The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge - Your Turn -- Will The Old Canada/U.S. Relationship Ever Return?

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

So is the rupture a forever thing, or could Canada and The U.S. ever return to the way things used to be? We asked this question on Monday and by the end of the day we already had enough answers to fill a show. You feel strongly about this, and both ways. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

And hello there, Peter Mansbridge here. You're just moments away from the latest episode of the bridge. Will the relationship with the United States ever be the same again? That's the question. This week on your turn, coming right up. And hello there, welcome to Thursday. Welcome to your turn. Welcome to the random ranter who will be by a little later on as well.

So the question this week for your turn was really that simple. Do you see the relationship of the United States ever returning to what it used to be like? Or is it done like dinner? It's over. Stick a fork in it. Use whatever phrase you want. And I got to tell you, you wrote lots this week. By the end of the first day, we had more than enough for this week.

We've got lots and we've been through them all. I'd say we've, after editing, because a lot of you came in way over the 75-word line. So we either that got rejected or we cut it back. But after we get the final pile, there's still enough for at least two weeks. So we'll probably go two weeks with this. So if you don't hear your letter this week, there's still a chance you'll hear it next week. All right, let's get going. The random ranter will join us sort of halfway through as it usually does.

And he's got something to say this week too. It's not directly related to this, but it is. it is related in a way. All right, we're starting with Einer Davison in Husser, Alberta. Husser, I think that's the way you say it. Husser is about 95 kilometers east of Calgary. Iner writes,

I believe we will in time get back to a better trade relationship. However, I believe we will always be looking over our shoulders, as we should. Canadians are like all humans. we do like to stick to the well-traveled road. My fear is when the Americans decide they want to be nice to us, we will stop doing the things we are trying to do now. We will fall back into a comfortable old pair of shoes

and not continue to seek other, possibly better shoes. Josh Como in Montreal. The only way that things go back to normal is if Americans make it clear, in overwhelming numbers, that they won't keep repeating the same mistake. If 80 to 90% of the country were to vote for a reasonable Democrat, I would trust them again. But given how calcified things are, I think that's a fantasy.

So, sadly, I do think the rupture is permanent. Paul Masters in Arrillo, Ontario. I truly feel that once the Trump administration is defeated, that there will be a semblance of the old relationship that will come back. Robin Barr in London, Ontario I firmly believe Canada has learned its lesson about having all our eggs in one basket. P.M. Carney has us on what I believe is an extremely smart pathway

to self-economic dependency without relying on the U.S. for our sustainability. The old relationship is certainly fractured, and I doubt we will ever go back to those days. Malcolm Bromley in Toronto. Our relationship with the United States has permanently changed. Any renewal must be assessed after the next presidency and whether current economic policies endure beyond one administration. We must rebuild sector by sector, employment, manufacturing, supply chains,

military cooperation, and border security, without assuming prior trust. The relationship has been broken. Repair will require time, evidence, and clear ownership and contrition before Canada risks its sovereignty or security. Shane Lambert in Renfrew, Ontario. I find myself a bit on the fence with this one. I do think we'll get back to cooperation. Geography alone makes that hard to avoid. But this moment probably leaves a mark. It's reminded Canada of the risk of leaning too heavily on any one partner. This might end up being a blessing in disguise.

You know, one thing I've noticed this week, while we still have some of the regulars still have written in and with thoughtful comments, as they always do, but this week, more than any other week, I've seen new writers, new people in sending their thoughts into the bridge. And that's great. That's what we always want. We'd like to inspire you enough that you actually sit down at your laptop or laptop or your desktop or your phone and write in because it's great. Robert Hambleton in Carleton, Place, Ontario.

That's just outside of Ottawa, not far outside of Ottawa. It depends on the U.S. movement towards an authoritarian dictatorship, because once this happens and it becomes entrenched, it will be very difficult to reverse the damage that has been caused by the fascist enablers who are now in power. If elections are allowed to move forward without intervention by President Trump and there is no corruption allowing the Democrats to retake the House and the Senate, then there could be a chance.

But not without some major changes to the government. the way the government and judicial system works in the United States. Valerie May in Okotok's, Alberta. I think the relationship has changed forever. Trust has been broken, and it will take generations to repair. Even when or if the U.S. returns to a normal way of dealing with allies, I don't believe Canada will ever be as naive again. I'm grateful for the political leadership we have that has stood up to the bullying.

