It’s probably not a good idea to “stand firm” when your feet are in quicksand.
As Canada approaches a review of its key free trade deal with the United States next year, Unifor national president Lana Payne says it’s important to stand firm for a good deal. Payne said it’s important to play hardball, and not allow tariffs to be legitimized in any form. Instead, Canada needs to hold out and let the “self-inflicted wounds” of tariffs create pressure instead.
“We’re seeing that now in the United States where their economy is suffering and worsening by the day,” Payne said in a Dec. 19 interview.
Does anyone actually expect the president of Unifor to have more than two brains cells to rub together?
Not even two…
One got lost and the other is out looking…
This is hilarious.
Assuming the latest GNP data is correct, the U.S. is ticking well above expectations while Canada is heading down a recessionary path.
Makes Lana Pyne’s comment: “Canada needs to hold out and let the “self-inflicted wounds” of tariffs create pressure instead” look quite silly.
“We’re seeing that now in the United States where their economy is suffering and worsening by the day,” Payne said in a Dec. 19 interview.
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The U.S. economy experienced surprisingly strong growth of 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025, its fastest pace in two years, driven by robust consumer spending, increased exports, government outlays, and business investment.
All the ‘self inflicted wounds’ are on the Canuckistani side. Lana’s pay-cheque is secure though, so there is no problem.
Cunned stunt.
The unionized Canadian employee is the toxic cancerous tumor of the overpriced and underworked labor market.
Should the US Supreme Court rule that many of Trump’s tariffs against Canada are illegal — which could happen any day now — then everything changes. Although I’m sure Trump would seek statutes other than the IEEPA to impose the same tariffs, he’ll be more restricted. I think that would seriously change the perplexion of these negotiations.
Km, you live in a fantasy where that matters. Canada is over, tariffs or no tariffs. Look at the trajectory of the last 10 years, you don’t fix that, you euthanize it and see what is next. If the SCOTUS rules tariffs are illegal, CUSMA negotiations will amount to “we’re not interested”. What then?
This is about the negotiations — nothing else. Please keep to the topic.
I think he can decide for himself what the topic is.
If these trade negotiations are moot then Peter should tell Dennis that, not me.
ebt, SDA’s resident schoolmarm sure is bossy.
If the SCOTUS rules tariffs are illegal, CUSMA negotiations will amount to “we’re not interested”. What then?
What part of this is not about “the negotiations”? Be specific.
Well, I can already tell you how the initial negotiations will begin. The US will start the process to dissolve the USMCA (NAFTA), and negotiate separate trade agreements with Canada and Mexico respectively.
Orson
Maybe Trump will just negotiate a new deal with Mexico, and leave Kanukistan flapping in the winds of ruin, till he can buy it for song.
If Trump does not have the power to impose tariffs, or if those powers are greatly restricted, then he may well lose interest.
Sounds like your strategy is the same as Carney….hope.
I don’t have a strategy. I’m just considering a very real possibility.
Well not really….as you said there are other ways to impose the tariffs.
There are, but they’re much more limited. It would definitely cramp Trump’s style.
As an example, Section 201 of The Trade Act of 1974 requires Trump to show that a given surging Canadian import is damaging US industries, and requires an International Trade Commission hearing which might not go Trump’s way. There can’t be too many products that would qualify.
I remember when you assured us the US Supreme Court was going to kibosh the US’s emergency tariff regime any day now … months ago.
So guess Trump was right again
Canada could choose to do it the hard way and get negotiated into insolvency then getting taken over by the US
Or
Do it the easy way and just join the US.
“It’s probably not a good idea to “stand firm” when your feet are in quicksand.”
Well, unless your elbows are out, right?
It’s amazing, really, how bad of a neighbor Canada has been. Absent any real changes in borders, immigration, narcotics, some military seriousness, standing strong means nothing.
It looks like, based on the numbers, Canada should brace itself to be shat upon from a great height.
I think Alberta, Northwest Territory, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory would do themselves a service to collectively leave Canada.
Anyone getting out of this failed shithole is doing themselves a service.
Yes, gaslight us MOAR. Inflation is Canada is negligible, our economy is doing great and the US’ economy is bad. Also, we will build a pipeline.
You can only play hardball if you have the equipment to do so….Canada doesn’t.
Canada consists of Ontario and Quebec. Well maybe not Quebec so much.
Anyway the western provinces were only supposed to provide Canada with resources and money and shut up.
Do not ever imagine that you in the West are ever going to be our equals.
I am writing about the politicians mostly, as not all are of the same mind.
Well, in the world we’ve been at least your equals for some time now. But yes, politically we will never be your equals as long as we’re under the thumb of your government.