the USA a lot in my life, and I'm always astounded how little the Americans know about Canadians. My good friends in South Carolina still think I walk across the Petermans,

still think I walk across the Petermans Bridge, the Petermans Bridge to get to work. They often say we're such nice people, but if they really knew our true character or toughness and resilience, Trump's team would think twice about messing with us. We aren't kind when you try to take our puck or anything else that matters to us. We would never give up on this beautiful country. You got that right. Okay, there you go.

There are our letters for this week on your turn. So glad you wrote. I got to run here because i'm out of time but thank you thank you thank you tomorrow it's good talk chantelle rob you can bet we've got lots to talk about we'll see you there i'm peter manspur thanks for listening talk to you again tomorrow