I have never been more proud to be a Canadian. Anna Papyrus in Oakville, Ontario. I don't think Canada's relationship with the United States will go back to the way it used to be, nor do I think that it should. Hopefully, future U.S. administrations will be more respectful and less aggressive with Canada. Regardless, I agree with Carney's speech in Davos.

Canada must diversify and expand its trading partners to ensure a future that puts us at the table and not on the menu. Philip Warwick, Maberly, Ontario. That's just west of Perth in eastern Ontario. Of course, our relationship will continue. We are like-minded people. Our borders won't change. Our cultures are very similar.

We have been and will continue to be their neighbor. Mary Ann Zupensik in Kingston, Ontario. If we assume a positive change in U.S. leadership and or foreign policy, tariff policy, post-Trump, yes, it may improve our relationship somewhat by easing trade tensions. But we simply can't go back, even if integrated trade again is an option. While we may see a more friendly neighbor for many years to come, we can't forget. how quickly that neighbor can turn hostile. Barry Tucker in St. John's.

I think that if Canada is smart, it will never go back to the relationship with the U.S. as it has been for the last few decades. We can see that an American election can change everything in an eye blink. Ron Alexander in Elliott Lake, Ontario, he didn't mince words, he just says four words. it is changed forever. Spencer Parton in Vancouver.

I think it's inevitable that the relationship gets repaired. Both nations benefit from our proximity, language, and culture. But I'm doubtful any relationship gets repaired meaningfully any time in the next 20 years. The United States has changed so dramatically in the last decade that it's hard for anyone to trust them.

Steve DeNoe in San Diego, in St. Ann, Manitoba. Growing up in Kippewa, Quebec, my family operated a fly-in outpost camp in the late 60s and through the 70s. I was in my early teens. About 95% of our customers were from the U.S. Primarily, groups of guys,

most of them building contractors, professionals, and a variety of officials like a U.S. Supreme Court judge, senators. With minor instances aside, they were all great folks down to earth, kind to me and friendly. I don't think a lot of Canadians will find it easy to think kindly of Americans for a long time, and it could stick with a whole generation. I have a different perspective in general on how things work.

And I think he has a little more on that. It gives us that different perspective. Outside the city, folks don't get as easily swayed or caught up in politics, and generally speaking, know their neighbors, get along and are welcoming to non-Canadians. I think the same is happening in the U.S., meaning most of us could still get along. It's the political realm and minority interest groups that are usually hard at work, creating division. We non-city folks see the world differently. You know, Steve, your memories of the flying fishing camp in the 60s and,

70s take me back. Not to where you grew up, but to northwestern Ontario. Well, I did a lot of that. One of my first beats was covering northwestern Ontario out of Winnipeg. And I used to do the flying fishing thing. And it was fantastic.

There was nothing like it. And there were always a lot of Americans who would come up to that area as well. And those were good days. in good times. Pickerel. Walleye, the Americans called it. Pickerel and

shore lunches and all that. Those were great days. Joel Teeling in Edmonton, I believe our relationship with the United States will at some point have some semblance of what it used to be. Canada and the U.S. have had

challenges in our relationship before and well not to this extent. We have always received. stored our relationship with one another. There will be a day when Donald Trump is no longer in office. A more traditional Democrat or Republican will be back in the White House, and our relationship can look like it used to.

That said, I do believe Canada needs to diversify our trading partners, and I commend Prime Minister Carney for starting that process. Chantal Gerbeau in Oshawa, Ontario. There's no way any future generation will heal the wounds that the current USA administration has caused this country with its threats, tricks, tariffs, and lies. Never again will Canada put so much investment and faith in another country, only to be spit upon. Carney is doing an excellent job of finding other world partners to trade with.

We need him and his ilk as a guiding light forward. We must become more independent in every area of trade and industry to free ourselves from this tyranny. Garth Johnston in Delta, BC, I believe that the Canada and U.S. relations will return to a version of our historical relations. Not 100%, maybe 60 or 70%. The timeline is the outlier. I think the U.S. president's attitude towards Canada and other nations has created opportunities for Canada to step out from the U.S. umbrella. We are integrated with the U.S. on so many levels and need each other for North America to prosper. Tara Lee Trudell in Saskatoon.

