“Freedom is just one generation from extinction.” – Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Since Donald Trump was elected President of the United States last November, I have tried not to be critical of his agenda for that country, even though I strongly disagree with some parts of it. He won an election there “fair and square” based primarily on illegal immigration and government waste.
People in the United States were willing to overlook or ignore Trump’s troubled history in favour of abating their anger and frustration over their view of current affairs. That is their right and that is democracy. We have no right to interfere with it.
However, that is where I draw the line.
In the very short time since his election, Donald Trump has managed to disrupt and disturb much of the Western world, including Canada, with false accusations, threats, and a rapid move toward a critical change in the traditional world order. He had no mandate for this and kept these cards very close to his chest until it was clear he was returning to power.
All of that is very much our business.
This past week or so alone, Donald Trump has twice openly proven his alliance with Russia, first by voting with them at the United Nations against a motion condemning Russia for their assault on Ukraine. Then again, a despicable and likely orchestrated gang-up attack on Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelenskyy by the President and by Vice President JD Vance, simply because Zelenskyy asked for a pledge of security for Ukraine from the United States in return for signing away a big chunk of their mineral rights.
In relation to that attack in the Oval Office, former astronaut and now Senator Mark Kelly quipped, “Trump just blew the Western Alliance.”
Trump is not only effectively supporting Russia in their assault on Ukraine, but he has also, this week, implicitly given the green light to China to annex Taiwan. As well this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that China and Russia “cannot be separated.” Therein lies the new alliance.
There can be little doubt now, in my view, that Trump (and possibly his vice president) is, in one form or another, a Russian asset. There can be NO doubt that through a number of actions since his inauguration, Donald Trump has thrown a huge wrench into the Western Alliance.
This current turbulence has prompted German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock to warn European nations that they should prepare for war against Russia.
No country in the Western Alliance can accurately predict what the Trump Government is going to do or whether it will live up to its NATO commitments. Trump was quick to accuse Zelenskyy of threatening a third world war by not bending to his knee when it is Trump himself who is the greatest threat to that horrific outcome.
Turning now to Canada, we will know in a few days how serious Trump is about imposing critical 25 percent tariffs on this country. It is certainly looking that way, although, with him, you never know until the button is actually pushed.
Clearly though, Donald Trump has his covetous eyes on Canada. He and JD Vance climbed all over Vladimir Zelenskyy for showing a perceived “lack of respect” for them, but have no hesitation in constantly disrespecting Canada, its sovereignty and its solvency. As well, they seem to believe there is nothing wrong with interfering with our elections here.
Donald Trump hurls childish insults at our leaders. It does not matter what political stripe they are; it is still wrong, and it is demeaning to Canada. It is not something any other country in the Western Alliance would do.
For more than a century and a half, the United States and Canada have been the best of friends, mutually helpful to each other. Now, Donald Trump and his United States Administration are suddenly our enemy. Their President is saying we don’t deserve to survive as a nation. Our world is upside down.
Trump: “Canada has ripped off the United States for too long. It is time to put a stop to it.”
Totally untrue, of course, but a self-belief as an excuse to take on Canada. Then there is one of Trump’s top advisors telling Trump that the Canadian/U.S. border should be redrawn. This, I believe, is based on an agreement signed by Great Britain and the United States establishing the borders between the U.S. and Canada in the early nineteen hundreds.
These are the kinds of excuses despotic leaders use to invade their neighbours.
Warren Kinsella, a Canadian journalist and commentator, put it bluntly when he said, “After watching Trump attack Zelenskyy today – after hearing him even attack Poilievre, anyone who believes Trump won’t come after us is dreaming in technicolour. He is the enemy.”
I don’t know how much more evidence some people in Canada need to believe that Donald Trump is determined to take over Canada one way or another. He has smoothed the way with new allies, who also have territorial ambitions, to ensure they will not stop him.
Only the United States Congress can stop Trump from his territorial ambitions, and right now, the majority of them are in his pocket. As well, there is every indication to believe that Trump will do whatever he wants, in spite of the Constitution or what Congress says. That is the scary part.
Donald Trump, his MAGA allies and his closest advisor Elon Musk, pose a clear and present danger to Canada. We don’t know what is going on behind the scenes here. We can only hope that no one is fooled about the Trump Administration’s attitude in relation to Canada.
