The state of Canada's democracy, a trade talk update and more...

Plus getting a Northern Perspective.

I’m getting back into morning walks with Chloe, my little dog. In the good weather I’ll spend a good part of the morning outside reading stories or reports I need to understand or making calls.

The good weather is in short supply here in Toronto.

Yesterday was great, today it is cold again. Still, I pushed on and decided to sit and record a video going over some of the stories I’ve been working on and the morning headlines.

Now it’s time to get back inside and stay there until the weather warms up, which might not be until July. That’s how it feels anyway.

Is Canada still a functioning democracy?

It sounds like a radical question, but I hear from readers, viewers, listeners and more almost every day saying they don’t feel Canadian democracy is working for them. They point to a government that obtained a majority via floor crossings, a government that is currently making moves to shut down investigations into ethics breaches and more.

Of course, this isn’t new and while many of us will make these comments, it can hurt when outsiders make them.

On Thursday, American radio talk show host and online pioneer Glenn Beck took to the airwaves to take on Canada’s lack of democratic values. If you listen to what Beck has to say it will hurt because much of it is true and that’s because he and his staff know Canada.

Beck grew up in Washington State just south of Vancouver and just east of British Columbia’s capital of Victoria. He has described on his show many times, and to me personally, how as a kid he would turn on CBC to try and find something new to watch and find curling on TV.

If you are an adult, curling is great, if you are seven years old finding curling instead of cartoons is devastating. Years ago, Glenn had Mike Rowe narrate curling on his show and it is the funniest thing, but I can’t find it more than a dozen years later.

In addition to Glenn knowing Canada, where I’ve met him and interviewed him, his Chief Content Officer, Rikki Ratliff-Fellman really knows Canada.

I first met Rikki when she was working for Lorna Dueck who was then hosting a show on Crossroads Christian Communications. Somehow, I ended up on Lorna’s radar, made a few appearances and made a connection with Rikki who had moved north from Oklahoma to Ontario.

A couple of years later, I was on my way home from work when I got a call from an executive at the now defunct Sun News Network. A certain host needed a new producer and the executive who had leaned on me to recruit many people to the network asked if I knew anyone.

I immediately called Rikki who it turns out was in Paris but between jobs and recruited her. It seems to have worked out very well for her as she is now living in South Florida producing what is still one of the top American radio talk shows.

Why do I tell you all of this?

Simply to tell you that both Beck and his team, Rikki, actually understand Canada. The critiques that Beck and his team make don’t come out of ignorance but out of love.

I’ve sat with Glenn in his studio, I’ve sat with him in his house, this man knows and loves Canada.

So, when someone who knows and loves the country is raising the alarm, maybe it is time to think things over.

Many of the issues raised by Beck have been raised by me, have been raised by others. It just hits differently when someone outside of your tribe raises them.

Batra is asking whether he knows he’s not getting a deal with Trump…

I did my usual weekly video hit with Toronto Sun Editor-in-Chief Adrienne Batra. This week we all pretty much agreed that the Carney Liberals are looking to prep us to be ready for CUSMA/USMCA to go away.

I hope it doesn’t but that’s my fear.

Getting a Northern Perspective…

Always love chatting with Ryan and Tanya Davies at Northern Perspective. Ryan messaged me on Thursday to ask about my video take down of CBC’s false “entry fee” claim that I shared with you the other day.

We had a good chat on the issue and what we need to look for on the trade front.

And another thing…

A story that is bubbling up that I haven’t had a chance to get into is the change in how steel tariffs are being applied to tool and dye makers, mold makers in Canada and what that could mean.

So, I’ll share the report Northern Perspective did yesterday.