Think, don’t stink.
By Ray Marilyn Hamm ( rmhamm@icloud.com)
An older friend used to say that to us when we were saying things without much thought or understanding.
It doesn’t matter whether you are left, centre or right, Democrat or Republican, think, don’t stink.
Mr Trump, think don’t stink!
Let’s think about oil. Did you know that the US imports 40-50% of its oil consumption? Approximately half of that is from Canada. The much talked about and threatened 25% tariff would lead to a (25%?) jump in the price of fuel in your country; that and all the added costs of transportation of goods would be a hefty increase in the cost of living. Do you really want do that?
If you want people to respect you, Think don’t stink.
On our side of the border, 25% tariff would be big trouble. For instance, 80% of Canadian oil is exported, 97% to the US. If the selling price of Canadian oil in the US were to increase by 25%, sales would decrease significantly. AND probably a lot of the oil sands production would no longer be competitive. This would not only impact oil sands production but also the Alberta government. 25% of Alberta gov’t revenue in 2023-2024 was from bitumen(19%) and other resource revenue (6%). The Canadian oil and gas industry, the provincial economy and the gov’t, even the federal budget would take a real hit from a 25% tariff going into the United States.
So Mr Trump, if you want a steady and nearby source of energy for your Make America Great Again (MAGA) economy, think, don’t stink.
Keep your hands to yourself, Mr Trump. Stay off of our yard, mind your own business.
You may threaten, even implement, a tariff. (Trade wars are old fashioned ideas, hardly fitting for this century. That is your business and may be your problem).
Or, even worse, are you letting Putin and Netanyahu lead you in trying to reorganize boundaries and maps?
First of all, let’s get the Canada US picture straight.
DRUGS
US Drug seizures at Mexican and Canadian borders, September 2023 to October 24: Mexican border, 275,000 pounds; Canadian border, 11,600 pounds.
IMMIGRATION
In 2022, 109,535 people were apprehended by the US Border Patrol at the Canadian border; 2,378, 944 at the Mexican border. Where exactly is there a possible problem with immigration from Canada to the US?
Unfortunately but understandably, Canadian federal and most provincial governments jumped to obey, to make promises. Donald Trump, the United States, has the power to impose severe penalties if the game is not played by their rules. Do some homework, learn to do fact-checking in dealing with the incoming US government.
(See articles in November 26, BNN Bloomberg (https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/2024/11/27/canada-feels-trumps-wrath-over-drugs-migrants-and-pledges-tougher-stance/ or, November 26 The Logic (https://thelogic.co/news/trump-canada-tariff-border-fentanyl/)
To Elonald (from Jimmy Fallon, Tonight Show): hands off, stay out of our yard.
