For my Canadian friends

When Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived at Parliament Hill this morning, he was visibly emotional as he commented further on the tragic events that occurred yesterday at a small Grade 7-12 school of 175 students in Tumbler Ridge, BC, a town of 2400 people.

"This is obviously a very difficult day for the nation. Parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love. The nation mourns with you. Canada stands by you."

Carney thanked first responders, teachers, school staff and residents "for all they have done" during this tragedy.

Mr. Carney shared that King Charles III personally reached out to offer condolences. World leaders from the U.K., France, Norway, Finland, India, the United Arab Emirates, and many others, contacted him directly expressing "solidarity and compassion."

Mr. Carney assured those grieving in Tumbler Ridge that "The world stands with you."

He has also postponed his planned travel out of the country and instructed that flags across all government buildings be flown at half mast for the next week.

"We will get through this. We will learn from this. But right now it is a time to come together, like Canadians do in these terrible situations. To support each other, to mourn together and to grow together."

Like all Canadians, I have been struggling this morning with the news from BC. I found our Prime Minister's very human and classy response to be both comforting and reassuring.

'The nation mourns with you,' Carney says after B.C. mass shooting​

 
Shiftless2 said:
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{...
GardaWorld Corporation is a Canadian private security firm, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, with 120,000 employees as of January 2022. Its U.S. business name is United American Security LLC, dba GardaWorld.

GardaWorld International Protective Services,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GardaWorld#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a> the international division of the company, began operations in 1984. GardaWorld Security Corporation was established as Trans-Québec Security Inc. by Stephan Crétier in 1995, who invested initially $25,000.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GardaWorld#cite_note-GM-3"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a> In 2020 GardaWorld moved into a new direction by becoming part of Havoc Dragon Security Limited owned by CEO David Beauchemin. The company runs physical security guard services and armoured car services globally.
...
Meanwhile, over 100 guards of the Embassy of the United States in Kabul under a separate GardaWorld contract have been evacuated by the US.
...}
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GardaWorld#cite_note-4"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a>

{...
Montreal Gazette

'Alligator Alcatraz' contractor GardaWorld cleared to bid up to US$138M on ICE contracts​

GardaWorld Federal Services, a Virginia-based subsidiary of Montreal-based firm, was among dozens of companies shortlisted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
By Harry North
Published Aug 04, 2025

A U.S. subsidiary of GardaWorld, the Montreal-based security giant reportedly helping staff the Florida detention site known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” has been cleared to bid up to US$138 million on ICE contracts.
Article content
GardaWorld Federal Services, a Virginia-based arm of GardaWorld, was among dozens of companies shortlisted by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) under an emergency procurement programme, government records show.
...}

'Alligator Alcatraz' contractor GardaWorld cleared to bid up to US$138M on ICE contracts

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ contractor GardaWorld cleared to bid up to US$138M on ICE contracts
montrealgazette.com montrealgazette.com

How corrupt does a government have to be to hire expensive private security for things that should be protected by the military for free?
 
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More like every few weeks - and notice that he doesn't offer a solution - just imagined outrage

Every few months, Pierre Poilievre decides to write a letter to the Prime Minister.

Not because it fixes anything. Because it performs something.

The goal isn’t policy. The goal is a scene.

He needs a moment where he can stand up, point across the aisle, and say the Liberals don’t care about your food bill. Only I do. I brought them a solution. They refused. Therefore the pain you feel has a face.

It’s political choreography.

The letter creates a prop. A simple proposal that sounds obvious on paper.

Then the government rejects it, or amends it, or ignores it. And that’s the real payoff.

Now he gets the clip. The outrage. The shareable conflict. Not a solved problem, a permanent argument.

Because if grocery inflation were explained honestly, it wouldn’t have a villain you can point at. It would be central banks, global commodities, supply chains, weather, currency movements. Real, but useless in a speech. You can’t campaign against rainfall patterns.

So the strategy is to shrink the world down to a single decision made by a single government. Now voters can attach their frustration somewhere specific. Anger needs an address.

The letter is written knowing it won’t pass. It’s written so it won’t pass. A passed motion ends the story. A rejected motion begins it.

Then comes the line. I tried. They refused. Remember that.

That’s the entire architecture. Not legislation. Contrast.

And it works because people don’t experience inflation as statistics. They experience it emotionally. Checkout totals. Smaller bags. Quiet stress. Politics rewards whoever narrates that feeling first and most clearly, even if the explanation is thinner than reality.

So the point isn’t to lower prices tomorrow. The point is to own the blame today.

He isn’t trying to solve food inflation.

He’s trying to be the person you picture when you’re mad about it.

638878700_10173642054640397_5007744348636496377_n.jpg

Meanwhile his MP's serve as lobbyists for Loblaws - To be precise, Jenni Byrnes, his now former campaign manager, his former girlfriend and longtime Reform/Conservative Party insider is a lobbyist for Loblaws. And a Trump supporter. Oh, the irony. Que the hypocrisy and recognize the double speak...
 