Trump may not get everything he wants, but he will certainly try. We need to be ready for all contingencies, strengthening our allies, our military, and our trading partners, doing what we must do to defend Canada.
Although never before said in my lifetime, our freedom is at risk, and we must be prepared for some form of war.
We are definitely on the brink.
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
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Thank you for your comments: Brenda Begg, Trish Pendrith, David Walker, and Brian Tapley -couldn’t agree with you more.
Mr. Raynor, I believe Carney can “read the room” of Canadian sentiment and fortitude – and we are going to need much more of it. In my opinion, if he is smart, Freeland will be a strong and pivotal asset to his governing.
Both Ford and PP have been late to “read the room”. Ford in particular seemly was blindsided to the actions and behaviours of DT since 2016- where has he been?
With PP, I fear we are in for more of Harper 2.0. For the readers out there, that looks like a version of:
1] “Party of One; Stephen Harper and Canada’s Radical Makeover”, 2014, Michael Harris (the Harper-Poilievre, Ford brothers trip to US, GOP for populism campaign advice). The stage is set for a political alignment with the historically admired GOP.
2] “Dismantling Canada; Stephen Harper’s New Conservative Agenda”, 2015, Brooke Jeffrey (distain for civil servants, getting rid of the welfare state – except of course, profit corporations are examples only).
One quote from the acknowledgments in the second book:
[Contributors- researchers, former parliamentarians, bureaucrats] “graciously agreed to lengthy interviews. However, virtually all of them declined to be identified, either in the manuscript or in the acknowledgments, a singularly revealing indicator of the climate of fear permeating the federal government and official Ottawa under the Harper administration.”
My brother and sister-in-law, working in Statistics Canada confirmed the fear and distain they felt from the Harper administration. The head of Stats Can resigned when MP Tony Clement made a statement that the head of Stats Can agreed with the changes to the long form of the Canadian census -when, in fact, he did not. (let me know if you need a quote for this one).
We are seeing in real time the distain by the Trump administration for the US federal government workers who are being fired by Elon Musk and his young team. After all, isn’t this what smaller government is all about? (to be read with sarcasm) Gut the civil service to save money, convince Americans that they cannot trust their government, so that the “king leader” can emerge?
Think carefully before voting Harper 2.0.
To Allan Markle: I believe it’s critical that we stay informed re the possible annexation of Canada. I don’t want to be one of those who says, ‘oh, I didn’t know that was coming.” Hopelessness, despair, and hiding under the covers aren’t options (I think Bernie Sanders said something like that). Knowledge is power! Be involved in any way you can. But, practice self-care so you aren’t overwhelmed.
There are ways to support the U.S. citizens; there are many who didn’t vote for that vile grifter. They are suffering.
Every time there is a mention of ‘the donald’ and his idea of us becoming a 51rst state, my cheeks clench. Not too many choose to talk about our possible annexation by the US. But how can it not be in ones’ mind? He keeps circling back.
I find no solace in the fact that the only person who sounds the most like a leader is on his way out. The contenders for the post of PM are less than thrilling. Our PC candidate hasn’t got Justin to harass and now doesn’t even yip, yap or growl convincingly. Our local MP and MPP have little comment. Whether they have an opinion or could speak out or not is debatable.
Our Liberal contender chooses to couch the truth, a ‘la donald’. Mr. Carney has been less than forthcoming about his ‘departure’ from Brookfield. A business that upped anchor and sailed off to the US just as ‘the donald’ wants. Having him represent me is less than thrilling. Why prevaricate in the days of Google and various other ‘let me look that up’ venues? Unless you are, or are a fan of ‘the donald’s’ way of doing business.
For months now, we have been assured that the use of tariffs does harm to the people who are imposing them. Their own people are the ones who pay the added costs. Some have compared it to watching someone shoot themselves in the foot and shooting their own foot in retaliation. Doesn’t really make sense.
Yet we seem to have looked down, saw that foot……..and Bang!
I agree with Hugh, we are at a brink of some kind with regard to the way the USA is proceeding. He has said most all of it in his article.
I would just add a little bit, my own viewpoint here.
