Because apparently, we have nothing better to occupy our time with, today everyone was obsessed with a remark Trump made about annexing Canada. Dominic LeBlanc assured people it was just a joke, but that didn’t stop endless hyperventilating about it, from media and the pundit class most especially, as though this wasn’t exactly the kind of thing Trump loves to do to get us all riled up, and we not only fall for it, but certain elements of the media lean into it, because how better to drive clicks?

Some useful context bsky.app/profile/gmbu…

— Stephanie Carvin (@stephaniecarvin.bsky.social) 2024-12-03T12:45:21.255Z

Canadians: there is much to worry about. Annexation by Trump's US is not one of them.Things to worry about:-tariffs-asylum requests by those Trump is targeting-Trump's reaction if Canada provides asylum-end of NATObut not annexation.

— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman.bsky.social) 2024-12-03T12:53:29.665Z

We learned that hysteria drives clicks, so we’re going to lean into it rather than waiting a minute, taking a few deep breaths (or breathing into a paper bag) and calming down. https://t.co/SnQpxSMwQ1

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) December 4, 2024

Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau held a briefing for opposition leaders yesterday afternoon about what went down at Mar-a-Lago, and one of the asks was that they not try and fight or negotiate in public, or amplify the erroneous notions coming from the US, and weaken Canada’s position in the eyes of the incoming Trump administration. So what did Pierre Poilievre do as soon as the meeting was over? Run to the cameras to repeat his slogans about “broken borders,” and continuing to make Trump’s case for him. Because who cares about a common front in the face of a pretty major (potential) crisis when you could be scoring cheap points even though you’re already twenty points ahead in the polls.

In terms of border action, the RCMP says that they have “contingency plans” that could include deploying cadets along the border if the situation demands it, but boy howdy does that seem like an ill-considered idea considering the existing shortage of personnel (and the fact that the RCMP is a broken and toxic institution that needs to be disbanded).

This is completely insane. The federal policing side of the RCMP is operating with HUNDREDS of vacancies. We just passed the most extensive national security legislation to combat foreign interference. And now we are going to redirect again in a panic?! www.cbc.ca/news/politic…

— Stephanie Carvin (@stephaniecarvin.bsky.social) 2024-12-04T01:37:52.154Z

Like it would be adorable that we are trying to fix things* with a throughly broken federal police force if it wasn’t so tragic. *things = vague threat in a truth social post.

— Stephanie Carvin (@stephaniecarvin.bsky.social) 2024-12-04T01:39:34.910Z

Why yes, I do cover Canadian politics.

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2024-12-04T02:09:25.678Z

Ukraine Dispatch

Here are more details about the critical infrastructure damaged in Russian drone strikes on Ternopil and Rivne regions resulting in blackouts. These attacks on electrical stations are driving a transition to things like solar in Ukraine. President Zelenskyy is calling for more reinforcements for the eastern front after steady Russian advances in recent weeks.

Another solid piece of evidence of Russia’s war crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians is the Yale HRL study. Yale researchers have identified hundreds of Ukrainian children from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions who have been abducted by Russia since February 2022, as well as their… pic.twitter.com/BzRBTe6pJE

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 3, 2024

There is much at stake for Russia — if Assad's regime falls, Russia will lose its regional foothold in the Middle East, including its only naval base in the Mediterranean, and its regional and global influence will be diminished.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) December 3, 2024

Good reads:

• Mélanie Joly is opting not to escalate the slap-and-hairpull fight with Mexico over Sheinbaum saying we have a problem with fentanyl consumption and no culture.
• Marc Miller says the plan to freeze private refugee sponsorships to deal with the backlog is about not giving anyone false hope.
• Global Affairs is urging Canadians in South Korea exercise caution after the short-lived martial law declaration yesterday.
• There are concerns that the government has not yet released last year’s Public Accounts documents, which normally get published in October.
• Jewish and Palestinian protesters occupied the lobby of the Confederation Building (which houses offices) and claimed they “shut down government.” (They did not).
• The “Victims of Communism” memorial, which has been controversial from the start, will be unveiled next week without any names inscribed on it.
• Surprising absolutely nobody, Jagmeet Singh says he won’t support any Conservative confidence motions, even when they use his own words against him.
• The town of Barrhead in Alberta voted on a “neutrality” policy to ensure they don’t have to respect Pride symbols or celebrations. (These policies are spreading).
• My column notes how the Liberals have given up their dignity to defend their terrible GST “holiday” plan, while every party has looked terrible on it.

Odds and ends:

My Loonie Politics Quick Take looks at the issue of the remaining Supply Days in this current sitting, and why we won’t have a “US-style government shutdown.”

Need a copy of my book “The Unbroken Machine,” or “Royal Progress,” which I contributed to? Want to give a copy as a gift? Dundurn Press is having a 25% off site wide sale!

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2024-11-18T23:53:05.945Z

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