Our relationship with the USA will continue to be strong and abundant. Nothing has changed for the worse at this time. Wendy Cecil in Toronto. Respected American author Maya Angelou said this. When someone shows you who they are, believe them. Though we might eventually forgive the USA, we would be utter fools to forget. Things have changed on a fundamental level, permanently. Marsha Baddeley in Fonth Hill, Ontario.

Venezuela, Cuba, Greenland, 51st State, collaboration with separatists, overturning Roe versus Wade, we are not witnessing an accidental blip. It is a trend backed by big business, a growing population of desinfrances, young men and wealthy influencers. Lines have been crossed. We cannot unsee or unhear what has been done and said. It is a rupture, and any other precedent reframing of this trend is irresponsible and cannot be trusted. Rob Buchholz in Kamloops, BC.

I have family there, as do many Canadians. Not every Canadian has fallen for C. CBC anti-American propaganda. Oh, now it's the CBC's fault. They are even trying to say, Hamani is being mourned. So, yes, I do believe the relationship can be salvaged, no matter what Carney says.

Okay. Gartes de Bruin in Collingwood, Ontario. For the foreseeable future, I am sure that Canadians that have dealings with the U.S. will not soon forget the dynamic, dramatic shift in U.S. government values, as demonstrated by the current president and his administration or the MAGA movement. Canadians will proceed with more scrutiny, with eyes wide open, and less trust. So then the simple answer is that our relationship has changed forever.

Reggie Rajendran in Toronto. I think if we take out of the United. the emotional feelings we as Canadians have due to the circumstances and look to the values we Canadians and the American people share, we can become more optimistic of our relationship becoming more like it used to be. USA and Canada are very intertwined in many respects, and I would like to think the ill-intended actions of one president cannot rupture our relationship forever. You know, that's the big question, right? Is this all Trump?

Like Rob and Camloose, so it's all CBC's fault from where we stand in Canada? So many of us say it's all Trump's fault. Is it all Trump's fault? I mean, Trump didn't get there by himself. He had support. And he still has support. How much compared to the way it used to be.

be, I'm not so sure, but he wasn't alone, and he isn't alone. Brandon Roberts in Somerville, Alabama, that's near Huntsville and northern Alabama. Brandon writes, the most meaningful relationships cause the deepest hurt when broken. I'm asking myself what I can do to help repair the Canada-U.S. relationship. We must determine to expand this partnership so it can flourish to its fullest potential. Let us take responsibility to build where others tear down. Patriotism demands our noblest efforts. Dan Miller in Comox, BC.

Over my lifetime, I believe many Canadians have been wary of their powerful neighbor. What has changed is the horizon of that concern. America has abandoned its role as a beacon on the hill of democratic societies. under a transactional executive it is now a grubby corrupt power. My children will not know the America I have. Powerful suspect, but ultimately aligned. We will not soon be able to trust them in the same way. Kyle Vaughn in Strathroy, Ontario.

I do not think we can fully trust the Americans again this generation. Eventually the orange man will leave office, but the scars he has left will not heal for some time. Half of the American voting population voted for that man. Three separate times. And at least 30% of that half are so dogmatic in his defense that I fear there is no hope for them. How can Canada trust a partner for joint long-term goals, who seems to be ruled by a Twitter bot that can't bother to do a modicum of research, on a billion-dollar public bridge that helps them.

Sergei Dinsa in Erdhry, Alberta. Canada's relationship with the USA has changed permanently in economic terms and in how we protect our country's geography. We did nothing to provoke the tariffs, which are being used as economic warfare designed to ruin our country. Going forward, we can be friendly and share similar cultural interests with the USA. However, when it comes to our, internal and external sovereignty, we must not depend on any single country.

Don Crabb, Don's a resident of Kingston, Kingston, Ontario. He's actually writing from Italy. The rupture, he says, is permanent, especially as we diversify. However, it will settle into a good trade and multi-factor friendship over time. We are stuck with each other, after all. John Yoga in Toronto I don't think the relationship between Canada and the United States has changed forever One thing is for sure though

Canada has to diversify trade Can never rely on just one country Politicians come and go Geography never changes That's true Almost at break time But we're not there yet so let's see where we go

Tracy Cornwall Salt Spring Island, B.C. I very much doubt our relationship with the USA will return to pre-Trump days. We are annoyed and fairly pissed off by the disrespect of our long-time neighbors. But thankfully, Canada has received a rather large wake-up call

and realized our vulnerabilities. Diversify, protect our northern borders. I've been extremely, proud of our elbows-up response. I'm confident in our current leadership and the future for our young working Canadians. Peter Sarvos in Burlington, Ontario. Here's what Peter writes.

