I was surprised to hear that the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Raptors fans booed the U.S. national anthem recently because of tariff threats from the U.S. and President Donald Trump. While I appreciate that there is a lot of frustration, with rhetoric attached to the issues, I think some aspects of the tariff talk are healthy, and I am interested in how it will play out.

Here is why...

So far it reminds me of Trump’s desire to cancel the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) last time he took office. He replaced NAFTA with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which he felt was a big win for the U.S. There were some adjustments, a mutual agreement, and a new name that made it feel like he accomplished big things for the U.S. In the end he achieved a watered-down version of his initial goals. I believe that Trump might be doing the same thing once again. He is looking to kick up dust, attract a lot of attention, and then get Canada to work on the problems that he has identified – such as fentanyl and border security. The threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods is a manageable issue and I believe Canadians are adaptable and will work with our neighbors to the South to solve some very real problems.

While tariff negotiations are unfolding it is a fantastic time for Canadians to...

1. Support local and purchase Canadian goods when shopping.

2. Strengthen relationships with other trading partners – outside the U.S.

3. Create new opportunities to sell and transport our natural resources to other countries.

4. Stand on our own two feet – understanding that the U.S. may not be there to rely on.

5. Review border security for our own sake.

6. Crack down on fentanyl and evaluate our own opioid crisis.

Almost all opioid deaths are related to fentanyl. On June 30, 2024 our fentanyl/opioid crisis stats in Canada looked like this... an average of 21 deaths daily, 73 daily emergency room visits, and 104 daily EMS responses.

If the most noteworthy outcome of these tariff, trade, and border security negotiations is that it refocuses the Canadian government, at every level, on addressing the fentanyl crisis, I will be thrilled. Our healthcare workers, and law enforcement, are stretched thin enough: they are on the frontlines of 7,600+ annual deaths and the 38,000+/- average annual EMS opioid responses.

I believe that we need to remain calm and collected in the face of inflated threats and attention-grabbing headlines. Our short-term trade uncertainty might well result in a long-term public health win for all Canadians.

Regardless of how scary the media makes it; I believe we hold the power to fix this over time!

 

 

-Brad Weatherill