Dave Brosha

A little history is useful here. There was a time when the Canada–U.S. relationship was considered so important — so fundamental — that even words spoken privately carried consequences. When I worked for Stephen Harper while he was Leader of the Official Opposition, an aide in Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s office privately referred to President George W. Bush as a “moron.” We were in opposition, and we considered it unacceptable. So did Prime Minister Chrétien. The aide ultimately resigned. Think about how far we have travelled since then. Today, an American president can be called a bully or a loser. Canadians can tell him, quite literally, to “kiss our ass.” What once could have been a firing offence has become an expression of something much deeper: just how badly Donald Trump has damaged what generations of Canadians and Americans worked to build. This was never an ordinary bilateral relationship. We disagreed — sometimes profoundly — but underneath those disagreements was a reservoir of trust, respect and friendship. It was treated almost as sacred because both countries understood its value. Donald Trump has squandered much of that goodwill. And perhaps his greatest miscalculation is confusing Canadian kindness with Canadian weakness. We are polite. We are patient. We prefer friendship to confrontation. But none of those qualities should ever be mistaken for weakness. Canada did not suddenly become hostile toward the United States. Canadians are reacting to a relationship that has been repeatedly tested, insulted and taken for granted. History will remember many things about this period. Canadian weakness will not be one of them. And so, Mr. President — speaking on behalf of myself, and only myself: Sir, you are a moron. youtu.be/trLFG8QaDWE?si=0cPB…