Nothing lasts forever. My answer to your question is, given enough time, I think Canadians will forgive the United States and forget our current troubles. Provided Americans henceforth elect a series of sane persons as their president. But it may take several years, perhaps decades, to rebuild our trust in American government, I'm afraid.

Alina Montez in Terrebonne, Quebec. Well, what seems to be the national consensus is that our neighbors voted for Trump once and then recognized their error. Then we wouldn't be where we are. Instead, they voted for him twice and told the rest of the world that his type of leadership was acceptable, which then serves as the forewarning that another could again be voted in easily. Putting aside the cruelty, their blatant indifference to even their own laws, we now know that they're willing to accept their leader being openly hostile, even to their once allies.

And that's the problem. The trust is gone. So what do you think? This is just a start, right? We're going to our normal break here and then we'll hear from the random renter and then we'll get back to more letters. But there's a mix here. It's not all one way. That's a tilt in favor of those who think their relationship has changed

forever, but there are counter arguments. And it's interesting to hear them. And it's really interesting. And I'm extremely grateful for the number of you who have written for the first time to the bridge. You're obviously listeners.

You've been listening, but this has inspired you to write. And we're certainly happy that you have. Okay, we're going to take our break, come back with a random rancher, and then back to more of your letters. We'll be right back after this. And welcome back. You're listening to The Bridge, the Thursday episode.

That means your turn, and we've been hearing your letter. from across the country on the question of, has the relationship with the United States changed forever? Or could it be some semblance of it come back in the future? We'll get back to your letters in a moment, but first of all, we're going to hear from the random ranter. His take on not that particular question,

but in many ways it is related. So let's listen to what the good old ranter has to say. And we'll do that right now. Now I know I've said this on here before multiple times. But for all the people out there counting on the midterms for salvation from Trump, please, please give your heads a shake. The only thing the midterms will accomplish is to make the coup that's been happening since Trump's inauguration official. And I call it a coup because that's what I think it is. A slow motion coup. I mean,

just zoom out and look at the big picture. All the chaos of the last year, it's leading to something. And I don't claim to know what it's going to be, but I know one thing. It's not going to be the full release of the Epstein files. It's not going to be Trump going off quietly in the night. And it's surely not going to be some kind of miraculous return to normalcy. No, I'm afraid it's going to be something really bad. And that's saying a lot because things are already pretty bad. ICE is murdering people in the streets. They're rounding up people into camps.

The Secretary of War is seemingly encouraging troops to commit war crimes because the rules of war are too woke. I mean, I can spend the next 15 minutes listing off all the ways Trump is eroded democracy, rules and normalcy. But let's just do the Cole's Notes version. There's the capitulation of Congress to hold them in check. The failure of the Supreme Court to hold him in check. The weaponization of the Justice Department against Trump's enemies.

The transformation of Homeland Security from an agency of protection to a blunt force instrument of suppression. Trump has brought the oligarchs of information and technology to heal. He's leveraged his power. and the courts to cow the press, including CBS, ABC, the Washington Post, and soon to be CNN. The Republicans, the once-proud party of Reagan and Lincoln, have mutated in nothing more than a bro-first mega-verse cult, where the leader can say and do whatever he wants with no repercussions, and where every lie, every bad joke, every misogynistic comment, and every racist

meme is met by his base with a hearty, thank you, sir, may I have another. Now Trump is actively testing his limits to wield the military, and so far so good for him. I mean, what started with illegal military strikes on drug boats escalated to an attack on Venezuela, and now it seems like a knee-jerk attack on Iran. And while no one is sad to see the Ayatollah go, taking him out with no plan for what happens after is insanely reckless. Trump has seemingly thrown the whole region into chaos on a whim, or if I give him the benefit of the doubt, an ill-conceived notion. But either way, none of that concerns Trump. I watched the press conference, and he seemed a lot more interested in the gold curtains of the Oval Office than the fate of Iranians, all 92 million of them. And oh yeah,

in case you missed it, apparently they're doing something in Ecuador now too. So I guess you can check the obedient military box on the authoritarian report card along with illegal wars, check, illegal actions, check, war crimes, have added. So let's recap. Heading into the midterms, Trump has the courts, the Congress, the Justice Department, Homeland Security, the military, and he's managed to kneecap the press. Now add to that the cumulative effects of years and years of nonstop attacks on the integrity and legitimacy of free and fair elections. And voila, the perfect recipe for disaster is complete.

