Canada hasn’t really been preparing for this, it caught us very much by surprise. The dramatic nature of our response has more to do with utter shock and which prompted a thorough reading of all the writing that has previously been put on the wall, than it does with decades of serious preparation, but it will be no less consequential in the end. Reducing our reliance on the US is something Canada has talked about for at least the better part of a century, but never very seriously and whenever we tried even modest moves in that direction, we would find them thoroughly sabotaged or some other immediately looming threat to our economy would inevitably appear and take priority and force us back towards the US (none of which was the fault or intention of the US of course, they were just helping us, being our friend and trusted ally!). There are some very quiet, but very serious geopolitics going on, and peaceful, inoffensive Canada is in much more dangerous position than I think most people realize. But some Canadians are starting to realize it. Ukraine is an example of what happens when you get in the way and deny one of the so-called “great powers” something that they want and feel entitled to, and I don’t think any of us imagine the US is going to take this completely sitting down.

It took a direct threat to our sovereignty as a free country to finally spur us into action, but spurred we have been, and I have little doubt Canadians will forget that anytime soon. The hockey analogy we’ve adopted is that our elbows are up, we’re now committed to going for the hit and being sent to the penalty box if that’s what it takes. This is not even about scoring goals or winning the game anymore, this is about sending a message to the opposing team that we’ve had enough and we will not let them push us around anymore, and if they do they will pay the price whether it’s within the rules or not. We’re ready to fight until the refs step in and make us stop.