Prime minister Mark Carney made remarks on the trade situation with the US yesterday, saying that the timelines being what they are, hope for any sectoral tariff deals will likely be rolled into the broader New NAFTA review taking place next year, in spite of the fact that we had apparently been close to a deal before they got blown up by the Reagan ads (though one should contend that it is more than likely that if it wasn’t the ads, something else would have been used as justification to call off the talks, because this is Trump exercising the so-called “art of the deal.”)

Carney was somewhat dismissive of the capitulation list that the US Trade Representative has laid out, and insisted that this was really nothing, that there are dozens of irritants on all sides, but made the promise again to protect Supply Management, because reasons. This being said, there has been commentary that within the existing market cap there could be better efforts for US dairy access, because of how the supply management system works in that only certain producers are allowed to hold the quotas for imports, and if they want to make it difficult, then the market cap doesn’t get reached. This has long been a complaint for Europe, because frankly, the Canadian system is designed with fuckery in mind. Fixing that might help alleviate some of the complaints, but it would take political will to actually do that (though I’m not sure just what American dairy we would be so eager to import, given that their cheese is nothing special compared to Europe or the UK).

Nevertheless, I am most especially worried about the Online Streaming Act and Online News Act complaints from the Americans, and that Carney would be tempted to dump those as capitulation for the sake of “continuing negotiations” like he did with the Digital Services Tax. The problem here is that Trump is going to bat for the tech broligarchy because they have pledged their fealty to him and offered him up large bribes, so he is bullying other countries on their behalf because they don’t want to be regulated. The fact that these specific complaints continue to be treated as trade irritants and not just tech bros being whinging babies is a problem, and will continue to be a problem so long as they remain his loyal backers.

Ukraine Dispatch

Russian shelling near Odesa has killed one person, and hit power systems. This comes after an attack on power systems in five regions the night before. European countries have agreed on another €90 billion loan for Ukraine, putting off the question of frozen Russian assets once again. Here is a look at Russia’s hybrid warfare sabotage operations across Europe, designed to distract and overwhelm those country’s resources.

Good reads:

• Mark Carney signed his bespoke environmental agreement with Doug Ford, while affected First Nations continue to push back and refuse to be rushed into approvals.
• Health Canada has amended regulations to crackdown on precursor chemicals used in making fentanyl and meth, including more tracing and diversion prevention.
• Employment and Social Development is defending awarding a $1.1 million contract to Deloitte for digital asbestos advice when they have a history of turning in slop.
• CBSA reported 259 cases of employees misconduct last fiscal year, which included four terminations. (They still don’t have proper independent oversight).
• The government is tasking the Canadian Climate Institute to come up with a list of which investments are considered to be “sustainable” for attracting capital.
• A report says that Canada and other NATO countries are falling behind Russia and China when it comes to drone capabilities within the Arctic.
• There are accusations of fiscal improprieties and a bogus pay scheme within PSAC, one of the largest federal civil service unions.
• Here’s a look at how Venezuelan heavy oil and bitumen coming back on the market will impact Canada’s oil market.
• Mélanie Joly has ruled herself out of a Quebec Liberal leadership bid.
• Michael Ma has finally given an interview, and said that with the Liberals, he feels he can get more done and be a centrist and not far-right.
• Some Conservative organisers are looking back and reflecting on the bad year they’ve had, not that their leader is very reflective.
• Quebec’s health minister has resigned after the government walked back some of the most controversial parts of its plan to reform doctors’ pay.
• Ontario’s integrity commissioner is investigating the province’s labour minister over the allegations that the Skills Development Fund is really a slush fund.
• Alberta is raising the fee to launch a citizen-initiated referendum petition from $500 to $25,000 now that the separatists have theirs on the way. (Of course).

Odds and ends:

Karoline Leavitt Addresses the “Patriot-And-Definitely-Not-Hunger Games”youtu.be/5Z-IOwCvGYA

— Clare Blackwood (@clareblackwood.bsky.social) 2025-12-19T02:22:41.758Z

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