Now maybe you're not buying it. Maybe you think I'm overreacting. But let me ask you this. Trump lost to Biden by over 7 million votes in 2020. Yet to this day, he still denies the outcome. Why do people think he'll accept a midterm loss? I mean, none of this is normal. Look, Trump's malignancy knows no bounds. He's driven by the shamelessness of his unrelenting narcissism. He doesn't build on strengths. He prays on weaknesses. He uses and he abuses. And there's nothing normal about it. You know, when it comes to authoritarianism, I don't think America is being led down the garden path. They're not having the wool pulled over the their eyes, they're not being strung along or even hoodwinked. No, I think when it comes to authoritarianism,

it's time to accept what's really happening. And that is, America, you're being groomed. Well, there he is. The random ranter with his turn. I'm sure that's left you thinking. Okay. Back to your turn. Back to your turn. Back to your. Your letters on this question of the relationship with the U.S. And the rupture that's taken place. Is it forever? Or could some semblance of the old Canada-U.S. relationship come back? All right.

First up on the second half, Edwin Platt from Three Hills, Alberta. That's northeast of Calgary about an hour and a half or so. I love that name, Three Hills, Alberta. Does that sound like the Old West or what? Edwin writes, yes, I believe the relationship between the United States and Canada will return to a semblance of what we have seen in the past. Our economies have been integrated going back over 450 years long before either was a country and we were just colonies. For me, as a truck driver who hauls commodities back and forth, I can assure you that there is far more than just the auto industry that is integrated. Amanda Priest in Belmont, Nova Scotia, that's near Truro.

I'm 59. As long as I live, I will never forget that the majority of the American people didn't seem to care too much about how their president treated us, their former friends and allies. It was a betrayal that cut deep. Perhaps the next generation will be able to move on with more ease, as each generation has tended to do throughout history. Janie Thomas in

Maydark, Ontario. It's halfway between Toronto and Ottawa. Canada should continue to mature becoming as independent from the U.S. as possible. Unless they do an about-face, paying us respect, I will not cross that border again. Laura Wehrall and Barry, Ontario.

I do not believe our relationship with the U.S. will ever return to the way it used to be. nor do I believe that it should. Deb Doyle in Ottawa, well, she's from Ottawa and she's from Florida. Not to be simplistic, but the relationship will return to normal sooner rather than later. Trump will be gone soon. So much has been deeply bruised because Trump's Manhattan real estate developer personality and methods rammed into the naivety of elbows up Canadians who bought into an opportunistic liberal

narrative. Okay. Robert McMillan in Hope River, PEI. Our changing relationship over the years is like the changing weather. You can only predict it so far ahead. Perhaps if Canada and our media stopped looking south of the border all the time, obsessing about Trump and instead focused on Canadians for a change, we as a nation might not create such anxiety over the antics of the current president, and actually starts solving the many problems we ourselves have created here. Okay, that's an interesting take from Robert in Hope River, PEI. And I'm, you know, on the sort of general question, do we spend the media in Canada? And when I say the media, you know, as I've said before, it's not a monolith.

There's so many different aspects of the media. podcast is one of them, which is basically opinion. That's what's happening here today, right? It's your opinion on a whole bunch of stuff. There are newscasts, their current affairs programs. But do you think overall the Canadian media spends too much time talking about the United States? I mean, I don't think anybody argues that the U.S., in a lot of areas, has an enormous influence on Canada. power, money, entertainment, culture, all these things.

Should we just stop talking about them? Or spend considerably less time talking about them than we already do? Interesting thought. Matthew Scalarsik in Vernon, BC. You see some of the names that pop up quite often during the program. Matthew is one of them. Excuse me. But I got to say,

90% of the letters this week are from people who've never written before. I'm sure of that. Matthew writes Vernon B.C. Whether we decide to hold a grudge in perpetuity or move on is up to us, the people and not the politicians. James Madison declared war on us in 1812, and we put it behind us. That's after we beat them.