More on the bridge

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2.8M views · 153K reactions | We built it. We paid for it. We already gave you half. Sit down. ✅ Get my free newsletter: newsletter.todmaffin.com ☕ Help support my work: support.todmaffin.com 🎙️ Listen to my podcast: podcast.todmaffin.com 🔗 Follow m

We built it. We paid for it. We already gave you half. Sit down. ✅ Get my free newsletter: newsletter.todmaffin.com ☕ Help support my work: support.todmaffin.com 🎙️ Listen to my podcast:...
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
 
Shiftless2 said:
More on the bridge

www.facebook.com

2.8M views · 153K reactions | We built it. We paid for it. We already gave you half. Sit down. ✅ Get my free newsletter: newsletter.todmaffin.com ☕ Help support my work: support.todmaffin.com 🎙️ Listen to my podcast: podcast.todmaffin.com 🔗 Follow m

We built it. We paid for it. We already gave you half. Sit down. ✅ Get my free newsletter: newsletter.todmaffin.com ☕ Help support my work: support.todmaffin.com 🎙️ Listen to my podcast:...
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
Click to expand...

{...
The Gordie Howe International Bridge connects Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with Detroit, Michigan, USA, and is set to open in early 2026.

Overview​

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a six-lane, cable-stayed bridge spanning the Detroit River, linking Interstate 75 in Michigan with Highway 401 in Ontario. It includes dedicated lanes for commercial trucks, passenger vehicles, and a bike and pedestrian lane, along with modern ports of entry on both sides. The bridge is designed to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion at the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit–Windsor Tunnel, and enhance cross-border trade efficiency.

Wikipedia+1

Construction​

Construction began in 2018 and has been largely completed, with the bridge expected to open in early 2026. The project cost is approximately CA$6.4 billion, fully funded by the Canadian federal government, with tolls planned to recoup the investment. Ownership is shared equally between Canada and the state of Michigan, and the Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority manages operations.

Wikipedia+1

Features​

Current​

As of February 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to block the bridge’s opening, citing trade disputes and demanding that the U.S. receive compensation or partial ownership. Trump’s concerns include Canadian tariffs on U.S. products, exclusion of U.S. goods from Ontario stores, and Canada’s trade agreements with China. Despite these threats, the bridge remains a critical infrastructure project for both countries, with strong support from Michigan officials and Canadian authorities.
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=1bdf...3RzLXVuY2VydGFpbnR5LTE2MDgwMjg4OC5odG1s&ntb=1

Other​

Summary​

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a major new border crossing between Canada and the U.S., designed to improve trade, traffic flow, and safety. While political disputes may affect its opening, the bridge represents a long-term investment in cross-border infrastructure and economic connectivity.
...}


What strikes me as odd is how they ever allowed the private Ambassador Bridge?
All travel paths should always have been public.
 
Rigby5 said:
"What strikes me as odd is how they ever allowed the private Ambassador Bridge?
All travel paths should always have been public." R5 #389
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hmmm 💡

And if the "owner" decides to shut the bridge down for a year, or on weekdays ? Canada would have to call Trump for help? Venezuela 2.0 ?
 
Muddy water.
Rigby5 said:
"I assume the private bridge is a toll, so then must greatly slow and interfere with traffic.
There really should be no tolls in my opinion." R5 #392
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B.O. R. ARTICLE #9: Ratified December 15, 1791
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Even in the worst totalitarian dictatorships, the most hideously restrictive monarchies, residents have some rudimentary right to travel. BUT !!
As technology and society evolve, governments have intervened.

If Bruce owns a swimming pond, Bruce has the legal right to allow the Smith's to the North to swim there,
and also the legal right to forbid the Jones' to the South.

But commuting to work, conducting commerce, that's a little different.
If this bridge is literally privately owned, and permission to use it arbitrarily awarded at the whim of the owner,
allowing all the red cars to pass, but exclude all blue cars, that's a problem.

For this reason such bridges should be government operated, for the benefit of the whole Peoples (in this case citizens of Canada, and the U.S. alike).

Rigby5 said:
"I assume the private bridge is a toll, so then must greatly slow and interfere with traffic.
There really should be no tolls in my opinion." R5 #392
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For good or ill the United States military helps preserve U.S. sovereignty, for good or ill, something we all "benefit" from.
Understandably, the wealthy may pay more tax than the destitute. The wealthy have more to lose, if U.S. sovereignty is compromised.
Generally we can each be considered beneficiaries of the U.S. military, and thus each helping to finance it makes sense.

It's not quite the same with such a bridge. For that reason, user fees, tolls make sense.
If Steve uses the bridge twice as much as Barbara, Steve should pay twice as much. Right?

Counterarguments including commerce, & tollbooth energy inefficiency noted. License plate scanners address some of that.
 
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