[evandyk]

People have been talking about how we need to reduce economic dependence on the US since the 1950s, but it has only ever moved in one direction, at least since the '30s when Canada started to move from trade with England to trade with the US. Nobody has found a way to make it otherwise.

Has North American integration resulted in Canada becoming too dependent on the United States?

There are two main concerns expressed about the Canada’s economic dependence on the US. One is the ”œall the eggs in one basket” concern relat- ed to increased risk associated with increased specializa- tion in one geographic market. According to Gilbert Winham and Sylvia Ostry , Canada is...

policyoptions.irpp.org

In 1956, J. Douglas Gibson argued that:

Many Canadians feel a little uneasy because we now send such a large proportion of our exports to the United States. Though a feeling of concern is understandable, the fact is that we have had no practicable alter- native to increasing our exports to the United States. In the post- war period the big increase in demand has come from the United States and it must be admitted that the increase has been very welcome in Canada. No remotely compa- rable opportunity for expand- ing our export markets has been available in the sterling area or elsewhere, particularly in the early post-war period when we were worried about obtaining adequate markets.

In 1959 Simon Kuznets pointed out that one source of the unease is that Canada’s dependence upon United States markets makes Canada sensitive to ”the vagaries of United States economic policy.” So the dependence could lead to increased risk from business cycles, eco- nomic shocks that adversely affect the US economy or economic policy.

 

[evandyk]

And here comes the ''stuff is getting real'' part... they're really actually now gonna try to arrest Democrats.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5440560-john-cornyn-kash-patel-fbi-texas-redistricting/

This has been done before, but with the cops chasing down Republicans.

2019 Oregon Senate Republican walkouts - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Oregon Governor Kate Brown sent the Oregon State Police to bring the absent Republican senators back to the Capitol, and imposed a daily fine of $500 on the politicians.[4] In response to the search by the Oregon State Police, Republican Oregon Senator Brian Boquist said: "Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I'm not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon." Right-wing militia groups offered support for the Republican senators, with 3 Percenters declaring they would be "doing whatever it takes to keep these senators safe", and the Oath Keepers stating: "Gov. Brown, you want a civil war, because this is how you get a civil war". On June 22, 2019, a session of the Oregon Senate was cancelled when the Oregon State Capitol was closed due to a warning from the state police of a "possible militia threat".

Whether it's Republicans doing it or Democrats doing it, of course, it just gives the extreme right wing what they want.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

^Not if Pritzker has anything to say about that:

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5440204-pritzker-law-texas-democrats-arrest/

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

From https://ca.yahoo.com/finance/news/trumps-tariff-war-canadas-sovereignty-is-the-real-issue-trade-expert-warns-110023187.html

Trump's tariff war: Canada's sovereignty is the real issue, trade expert warns​

"There is no real trade issue. It's clear [Trump] is not willing to do a deal with Canada"

U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada is ultimately about America’s neighbour to the north giving up some of its sovereignty to the United States, according to a trade expert from accounting and consulting giant Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC).

The United States has imposed levies on Canadian steel, aluminum, copper, and certain automotive products. Last week, Trump hit Canada with a 35 per cent tariff on all goods not covered by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which he signed during his first presidency in 2018. That’s up from 25 per cent last month. Canada’s central bank estimates 95 per cent of non-energy exports are compliant with CUSMA, which is due for renegotiation next year.

On Sunday, Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, said Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump are set to speak in the coming days.

Michael Dobner, PwC’s Canadian national leader of economics and policy practice, warns Trump’s now well-worn claim that Canada should become “the 51st state” is far more than negotiation table bluster.

“There is no real trade issue,” he told Yahoo Finance Canada on Tuesday. “It’s clear [Trump] is not willing to do a deal with Canada, and I think the reason for that is his aspirations regarding Canada are not the same as the EU and Japan.”

According to Yale University’s Budget Lab, “Canada has borne the brunt of the damage from U.S. tariffs so far,” with its long-run economy 2.1 per cent smaller since the start of 2025, by its analysis.

Statistics Canada’s June trade figures show Canadian exporters did more business with the United States last month, even as tariffs increased. The federal agency says Canada’s trade surplus with the U.S. grew to $3.9 billion in June, from $3.5 billion in May. In June of 2024, that figure was $8.4 billion.

RBC assistant chief economist Nathan Janzen expects plunging export volumes to “substantially subtract” from Canada’s gross domestic product growth when second-quarter figures are released later in August.

Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly offered to convert Canada from a sovereign nation to “the 51st state” during his second term as U.S. president. The move would enhance America’s access to critical minerals largely controlled by China, and pave the way for U.S. access to new ocean shipping lanes in Canada’s Arctic being created by melting sea ice.

'Full alignment'​

Dobner sees this as the crux of Trump’s vision for future U.S.-Canada relations. He says this includes “full alignment” on issues involving the economy and defence.

“We will stay Canada. You can look at the EU as a potential model here,” Dobner said. “That means that Canada would, in this kind of arrangement, lose some of its independence in one way or another.”

“That’s the big issue, not trade,” he added.

With the clock ticking down to CUSMA’s expiration, Dobner says PwC’s business clients are scrambling to certify products under the agreement. At the same time, he says prolonged uncertainty between Canada and its largest trading partner has “frozen” capital spending.

Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Guelph, Ont.-based autoparts manufacturer Linamar (LNR.TO), is on the front lines of the Canada-U.S. trade war. In a recent interview with Yahoo Finance Canada, she said if the U.S. were to apply tariffs to CUSMA-compliant autoparts, it would “bring the industry to its knees,” as many of these items cross the border multiple times before installation in a finished vehicle.

“The Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement has thus far been key to Canada’s perceived safety net,” CIBC Capital Markets chief economist Avery Shenfeld wrote in a report last week.

“Canada’s edge tied to the USMCA carve-out is also only as durable as the USMCA itself, and it has to be extended by all parties or it expires in 2026. That cloud of uncertainty will hang over capital spending plans in a broad range of Canadian export sectors.”

“Whether any of this lasts will depend on Trump’s word,” Shenfeld added. “We’ve seen how shaky that foundation can be.”

Dobner ultimately sees two paths for Canada: One, suffer the wrath of the Trump administration without a deal in place in the hopes that his successor will favour free trade, while businesses attempt to diversify their customer base.

“The other option is to get to some kind of economic union that is not a full annexation, so to speak, by the United States,” he said. “Is it possible? Yes, I think it is. It depends how big the hardships that the U.S. administration is willing to put on Canada to push it towards that.”

 

[lenaitch]

^Not if Pritzker has anything to say about that:

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5440204-pritzker-law-texas-democrats-arrest/

That was my first question. Not knowing US legislation and jurisprudence all that well, I'm wondering what federal crime exists to invoke the jurisdiction of the FBI in state matters. Assist perhaps, in aid of local law enforcement, but not actively enforce.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

That was my first question. Not knowing US legislation and jurisprudence all that well, I'm wondering what federal crime exists to invoke the jurisdiction of the FBI in state matters. Assist perhaps, in aid of local law enforcement, but not actively enforce.

To my understanding, the current head is a Trump supporter. That's all the permission they need, perceived, imagined or otherwise...

...there could be more to it than that, but who knows with these guys. And that it seems to have worked for SCOUTS (6-3) so far. /sigh

 

[evandyk]

He's not just a Trump supporter. He's a complete RWNJ who goes well beyond most Trump supporters. He wrote a children's book about the Steele dossier from 2016. He founded a charity to support the people who killed cops on January 6.

 

[Mihairokov]

He's not just a Trump supporter. He's a complete RWNJ who goes well beyond most Trump supporters. He wrote a children's book about the Steele dossier from 2016. He founded a charity to support the people who killed cops on January 6.

When people assume this all ends when Trump passes on they need to be reminded that Trump is a symptom of a country on decline and reacting accordingly. Trump is a useful idiot but there are genuinely useful and evil people waiting in the wings to pick up the scraps and things could just as easily become far worse in the power vacuum that comes.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

On the other had, there's certain level of charisma and character with Trump that makes it more easier for him to get away with it. Folks that fill in that vacuum who lack that may have it a harder pulling this off. This is not to give hope here..but a potential expectation...

Then again, I would not want to go anywhere near that country either if the likes of Vance, Noem, RFK jr or any of that ilk where to take up the Trump standard. /bleh

 

[old boy]

When people assume this all ends when Trump passes on they need to be reminded that Trump is a symptom of a country on decline and reacting accordingly. Trump is a useful idiot but there are genuinely useful and evil people waiting in the wings to pick up the scraps and things could just as easily become far worse in the power vacuum that comes.

When the tyrant goes, they all go.

 

[Mihairokov]

When the tyrant goes, they all go.

Who's going to make them all "go"? This is what their country is now.

 

[thettctransitfanatic]

 

[adma]

Who's going to make them all "go"? This is what their country is now.

For all one knows, it's part and parcel of, in the words of the late Tom Lehrer, "we will all go together when we go". And if the nuclear codes get into the hands of End Times Christian Nationalist leadership, The Rapture may be a euphemism for a newfangled Final Solution--and you can afford to liquidate all of earthly humanity when you've the confidence that Paradise awaits the Faithful.

 

[adma]

View attachment 672139

And as usual, such people "have a record". Essentially, Trump as a magnet for the sorts of sewage that no sensible people would want to do business with; like he's their get-out-of-jail-free card.

========================
The Department of Homeland Security alleges Beainy applied for legal status through a woman he had purported to marry. However, DHS said there is no proof Beainy lived with the woman during the alleged marriage, reported the Fayette County Record.

"USCIS revoked the petition after evidence, including admissions from the petitioner's own family, exposed his marriage as a sham designed to game the system," the statement read. "This person has no Green Card, a history of illegal marriages, and an assault charge. DHS is actively pursuing all legal avenues to address this flagrant abuse of our immigration laws."

MSN

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Fun facts...

Where Are Most Eligible Immigrants (into USA) Located?​

The report identifies states with the highest number of eligible lawful permanent residents:

State	Eligible Immigrants (%)
California	26%
New York	14%
Texas	12%
Florida	8%

Nearly 60% of all eligible immigrants reside in these four states, making them key areas for voter outreach and naturalization assistance.

Who Becomes a U.S. Citizen?​

Top Countries of Origin (2023)

1. Mexico
2. India
3. The Philippines
4. Dominican Republic
5. Cuba

From https://www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/9-million-immigrants-eligible-for-u-s-citizenship-in-2025/