Lost in the debate about Trump and “will he or won’t he” do whatever his current thoughts tell him is the larger worldwide issue of climate change. All the science tells us it is changing and not usually for better. We need to keep our eyes on this issue as it is not some artificial political construct that can be voted away. It is coming at a speed we cannot control and with effects we cannot ignore.
We need to find a way to empower more ordinary people to be able to decrease their fossil energy use while maintaining their life and work activities.
In the USA, Trump has managed, in about one month, to more or less convert the USA from a big somewhat clumsy “friend” to an “untrusted, unknown entity”. This is quite an achievement in itself, considering our over 150 year cooperative history (except for that one time we burned the White House and we are actually a bit sorry for that)
Where things go from here nobody knows but I think the citizens who elected Trump, thinking that their costs and grocery bills would be going down are about to get a hard lesson in how those “magical” Tariffs actually work.
I’m minimizing my US purchases and travel and searching for “other sources” for my supplies. Canada is a big country and I can holiday inside Canada for the rest of my life and never get bored and except for a few places I can even speak a language the locals can understand. Not only this but the dollar cost is easy to work out!!!
I am not sure quoting Reagan is a good idea. Until Trump came along he was the worst US President. Reagan’s policy enabled Musk to buy US presidency.
Couldn’t agree more… as I have said to many, I believe the “Great Experiment” called Democracy, that has lasted almost 250 years, is coming to an end. Truly sad times…
A quick comment to Jonathon Weibe- Poilievre has been a HUGE disappointment during this entire fiasco. Justin Trudeau has been front and center with the Premiers in confronting the angry Cheeto where Poilievre just….vanished. He had a majority win all but guaranteed prior to this, and he’s been unable (or unwilling) to pivot away from his anti carbon tax platform to make definitive statements about this threat. This comment coming from someone who detests Trudeau.
Canada is a technologically advanced country and it’s time we flexed that muscle. Time to develop nuclear weapons for our protection, as well as time to rebuild our military with home grown tech (tanks, ships etc). I know the thought of a nuclear arsenal will make a lot of folks uneasy, but too bad. Better to have them and not need them than not to have them and be defenseless.
Doug Ford (another politician I have never voted for) has been steadfast in his willingness to counter the tariff threats by any means necessary – including shutting down the power we export to the States, counter tariffs on American goods at a dollar for dollar rate. I agree with him about opening up the barriers between provinces to facilitate inter provincial commerce and manufacturing. I also agree with the Premiers that we need to expand our trade partners, and make the States and afterthought. India, China, the E.U. are all huge markets who would love our resources.
We are dealing with a narcissistic toddler who’s never been told no, surrounded by yes men who are feeding his ego at every turn. What he is, is a convicted criminal and sexual predator who should be in prison. The online petition to strip Elon Musk of citizenship is over 300000 signatures, and there is also one to ban the angry cheeto from Canada. I think revoking diplomatic status to him and barring him from the G7 would send a nice message – and if the egotistical jackass tried to enter the country? Public deportation – after all, wasn’t it him who demanded we tighten up the border to prevent criminals from crossing?
I agree with Dave Wilkin. What scares me is that there is a very good chance that we will soon have an unelected Prime Minister that we really don’t know. When I searched Brookfield Asset Management/Elon Musk , I found that BAM and Musk have business ties. If Carney becomes our Prime Minister I fear he won’t resist Elon because of these ties. In an interview on the east coast Carney said he will remove the consumer carbon tax, and will tax the people that manufacture steel for example. The interviewer said “that will cost consumers more money” . Carney said to the interviewer “when was the last time you bought steel”. We buy steel all the time, cars, stoves, fridges etc. Carney is an elitist and arrogant. He is out of touch. He won’t be good for the average Canadian. I hope for Canada’s sake that Chrystia Freeland wins the Liberal leadership race. VOTE FOR FREELAND! Freeland has proven in the past that she won’t back down from Trump.
As Trump’s chaos expands, the damage he is doing to the US reputation and trustworthiness with allies and trading partners will last well beyond his presidency. The irony of it is the biggest winners will be China and their close allies, the opposite to what he seeks. Americans will eventually come to understand this, but it will take time. As the markets drop, & costs to consumers rise, the pressure on Trump and Republicans will mount. That will happen sooner.
