Trump’s “announcement” this morning that he intends to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%, shut down Canada’s auto industry and declare a state of emergency in northern states facing higher Canadian electricity prices, is chilling. To grasp the psychology, the politics and the economics, listen to my convo with Bloomberg’s White House correspondent Josh Wingrove. You can stream it here. https://senatorpaulasimons.ca/en/media/alberta-unbound/ #steel #tariffs #Trump #cdnpoli [@bloomberg](

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Trying to find groceries made or grown in Canada can be an adventure. And trying to find non-American “warm weather” produce can be an even bigger challenge. If you can buy at a farmers market or direct from a farmer, you obviously know the provenance of your food. But I’ve also had fun - and success - visiting stores like T&T and HMart, as well as Edmonton independents like Spinelli’s Italian Centre, Lucky 97 and 99 Supermarket. #tariffs #yeg #Edmonton #yegfood #elbowsupcanada

Elbows up.

Prime Minister of Canada

Statement by the Prime Minister on unjustified U.S. tariffs against Canada

“Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports an...

#cdnpoli #Canada #tariffs #SenateofCanada

My staff just shared with me that the Supreme Court of Canada is closing down its X account. #X #Canada #cdnpoli #SupremeCourtofCanada #SCC

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.