Canada’s Quiet Trade Vulnerability

Thursday, April 17, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

We’ve looked at how the U.S. runs on foreign capital to balance its trade deficit, and how countries like Germany and Japan manage persistent surpluses by investing abroad.

Now let’s look at Canada—a country that trades heavily with the U.S., runs a mix of trade balances and deficits, and depends significantly on both foreign investment and commodity exports. The question is:

Is Canada playing this balancing act wisely? Or are we more exposed than we think? Read More...

How Germany and Japan Play the Trade Game Right

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

In our last post, we talked about how trade deficits are balanced by investment inflows—and how trying to “fix” a deficit without understanding that balance can backfire.

Now let’s look at the flip side: countries that consistently run trade surpluses—like Germany and Japan—but don’t cause global chaos. In fact, they’re often seen as models of economic stability.

So how do they do it? Read More...

Trade Deficits and the Investment Balancing Act

Sunday, April 13, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

We often hear politicians talk about fixing the trade deficit—usually by trying to export more and import less. It sounds simple enough, right? The United States buys too much from countries like China, so let’s buy less and sell more. Problem solved.

Not quite.

What many people don’t realize is that trade and investment are two sides of the same coin. Trying to “fix” one without understanding the other can backfire—badly.

Let’s break it down. Read More...

"Refugee Blues" and "First They Came": Warnings from the Past, Lessons for the Present

Wednesday, March 12, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

W. H. Auden’s Refugee Blues (1939) and Pastor Martin Niemöller’s First They Came (1946) stand as poetic testaments to the dangers of indifference and the consequences of unchecked xenophobia. Though written in the aftermath of different moments in history—Auden’s poem just before the Second World War and Niemöller’s reflection on its horrors after the fact—both pieces warn of the ease with which societies can abandon the persecuted.

Their warnings feel eerily relevant today, as immigration policies in the United States and parts of Europe become more exclusionary, and far-right movements gain traction by exploiting fears about migrants and refugees. In contrast, Canada has so far resisted this trend, though it, too, faces challenges in maintaining an open and humanitarian approach. Read More...

Claude Malhuret’s Warning: The Tragedy of the Free World and Canada’s Urgent Choice

Monday, March 10, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

French Senator Claude Malhuret’s speech on March 5, 2025, was more than a warning about Ukraine, Europe, and NATO—it was a devastating indictment of what is happening in the United States. While many in the West are focused on how Trump’s policies endanger allies, Malhuret pointed out a deeper truth:

“It is first and foremost a tragedy for the United States.”

Trump’s message is clear:

• There is no point in being his ally. He will not defend you and may treat you worse than his enemies.
• He will impose more customs duties on allies than on rivals and even threaten to seize their territories.
• He supports dictatorships that invade their neighbors while abandoning democracies that fight for survival.

This is not just an abandonment of NATO or Ukraine—it is an abandonment of the very principles that have held the free world together for decades. Read More...

Supreme Court of Canada Upholds Métis Nation – Saskatchewan’s Right to Pursue Consultation Challenge

Friday, February 28, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

For over 20 years, the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan (MNS) and the Government of Saskatchewan have been engaged in legal disputes concerning Aboriginal title and rights. The latest Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) ruling, dismissing Saskatchewan’s appeal, represents a significant moment in the evolving relationship between Métis rights and provincial resource development decisions. Read More...

The Deafening Silence and the Need for Leadership

Friday, February 21, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

The silence of former U.S. presidents and world leaders’ need to accommodate Trump is troubling. We must encourage strong voices to oppose rising authoritarianism before it’s too late. Read More...

A Time for Vigilance: The Alarming Parallels Between America’s Political Shift and 1930s Germany

Saturday, February 15, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

In recent months, political developments in the United States have raised serious concerns about the erosion of democratic norms, the consolidation of unchecked executive power, and the use of nationalist rhetoric to justify expansionist ambitions. As Canadians, we must remain vigilant, united, and prepared to defend our sovereignty and democratic values against a troubling tide that bears striking similarities to 1930s Germany. Read More...

Negotiation, Bargaining Power, and Canada’s Need to Diversify Trade

Tuesday, February 04, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

After more than 40 years as a lawyer, I have been involved in countless negotiations—whether for clients, in business dealings, or within my own practice. A significant part of my work focuses on grievance arbitration, mediation, and labour relations, where I serve as a neutral party helping to resolve disputes. In this role, I see firsthand how outcomes are shaped by the relative bargaining power of each side. When there is a reasonable balance, agreements tend to be fair and sustainable. But when one party has significantly more power, the other is often left with few options and unfavorable terms.

I’ve seen this play out in labour disputes, contract negotiations, and commercial dealings. And I see it happening on a much larger scale when it comes to Canada’s trade policies. Read More...

A Journey to Health: Why I Chose Fitness and the Rewards of Staying Fit

Monday, January 27, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest

Over the past year, some of you may have noticed a significant change in my appearance. Specifically, I have lost 70 pounds. I want to take a moment to address this transformation, explain why I made these changes, and share some thoughts on the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. Read More...

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