The time is now to strengthen our lagging economy and diversify trade. That starts with Canadian oil & gas, our largest export by far, meaning pipelines to coasts and dropping the many Liberal government anti-oil & gas and costly climate-change policies. Not far behind, other natural resources and agriculture, and again, barriers and bureaucracy built up over years must be reduced. No time to waste.
Significantly boosting military spending, which is long overdue, must be a top priority as well. Larger US military gear purchases should be part of negotiations on trade, as a benefit to them. It may help.
I personally know many Canadians who continue to casually (and vehemently) “support” Trump. These folks also all just happen to be Poilievre fans. How does Pierre now decouple himself from… a portion of his base? Or does he? I ask this because I believe he will win the next general election in Canada (albeit by a much smaller margin with Justin gone). No easy tasks for any of our politicians these days, especially when dealing with the toddler to the south whose wielding a machine gun.
All those online armchair politicians that think any moron could do that job should be happy they can get up tomorrow and go a job that any moron can do.
Further to below comment..Trump won 49.8% of the popular vote in 2024 election. (Council for Foreign Relations)
Elon Musk donated $288 million in 2025 to help Trump win election, final tally. (Washington Post, January 31, 2025..paper now owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos who also owns Amazon and now supports Trump )
How can anyone possibly consider Trump’s election to have been won fair and square?
Almost all the claims of what he would do if elected were based on lies and false spin, He won this election, helped by it being bought by a cabal of corporate billionaires, Republican gerrymandering of electoral districts and many other unfair, unethical and some illegal strategies. He came close but did not actually win the popular vote, winning more electoral seats.
Many struggling Americans who were conned into voting for him actually believed that Trump would lower food, housing and energy costs; they believed the negative lies he told about the positive steps, and recovering economy especially with job increases, infrastructure development etc. resulting from 4 short years of the Biden administration.
Or perhaps voters believed him when Trump claimed he had no idea what Project 2025 was and now every executive order he signed is listed in that plan. So many people are now suffering as a result. There’s nothing remotely fair about any of it.
Its not Trump we need to be worried about so much as the group of billionaires swirling around the sidelines and the far right authors of Project 2025 who want a completely different kind of authoritarian government for America, one that benefits the wealthy.
Listen to a recent interview on The Times Radio (U.K. Trump report) with John Bolton, Trump’s former ambassador to the U.N and strong supporter from the previous presidency, who knows Trump well.
Trump has no idea what he has even signed in some of those executive orders. Trump knows so little about the world,, how government works, about diplomacy, he doesn’t read any advisor’s reports.
He doesnt even understand how tariffs work, claiming Amerucans wont have to pay more, and doesnt care who they will hurt. He was the one who signed the free trade deal negotiated after Nafta, calling it “the very best deal”. Now he’s saying “who signed that terrible deal? That’s the worst deal ever”. The man is unhinged.
He lies about most everything. He doesnt care about people dying from a fentanyl overdose and probably doesnt even know that less than 1% (.02%) of the fentanyl that enters the U.S. comes Canada, most comes from China and Mexico. He just uses made up stuff like that as a dishonest distraction.
His superpower is lying bluster and being a bully in trying to get deals in his favour, including winning of an election There’s no such thing as compromise. How can any of this be called fair and square?
Bolton says Trump as he ages is noticeably “losing it.” Yes, he is the President, but now more like a head of state than actual head of government…leave that role to Elon Musk and others..
The threat to Canada comes from a wider group of billionaires that surround Trump, flatter him, and he does their bidding, although typically he is unpredictable, which adds to the threats to Canada. We are living in frightening times.
I feel this commentary is a continuation of the ‘Listen Up’ posted Feb.9/25. Maybe demonstrating a little more distress and concern. Things have deteriorated since then and ‘the donald’ has shown himself to be pretty much a Russian asset. putin must have some pretty damming audio and video from the times the President and his family worked in the Soviet Union and then Russia.
Commenting on the previous post, Brian Tapley wondered about the provinces actually working together. Not since 1867, but recently there has been talk. Progress!
Jonathan Wiebe wondered about a truck convoy to the White House in protest, but I think that was tongue
in cheek.
Norm Raynor puzzled as to whether a comment on the situation might have been forthcoming from our MPP. That certainly would have been newsworthy, but nothing I’ve heard has happened so far.