I suggest in time we take the high ground and do the same. Giles Beland in Amherst, Nova Scotia. I don't think the relationship is broken forever, but it is permanently changed. Even if a future U.S. administration restores a friendlier tone, the lesson is clear. Our economic exposure is a vulnerability. Not anti-American, simply pro-resilience.

Bernard Dubuque, in, it's near Quebec City, Saffiro de Nage, Quebec. I believe the people of the USA want our relationship back, but I don't think we should be fooled twice. We will obviously do a lot of business with the USA in the future,

but I don't believe the Americans will ever stop protecting their businesses. I believe the best approach for Canada is to do what Mark Carney is proclaiming, develop and process our natural resources, and by doing so, we become a little more independent of them. Rebecca Robbins in Peterborough, Ontario.

I'm angry. And I want to say no, our relationship with the U.S. is over and will never come back. Realistically, memories are short, and while I don't think things will ever be quite the same, I do think eventually, maybe in 10 or 20 years, things will be quite a bit closer to where they were pre-Trump. Debbie Ogden Now, I've got to check this in this location. It's near St. John, New Brunswick.

Kis pampsys. Kisempsis. I'm not sure. Canadians have trust issues with the current administration. The damage caused by Trump's agenda and his bullying practices has hurt people and companies

on both sides of the border. I believe we're going to move forward and incorporate the learnings from the Trump experience. Jude Gull in Windsor, Ontario. There are a lot of factors that can change the course of Canada-U.S. relations in the next three to seven years. The major factor being Donald Trump. Will he try to run for a third time?

Third term? Well, he's already tried to run for three terms. And he's won two of them. So this, in fact, would be the fourth time he would have run. but you're quite correct, the third term. Will Vance win the next presidential election? And if the Democrats win, will they continue with Trump's tariff policies to keep from going further into debt?

I personally think that our relationship with the U.S. has changed forever. Whether young or older, people seem upset, by the way Trump is treating the country, and I don't think people will forget that for a very long time. Paul Monk in New Liskard, Ontario. Two things can be true at the same time. Canada should learn from President Trump's gift to us, diversify to maintain our identity. What PM Carney is doing now should be full steam ahead on steroids.

At the same time, given an eventual new president, excuse me, at the same time given an eventual new president, we can still return to doing wide open business with the USA. Effectively, we can have our cake and we can eat it too. James Blake in Burlington, Ontario. I would say that the relationship between Canada and the U.S. has changed permanently. Canadians now realize that we are neighbors with the U.S. and that the U.S. is not our friend. We have to look after our own interests.

They've elected a populace twice. Their House of Representatives, Senate and Supreme Court are unwilling to follow their own constitution, to hold their president to account, resulting in their democracy being trampled. Carney put it succinctly in his speech in Davos. It's a rupture, and everyone has woken up. Donna Wilson in Cowichin Valley, Vancouver Island. Sorry. Get that mixed up.

Anyway, Donna writes, We will continue to have a relationship with our neighbor to the south, but it will be more guarded, less dependent. It's a bit like neighbors, building a good neighbor fence. Sometimes that goes well and sometimes it doesn't. The fence might get built, but the relationship between neighbors is usually changed forever.

Yeah, I think we all know examples of that in our own histories, whether directly involving us or neighbor versus neighbor down the street. Peter Boyer in Fergus, Ontario. It's near Guelph. Can the relationship go back? The short answer is a qualified yes. Providing a respectful and honest U.S. administration seeks to

reconcile. The other requirement is that the strength of by national institutions remains dormant and are not destroyed by the current U.S. administration and are available to reactivate and provide leadership towards a renewed relationship. Marie Bartlett in Halifax. Will our relationship with the U.S. ever be the same? Sadly, no. A line has been crossed and permanent damage has been done. The threats and intimidation towards a loyal friend and ally will not soon be forgotten. I'm happy to move forward without California wine and Kentucky Bourbon and support Canadian all the way. Michael, folks in Toronto, how are we doing on time here? Oh, we've got a few more minutes.

Let's get Michael's letter here. Michael, folks in Toronto, the odious politics of the U.S. have been developing for some time and won't heal instantly. A new president won't necessarily change as much as we'd like. The movement and its leaders have threatened our existence as a sovereign country, dismiss the boundary as a meaningless series of treaties, demeaned our leaders, and economically will clearly make us poorer if the current threats are carried out.

