Part II - Canada Exposed

but with Elbows Up

Official symbols of Canada

The beaver is a herbivorous mammal that makes its home in semi-aquatic environments throughout every region in Canada, especially near waterways, lakes, and ponds. It became an official symbol of Canada on March 24, 1975…

Per Perplexity,

The beaver, officially recognized in 1975, symbolizes industriousness, perseverance, and Canada’s historical fur trade and natural heritage.

On November 5, 2024 Americans elected Donald Trump. On April 28, 2025 Canadians elected Mark Carney. In Part I - America Personified I asserted that one of the many factors in the US election was immature voters blindly voting for an immature man.

How smug should we be?

Prominent Canadian Perrin Beatty recently wrote about Donald Trump, Great Canadian Unifier.

As evidenced in the election results that have made Carney an elected prime minister largely based on his credentials as an economist and crisis manager, Trump has become perhaps the single greatest unifier in modern Canadian history.

The vast majority of our citizens today want our leaders to work together to preserve our country, to solve the problems that have been left to grow for so long, and to restore the hope that our children will live more prosperous lives.

Donald Trump may have intended just the opposite, but he has made a compelling case that, if ever there was a time and an opportunity to bring Canadians together, this is it.

But, imo, unity based on the actions and threats of Donald Trump will not last. However, Mark Carney has an ambitious agenda and has quickly stepped onto the world stage. Dean Blundell gives a concise summary of The day Canada stepped up to lead the free world.

Per Perplexity,

Mark Carney is indeed emerging as a prominent global leader defending democracy and the international rules-based order. Since becoming Canada’s Prime Minister in 2025, he has taken a strong stance against the transformation of U.S. global leadership under Donald Trump, criticizing the monetization of American dominance and the diminishing of collective security contributions. Carney has pledged to diversify Canada’s defense spending away from the U.S. and towards Europe, emphasizing the need to safeguard Canadian sovereignty amid emerging threats from Russia and China.

Unless Donald Trump and MAGA are stopped in the USA, imo, Canada and Europe have little chance of preventing the emergence of a new world order. China, Russia, USA, Israel and others seem to want a might makes right world order. Every man for himself. But I applaud the intentions of Canada and, at the moment, I feel great pride in my country.

Yet we have our problems.

Again, per Perplexity,

Summary

The 2025 election reveals that Canadian political polarization has intensified significantly, characterized by:

• A dominant two-party system capturing the vast majority of votes,

• Strategic voting motivated by opposition blocking,

• Deep mutual distrust between party supporters,

• Pronounced demographic and regional divides,

• And systemic electoral factors reinforcing these trends.

This polarization reflects not only policy differences but also affective and identity-based divides, posing challenges for social cohesion and democratic representation in Canada.

America has Donald Trump and MAGA but Canada has Pierre Poilievre and Maple MAGA. Canada has the same problems as America and the difference is in degree not in kind. Canada has plenty of immature voters including many on the political left.

I do see initiatives in Canada that give me hope.

Pledge for Canada / Engagement pour le Canada

The Pledge for Canada was launched at the end of January 2025 as a nonpartisan volunteer effort in response to the economic aggression of the Trump administration to give people an opportunity to express their commitment to stand up for Canada. The Pledge set out some core principles we hoped would guide our leaders in responding to the threats, protecting Canadians, and building a more resilient less dependent Canada. HERE, you can read the Pledge and see its list of lead signatories, including a former Prime Minister and three former Premiers from four different political parties.

Over 75,000 people joined the lead signatories by signing the Pledge, most of whom agreed to participate in an ongoing exchange of information and ideas that has been taking place since early February 2025 on this Pledge Substack site.

Charlie Angus / The Resistance

Charlie Angus / The Resistance - a space to share in-depth analysis, reflections on the issues and calls to action, without corporate media filters or party constraints.

No BS. All fact with a bit of fun, and we don't share our email list with anyone or any political party. That’s a promise.

I’m grateful to have you here. Let’s get to work.

~ Charlie

And average and ordinary Canadians give me hope.

POSTCARDS from CANADA

When Donald Trump threatens to economically dominate Canada and tells us we should be the 51st state, it’s time for Canadians from all walks of life and all ages to not only respond, but also to celebrate who we truly are.

Like Canada itself, POSTCARDS are unpretentious—a simple way to share what you feel or see. Today, we're sending these postcards not just as pleasant souvenirs, but as urgent messages from concerned Canadians.

In Part III I will take a look at Mexico where I now live as a Canadian retiree.

Part III - Mexico - My Home away from Home