Orwell said, “Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present, controls the past.” As the Trump regime seeks to erase Black history, trans history, women’s history - and our border - here’s my #AlbertaUnbound with author & activist Jesse Lipscombe. We discuss his family’s Black history in Alberta, Trump’s attacks on DEI, and how to find the courage - and build the coalitions - to resist. #BlackHistoryMonth #DEI #Morehouse #AmberValley #Alberta #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #yeg

I have always been a bit suspicious of flag waving and performative displays of patriotism. I don’t think I’ve ever celebrated Flag Day before. And the way far right Covid conspiracy-mongers hijacked our maple leaf made me queasy. Yet, on this 60th anniversary of our beautiful red & white flag, I find myself displaying one in my living room window (for lack of a flag pole.) #FlagDay #Canada #SenateofCanada #Edmonton #yeg

Well. I guess you have to admire their commitment to the bit. But our polite Canadian laughter grows more hollow and forced every day. With Trump’s approval rating among Americans at more than 50 per cent, it’s more than a little unnerving to imagine what’s coming next.

Bluesky Social

Alex Panetta (@alexpanetta.bsky.social)

From the White House deputy chief of staff: "We never agreed that Canada would not be the 51st state."

#NotASnowballsChanceInHell

Tonight, I sent my public Facebook page into hibernation. I am leaving up as an archive of my work in the Senate and my work as a journalist. But I no longer find it fun or useful to post there - and my algorithm sends me is a never ending stream of racist, transphobic and smutty posts. That - plus the standard chronic abuse from trolls, which had always been there - and I’m done. Tomorrow I delete my Senate Instagram account too. Ah well. It was fun while it lasted. #Meta #Facebook

One of the reasons I left the bird site two years ago wasn’t political at all. I just got tired of people insulting my personal appearance. It was unrelenting and I am a bit embarrassed to admit how much it upset me, no matter how hard I tried to laugh it off. I’ve been on Mastodon more than two years now without someone making a joke about my being fat/ugly. Alas. That streak was broken this week. And I was struck by how much it bothered me! I’ve been spoiled by Mastodon’s culture of civility.

Well. Today I cancelled my Amazon Prime subscription and took the Amazon app off my phone…right after my last Amazon order arrived: enough N95 masks to last till I can find a local source. The irony seemed apt.

Just in case you were interested.

Express Entry: Category-based selection - Canada.ca

Find out the current Express Entry categories and who’s eligible for each category. Express Entry categories are based on identified economic goals.

A full listing of US products that will be subject to countervailing tariffs. If patriotism isn’t sufficient incentive to buy Canadian, economics may be. There is no doubt these reprisal tariffs will hurt Canadian consumers. But Trump’s unprovoked economic attack requires some kind of response. And I think Canadians are grimly determined. Even if we have to give up orange juice and California wines.

List of products from the United States subject to 25 per cent tariffs effective February 4, 2025 - Canada.ca

Effective February 4, 2025, the government is imposing 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion in goods imported from the United States (U.S.).

It’s been a rough few weeks for Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who will be stepping down next month. But tonight he gave a powerful speech that should make all Canadians proud. It wasn’t carried by American television. But my American friends, I hope you will watch it and share it. And understand that for us, this betrayal is about more than economics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I #Canada #tariffs #cdnpoli #tradewar

I will never forget that this is what Americans voted for. Not by accident. Not for the lolz. Not as a protest. On purpose. And yes. I know “not all Americans.” I know that many Americans on this site, in particular, opposed him. But not nearly enough of you. You have declared economic war on us, your most loyal ally and trading partner. You have torn up trade treaties and a century of friendship over a lie. There is virtually no fentanyl coming over the Canadian border. And very few migrants.