Canada has done as much to advance the US empire as any other nation. Regardless, the beast is turning on Canada and the ruling class’ reaction has been to feed it even more.
In response to Donald Trump’s tariff and annexation threats, Canadian officials have endorsed his reactionary ‘secure borders’ agenda and announced that Canada could dramatically increase military spending to reach 2% of GDP over the next two years. But each dollar added to the Canadian military is a contribution to the gargantuan US military machine that represents one of the greatest threats to humanity. The Canadian Forces assist the US military through naval missions, special forces deployments and wars while US branch plants like General Dynamics Canada, Lockheed Martin Canada and Boeing Canada garner a large share of Canadian war contracts.
In a sign of the Trump appeasement syndrome that’s gripped Canada’s ruling class, last Saturday the Globe and Mail editorial board published the condescending “It’s time for Canada to finally grow up”. The paper’s official position noted, “the result is that Canada isn’t meeting its obligations to NATO and to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), and it is not doing anywhere near enough to protect the Arctic on behalf of its continental ally. When it comes to pitching in, Canada can barely bring itself to pile its dirty dishes in the sink, let alone help with the shopping and making dinner. A grown-up country doesn’t shirk the responsibility of having a properly funded and manned military during peacetime. It makes the budgetary sacrifices required for it, which means going without other, more pleasant things.” (The well-off editorial board means homes for the unhoused, clean drinking water on reserves, greater access to healthcare, etc.)
But the Canadian military isn’t concerned about protecting Canada from the only country that could possibly invade even at a time while its president and his supporters muse about annexing Canada (prominent Fox News host Jesse Watters recently told millions, “The fact that they [Canadians] don’t want us to take them over, makes me want to invade. I want to quench my imperialist thirst.”) Last week the Chief of the Defence Staff, Jennie Carignan, told Le Devoir the military wasn’t worried about Trump’s expansionist talk. Instead, the Canadian forces are worried about Russia and China.
Carignan’s comments highlight the ruling class’ China panic. Canadian officials are so committed to bolstering the US empire they bash an important bargaining chip in the trade war with the US. In the Wall Street Journal last week Ontario Premier Doug Ford published “Beat China With Fortress Am-Can” while lead Globe and Mail business section columnist Tony Keller bemoaned, “Trump poised to Make China Great Again”. Taking it even further, Geoff Russ began his Saturday National Post column by stating, “Under no circumstances should Canada’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war include expanding economic ties with the People’s Republic of China. There is no political or moral gain to be had from that, and any short-term economic gain could have disastrous consequences in the long run.”
According to Russ’ version of morality, it’s best Canada focus its trade on a country that eliminated the indigenous population, enslaved millions of Africans, stole half of Mexico and many islands around the planet, has overthrown 50+ governments, launched over a dozen wars and recently gave $20 billion in arms to commit a genocide.
How can Canadian leaders break away from the US Empire?
The first step is to be clear eyed about the destructive nature of US power.
We need politicians who’ll say Canada shouldn’t increase its contribution to the US war machine, who refuse to join Washington’s bash China project, who condemn Trump’s threats against Panama, Denmark and others.
In other words representatives who represent the interests of ordinary Canadians and the majority of humanity, not the billionaires who profit from war and the US Empire.
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