Fact finding in Canada

+I’ve been on a fact-finding trip to Canada (what some people might call a holiday, but MPs habits die hard) to see what ‘America’s’ richest neighbour will do next in the context of Trump's onslaught. My visit has reminded me that not all opposition to Trump emanates from the left, since Ontario's 'Progressive Conservative' premier Doug Ford, who I once took to be just a mini-me Trump called an election earlier this year and was re-elected on an anti-Trump ticket (cast as 'protect Ontario’). Perhaps other rightwing leaders will follow suit and see what distance they can find between themselves and Donald (in some cases it may be too late, Fartage included). Another thing which may have swung things Ford's way was his $1,000 bribe given to electors. Sorry, not a bribe, a cost of living grant. How Conservative is Ford? He was quoted in the press saying he was against hard spending cuts, but I don’t know if he meant it.
 
+To change the mood in the UK perhaps Rachel Reeves could do no worse than change her surname to that of the Canadian Finance Minister's, he is none other than Francois-Phillippe Champagne. C'mon Rach, pop the corks!
 
+Most informed people abroad will have heard of the separatist movement the Quebecois, who have a significant caucus of MPs in the federal parliament. Now Canada faces another separatist voice emerging (again) from Alberta, the home of Canada's oil tar sands, one of the world's greatest sources of filthy carbon emissions (the filth is not just in the CO2 emissions, but in the huge lakes of sludge arising from the mining/refining process). Albertans don't think they're getting enough recognition from central government (plus ca change) and their provincial government has passed a Separation Act which allows for a referendum and to enable them in the meantime to ignore federal laws they don't like, if I have understood things correctly. One problem for the legislators is that they seem to have overlooked First Nation people who have treaty rights which precede the confederation of Canada. But I doubt that people who think tar sands are wonderful (and they do) will care much for the rights of the indigenous population. A background worry here is that Trump may wade in and seek to aid the Albertan bid for freedom. One way to weaken Canada. Surely a big beautiful pipeline could be built behind the backs of Ottawa pols? How long will Canada's new found solidarity last?
 
+I watched a few adverts on Canadian TV. Some, if not many seemed to want to emphasise how Canadian their products are. Chrysler for instance. Their cars are 'assembled' in Canada and run on Canadian roads!
 
+In Montreal, where the Maple Leaf flag seems slightly less in evidence. But the Quebec premier, François Legualt has made common cause with his far distant federal cousins in Alberta - by suggesting that Albertan oil could be shipped to Europe by developing a pipeline across the north of Canada to a port on the mouth of the St Lawrence. This, thinks Legualt might help him teach Trump an 'economic lesson.' He wants to meet Trump and tell him personally of his fantasy. If Legualt makes the mistake of speaking in French to Trump, POTUS might think France has surrendered. Presumably Legualt has been influenced by neighbour Ontario's Doug Ford in ramping up rhetoric against the bully in order to deliver popularity at home.
 
+Here in Montreal I am not impressed by the importation of the US's tipping culture. Just being served with a pint in a bar demands a minimum 15% tip. 'Demands' being the operative word. This comes on top of the local purchase taxes, which are not, as in the UK, combined in the advertised price. A meal seemingly costing $35 ends up at $46. Since these are Canadian dollars, that's still quite cheap (also bearing in mind food portions here are American) but all the same, it would be nice to have some idea in advance what the final tally might be.
 
+The convicted criminal Conrad Black has a regular column in the National Post, the rightwing paper which I think he once owned. Black reminds me of Thatcher's mouthpiece Bernard Ingham, who had a regular slot in the Yorkshire Post, sustained by an uninterrupted flow of bile not just against the left but 'the way things are going.' Reading Black one is left with the impression that the election of Pope Leo XIV is going to turn the tide on the evils of the Enlightenment (thanks to a reinvigorated Catholic church) and the falsehoods of the atheistic, soul corrupting temptations of our nihilistic society today will be exposed, albeit without mention of rapture. Poor old Conrad, he thinks he deserved his Trump pardon, even if it didn't come from the Good Lord Himself. 
 
+Buying a newspaper in downtown Montreal is next to impossible. I asked in the city's biggest bookshop, Indigo, if they sold newspapers (they had magazines). A look of puzzlement came over the assistant's face. Newspapers? So old fashioned! The same I think goes for buying postcards and their oft associated postage stamps. These are all remnants of a bygone age, and I must admit searching them out marks you out as a dinosaur. However, I did read a story that Canada Post is considering stopping household deliveries. The business, it appears is bankrupt. So the best way to preserve it is purely in the memory of it. The same thing threatens Royal Mail. I did eventually manage to buy a copy of the Globe and Mail, there were four copies left on an otherwise bare newsstand in Montreal station. These days who wants to pay $5.75 for a small selection of news and views and a chance to get ink on your fingers? 

Well, enough facts for now! Here's a picture of Premier Legualt practising his best 'telling off Trump' mode.