We can never forget this moment. For generations to come, we should remember what can happen and act accordingly. John Clifford in London, Ontario. The liberal's current positioning is correct, plan for the worst, but cultivate the best. In discussions with American neighbors,

for whom continuing trade with Canada is both ideal and essential, emphasize Canada's desire to strengthen these longstanding trade agreements, then let those same Americans and their politicians take the fight to Washington. Sean Debrowski in Norwich, England, and Sean's originally from Ottawa. Yes, I believe the relationship has changed forever. Canada was pushed violently away by the U.S. This, I think, removes any promise of nostalgia for our period under the explicit American umbrella. We can align with the U.S. where it makes sense and not oppose for the sake of it,

but it should never again be expected or a given. It should instead be earned and credible. Mark Bwalo in Markdale, Ontario. Mark from Markdale. Markdale's near, well, it's near Owen sound. I am thankful for Trump. He is awakened legitimately. He is awakened, but dormant resolve in Canadians, something I have hoped for most of my adult life. Trump has made a spectacular display of American bullying beyond Canada. Many other American global partnerships have been deliberately aggravated. Now we have other, more willing governments with which to forge new alliances. I believe our window of opportunity to forge new opportunities is short.

Our Prime Minister's efforts mean that our relationship will never return to the previous configuration. Doug Blaney in Tiny, Ontario. It's on Georgian Bay. I've never, you know, and I know Georgian Bay. I used to live near Georgian Bay, on Georgian Bay.

But I don't think I've ever heard of the community called Tiny, but I have now. And Doug Blaney lives there. Doug writes, Canada-U.S. relations will return to some semblance of our past relationship, but we can never fully trust, never truly trust the U.S. ever again. We now know that every four years can bring serious change to our relationship, so we can, at best, only rely on America to adhere to an agreement for that length of time. Okay, I'm going to read a couple more, and then we'll call today.

We've got a lot. We've got lots left over. So I'm pretty sure we'll have another one next week on this same topic. Mark Lebrun in Milton, Ontario. I drive past Milton so many times every week on the trip back and forth between Toronto and Stratford. In Toronto today, and Stratford later today. So I'll be going past Milton again. Mark Lebrun writes,

I hope our two nations can return to a more. neighborly relationship without threats or antagonism. But like a neighbor who allows their attack dog to repeatedly defecate on our lawn, healing requires the offending party to show genuine remorse. Only a sincere public apology from the American government, and maybe a home-baked American pie delivered to every Canadian, can begin to repair the relationship. Don't hold your breath, Mark.

At least over the next three years, don't hold your breath. breath. Paul Gauchy in Toronto. The old American relationship is over for good. Why? Karni is making trade deals with other countries. India is opening markets to the EU. France is building a European defense strategy without the U.S. The old system is broken and these leaders know that even when Trump and the Republicans are gone, it is beyond repair. A new one has to be built. That's what they're doing. And so should we. Okay, here's our last letter for this week.

As I said, there's lots more. And as I also said, so many new writers. It's wonderful. Like a breath of fresh air. We love it. That's not to say we have anything against our regulars because we depend on them and we love hearing from them.

And we heard from them this week. It's just on this week's edition, and most overwhelming majority of the letters are from new writers, including Mason Durnbach, who I don't believe is written before, in Nanaimo, BC. The relationship is not over, nor will it ever be. 80% of our trade is with the U.S. We are fortunate to live next to the biggest and most powerful economy

and military the world has ever known. We have so much potential as a country, but we can't get our house in order. This isn't optional at this point. Okay, so there you have it. You have a lot of different opinions, a lot of different thoughts on this subject about this relationship we have with our southern neighbor,

whether it'll ever return to what it used to be or whether it's permanently changed. As I said, we'll have more of these letters next week. It's been great. Thanks so much for both this and the random ranchers take tomorrow. Friday, good talk. Chantelle and Bruce will be here. Chantel B.

If you watched last week's program or listen to the last week's program, you know now what it is she does when she's not talking. She's doodling. I still think she should be putting those doodles up for sale for some charity. And a lot of you agreed because I got mail. this week on that subject too. All right, Chantel and Bruce will be here tomorrow on Good Talk. It's available, obviously, as a podcast,

it's available on Sirius XM, Channel 167, and it's available on our YouTube channel. Whatever platform you choose to connect with us for Good Talk, we're glad to have you with us. I'm Peter Mansbridge. Thanks so much for listening today. We'll talk to you again in less than 20, hours.