From The Globe and Mail, Jan 26 2026 (read the whole article):

“Trump wants to make an example out of Canada. How will we prepare?”

There is no deal to be made! That’s been obvious from the get go. Yes, go through the motions, but know, in the end, we have to walk away and bear the brunt of the illegal costs that asshole will attempt to levy on us! For cost us it will, whether we accept trump’s terms or walk away!

Those, prominent on social media, who urge us to “be vewy vewy quiet” in response – to say or do nothing that might irritate His Orange Majesty, lest we put the USMCA talks at risk – are therefore not only craven: They are deluding themselves. The prize on which they urge us to keep our eyes is not self-evidently a prize at all. Of course, other things being equal, we would prefer USMCA to no USMCA. But other things may not be equal: It will depend on the terms. And if we want an agreement on terms that are remotely acceptable, we have to be ready to walk away from the negotiating table – to walk away from the USMCA, if it comes to that.

Their final note:

Can we, in a crisis, rapidly mobilize the materials and manpower needed to bring it under control? Can we, in so doing, reduce the societal cost of externally imposed shocks of this kind, signal to others our ability to endure them, and so make it less likely they will be tried? And if not, what do we need to do to make this possible?

We are in a lot of trouble, and we need to move fast. We have little ability to predict Mr. Trump’s actions, and no reason to confine our imagination to what is reasonable or even practical. It is not enough to hope for the best. We have to plan for the worst.

Deal or no deal – the costs will be the same – punishing, unless we as Canadians stand with one another, elbows up, defiant!

The folks of Minneapolis have shown us a path – their organizing has been stellar, teams collecting goods and food to share, teams delivering what’s been needed, teams of whistleblowers, teams of video recorders, people behind the scenes organizing all sorts of activities public and not so visible.

There’s been talk of a 400,000 strong Canadian civilian resistance force – more people than you can imagine are ready to step up and begin the organizing – the idea has been floated, but I have no idea where I sign up!

If the government is intending to take the lead on this it better act soon. However, we don’t have to wait, in fact lots of people have already started coming together to connect – Charlie Angus’ “Resistance” movement is growing steadily.

The playbook of organizations like Indivisible and 50501 are readily available – suggestions for the formation of diffuse, grassroots collectives with clear, active agendas – are already at hand. We don’t need to reinvent this wheel; we just need to start calling on neighbours, finding friends and allies also ready to act.

The slow peeling off from trump of Republican Representatives and Senators is entirely due to the massive call/email efforts of the many opposition organizations actively applying pressure. Just another aspect of the work of a vibrant defiant population.

In Canada it’s hard right now because we’re all busy holding our breath; we’ve been holding our breath for over a year (actually a lot longer than that) waiting for our Minneapolis moment. It’s going to come, sooner than later, and rather being caught on our back foot we should be able to stand defiant already knowing neighbours are standing with us, each helping the other in whatever way we can, in whatever way is needed.

During WWII Canadian women picked up the slack when the men went overseas. We can do it again! Our men won’t be going overseas, they will certainly be on the ramparts with us.

Time for all of us to get moving!