I commented that if we became the 51rst or more state (s), I was and still am pretty sure the old 50 would be more than happy to gobble up our water, timber, minerals and oil.
We have already had a Premier all set to incite constitutional conflict if she couldn’t trade oil as she wished. That decision may yet be made for her.
Also a Premier who was “100 % happy” ‘the donald’ won. Never considering that a politician might be prone to prevarication. Cue our own Green Belt fiasco. Events have seemingly altered that opinion. Damned upset he was when he realised he’s been lied to.
Another Premier I’m sure will invoke the “not withstanding clause” if he sees the papers of annexation are not delivered in French.
I don’t mean to be bitter, but I have lived long enough to see Canada sell of trade away our talents and resources. “Hewers of wood and drawers of water.” No long term plan, mostly just the quick buck.
What can save us. Not violence. We’re militarily insignificant. But as Hugh Holland says, maybe if the real Republican populace speaks up. All the people who voted for this *#&*@k and then got turfed for their effort. But more than likely it could be the stock market. That takes a hit and the rich may hurt a bit. What is their pain threshold? For how long?
For sure we disagree on some things Mr. Mackenzie, but on this we are of like mind. This is a lot to deal with and we are so ill prepared. We will have to hold on, try and hope.
But no mistake, we are in deep doodoo.
100% correct Hugh. I think.the white house fiasco was planed . Marjorie Greens reporter boy friend started it with criticism of Zolenski not wearing a suit. This was to get him upset.
Who wears T shirts baseball hats and bluejeans to press conferences at the Whitehouse ? You got it. Musk. So why is it okay for him but not Zelinski !!!
Time to get my drinking buddies together and do what we did in 1814.
The meeting in the Oval office with Trump and JD Vance was nothing short of school yard bullying but on a much larger scale. This distasteful berating of another human being is old school, inhumane and disgusting. Bulldozing through the meeting and not giving President Zelenskyy an opportunity to speak is an embarrassment to the American people. Surely to goodness there are Republicans who are shaking their heads and making a plan to get this clown out.
If history is correct Adolf Hitler was elected because the German people wanted change.
Donald Trump was elected president because the American people are desperate for change.
Trump is very friendly with China and Russia. Does NATO even matter anymore?
If you can’t destroy a country from outside influence, then you destroy it from within
with threats, insurrection and turning against your friends. Trump is doing just that!
Our policy is simple: We are not going to betray our friends, reward the enemies of freedom or permit fear to become American policy! Ronald Reagan. May God have mercy on us all! World war three?
Trump has truly lost it. Time for the real Republicans to step in.
Our democracy, our country, our Canada, is in imminent danger. This is frightening, heartbreaking, and true.
Hugh, I disagree with you that Trump won the election “fair and square.” I believe there was interference in the election. I guess I don’t like to think that so many Americans actually voted for this vile, despicable, heartless monster.
TO NOTE: Trump’s attack on Poilievre is a clever (I use the word loosely) attempt to make anti-Poilievre voters believe that Poilievre is not a Trumper. He is pro Trump – among other things. Apparently, Musk contributed to Poilievre’s campaign. That speaks volumes.
But in the end, we all should take a page from Zelenskyy’s playbook. He is compassionate, gracious, dedicated, loyal, diplomatic, and perseveres in the face of adversity. Be A Zelenskyy!
You couldn’t have said it better, Hugh. It’s time for Canada and Canadians to rise together—setting aside political bickering and resisting the influence of U.S. businesses, ethics, gameplays and ideologies that erode our identity. We must be prepared for all contingencies: purchase Canadian, starve out the huge US giant chainstore businesses tapping our local wealth and resources, strengthening our alliances, bolstering our military, reinforcing our trade partnerships, and doing whatever it takes to defend Canada!
I believe it is time to remove all publicly displayed American flags in our country starting with Huntsville.
After reading this article the Americans are definitely not our friends.
M Allen
Frighteningly true, Hugh.
If you had written these words even during Trump’s first term in office, I would have worried about your sanity or at the least, thought you’d fallen down some crazy, conspiracy rabbit hole.
No more: our freedom and the world’s democracy is at risk and we cannot pretend that it is otherwise.
The U.S. is now our enemy.