On his way into the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Mark Carney made remarks to the press that it looks like there is little chance that we’ll get any kind of trade deal that doesn’t include some kind of tariffs, and that the commercial landscape has changed globally, so his focus would continue to be on what he can control, which is building a strong Canadian economy. It’s a lot in three sentences, but it does look like he’s coming around to a more honest assessment of where we’re at. Well, at least slightly so—they’re still pursing some form of “trade and security” agreement, which is continues to be a waste of everyone’s time because there is no agreement to be had, as Trump is not a rational actor and won’t live up to any agreement he does sign, if that ever happens. But at least Carney is no longer signalling that the old status quo is just around the corner, so that’s progress.

Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, is calling this a “unilateral concession,” and seems to be under the impression that he (or anyone else) could somehow secure a better deal with Trump, even though there is no deal to be had. Trump loves tariffs, and won’t be dissuaded, and we have to learn to live with that (because it’s going to be a long while before it sinks in that they are driving up costs for Americans, because a whole lot of them refuse to believe the truth). We need to be wide-eyed about this, and Carney needs to be more upfront as well. There is no deal to be had. They can go through the motions of negotiating but it won’t get us anywhere, and sure, we need to focus on what we can do…but that has to mean more than just putting all of our eggs in the resource extraction basket, which can’t be our only option.

— Effin' Birds (@effinbirds.com) 2025-07-15T21:22:14.842Z

Ukraine Dispatch

Russian drones and missiles struck Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Kyiv, but there was no damage at the latter. It looks like under the latest missive from Trump, NATO members will buy US equipment for Ukraine from the US, but the US won’t spend any of their own money to send weapons to Ukraine even though it’s in their own interests to do so. (Well, it was until the US became an autocratic state).

Good reads:

• DND is proceeding with the construction of two new F-35 hangars even though the review of the purchase is ongoing (though we will likely still buy the initial tranche).
• The CRTC is holding consultations to improve the emergency alert system.
• PBO Yves Giroux’s term expires in September (and good riddance), but there has been no talk of a successor, which needs to be approved by both houses.
• VIA Rail plans to refurbish their cars from central Canada for use on the Ocean route to Halifax, but can’t commit to greater frequency because of freight obligations.
• The company that owns the Port of Churchill is planning to expand rail service to the port and build new infrastructure for critical mineral exports.
• In spite of calls for her dismissal, it looks like Poilievre is keeping Jenni Byrne around, even though her exact role doesn’t appear to be clear.
• Nine Ontario First Nations are taking federal Bill C-5 and Ontario’s Bill 5 to court, saying they are unconstitutional.
• Rachel Notley’s husband is calling bullshit on the excuses being made that are allowing Danielle Smith’s husband to sit in on meetings about rail plans.
• Andrew Coyne remarks on the impossibility of Carney’s attempts to negotiate with Trump, given that Trump doesn’t know what he wants.

Odds and ends:

Want more Routine Proceedings? Become a patron and get exclusive new content.