Exciting news in the world of mixed martial arts as Canada’s own Jasmine Jasudavicius is set to make history on the upcoming UFC card in Saudi Arabia.
Jasudavicius, who hails from Toronto, is a rising star in the MMA world and has been making waves with her impressive performances in the octagon. Now, she is set to become the first Canadian female fighter to compete on a UFC card in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Fans are eagerly anticipating Jasudavicius’ upcoming fight, as she continues to prove herself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of MMA. Her dedication, skill, and determination have earned her a loyal following, and her upcoming bout in Saudi Arabia is sure to be a must-watch event.
Stay tuned for more updates on Jasmine Jasudavicius and her historic fight in Saudi Arabia. Canada is proud to have such a talented and fearless fighter representing our country on the international stage.
Canada’s James Crawford scorched to a maiden World Cup victory in the prestigious Kitzbühel downhill on Saturday in a race thankfully spared the spate of serious crashes that marred the super-G.
Crawford, with just four podium places to his name in seven seasons on the circuit, laid down a near-perfect run to clock 1min 53.64sec on the challenging 3.3km-long Streif course on the Hahnenkamm mountain overlooking the upmarket Austrian resort.
Switzerland’s Alexis Monney took second, at 0.08sec, with another Canadian, Cameron Alexander, rounding out the podium a further 0.14sec adrift.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Amazing stuff, supreme excellence!” boomed the slopeside commentator of Crawford’s run in front of tens of thousands of baying ski fans in warm, sunny conditions.
“Canadian cowboys! Oh my word, incredible run by Crawford, he’s the man to beat!”
Crawford, a surprise winner of world super-G gold in Courchevel in 2023 and Olympic combined bronze medallist in Beijing the year previously, held on to bag €100,000 ($104,800) for his victory and set himself up nicely ahead of the 4-16 February world championships in Saalbach.
In-form Swiss racer Marco Odermatt, who tops the overall and downhill standings, won Friday’s super-G, but could only finish sixth in the blue riband event, at 0.55sec, as just eight-tenths of a second separated the top 13 racers.
Starting with bib number 20, Crawford hit motorway-coasting speeds of 140kmh, negotiating sections that have an 85% gradient and 80m jumps, all the while battling crippling centrifugal forces.
The icy course, which has a stomach-churning vertiginous start that propels racers to 100km/h in five seconds, features falls, snakes and rolls through a wide variety of terrain.
For those reasons, victory in Kitzbühel is seen as the holy grail of alpine skiing, often compared to winning at Wimbledon or the Formula One race in Monaco.
There is no doubt that there is a voyeuristic, gladitorial draw for the estimated 90,000-strong crowd who flock in for the Kitzbühel weekend.
But while airhorns and whistles made for a deafening arena, flares lit and flags waving, there was none of the crash drama of Friday, which saw French veteran Alexis Pinturault among three evacuated by helicopter, with a serious knee injury.
The event draws a heady mix between champagne-drinking glitterati and young locals revelling in an alcohol-fuelled rite of passage.
Among onlookers on Saturday was former California governor and Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger and Swedish football great Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“This is amazing, it feels like a home stadium,” said Ibrahimovic, who played for a host of European clubs including Ajax, Juventus, AC and Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in a storied career.
“I wish I was a skier, but I can’t ski!”
The iconic ski resort of Kitzbühel, Austria, witnessed a historic moment as Canada’s Jack Crawford claimed his first career win at the prestigious Hahnenkamm downhill race. Known as the “holy grail of ski racing,” the Hahnenkamm is one of the most challenging and revered races on the World Cup circuit.
Crawford, a rising star in the world of alpine skiing, put on a stellar performance on the treacherous Streif course, navigating the steep, icy slopes and daunting jumps with skill and precision. The Canadian skier’s victory marks a significant milestone in his career and solidifies his status as a force to be reckoned with in the competitive world of ski racing.
The win in Kitzbühel is not only a personal triumph for Crawford but also a proud moment for Canadian skiing, as he becomes the first Canadian male skier to win at the Hahnenkamm in over a decade. His achievement serves as inspiration for aspiring young skiers across the country and showcases the talent and potential of Canada’s ski racing program.
As Crawford celebrates his well-deserved victory, fans and spectators around the world are left in awe of his incredible skill and determination. With this win under his belt, the future looks bright for Jack Crawford as he continues to make a name for himself on the international stage. Congratulations to the new champion of Kitzbühel!
OTTAWA — Canada’s expectations at the world juniors every holiday season are to win gold and make unforgettable memories for Canadian hockey fans. Unfortunately, the 2025 Canadian world junior team made its own history by becoming the first team since 1981 that failed to finish top-four in back-to-back years, falling 4-3 to Czechia in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
Last year, a flukey shot bounced off Canadian Oliver Bonk to secure their defeat; this year they gave up a last-minute goal to Adam Jecho.
What’s deja vu in Czech?
This time, the loss felt more inevitable; it was no fluke. It began on the first shift, when Canada lost the puck in transition, leading to a two-on-one that Czechia capitalized on, with Petr Sikora opening the scoring 43 seconds in.
Canada’s coach, Dave Cameron, acknowledged his team could never recover.
He was asked after the game what he could have done differently. “If I knew the answer to that, I would [have] been doing that.”
After Latvia beat Canada in one of the biggest upsets in world junior history, it was clear that Canada was in trouble, despite general manager Peter Anholt suggesting otherwise after the game. It felt predestined.
The start to Thursday night’s game summed up Canada’s tournament.
It was woeful. The team took needless penalties at every turn, struggled to score, their coach didn’t play the best players he had and he probably didn’t have the best players Canada could have fielded.
To start with, too many penalties would be an answer. Cameron was asked before the Czechia game how they would know if they had become better disciplined.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow at 7:30,” he said.
Well, we found out. Canada generated a power play after giving up the early goal. But it took only four seconds for Calum Ritchie to neutralize the advantage with a horrific tripping penalty. Then Cole Beaudoin hit Sikora with a knee-on-knee that led to a five-minute major.
Canada briefly tied the game with a shorthanded goal but then Czechia reclaimed the lead 2-1 on the power play when Canadian defenceman Sam Dickinson inadvertently scooped the puck into his own net as he tried to clear it.
Canada took 10 minutes of penalties against Czechia (not including Beaudoin’s major penalty), preventing any sustained pressure, repeating a pattern that saw them total 113 penalty minutes in five games —the most of any team by a mile.
Even when the team was at five-on-five, it couldn’t generate enough offence, partially because their best players weren’t playing.
Canada’s most dynamic player, the 17-year-old Gavin McKenna, played an average of just 15:23 throughout the tournament. Cameron finally relented and moved McKenna up to the top line with Easton Cowan and Ritchie mid-way through the quarterfinal, where McKenna played 18:41. The line buzzed when it was on the ice but couldn’t find the back of the twine.
Perhaps Cameron could have got his players in sync through the tournament with more reps.
Strangely, on the day following Canada’s loss to Latvia, the Canadian team didn’t practise; the day after losing to the U.S., they didn’t practise; and on game day in a do-or-die matchup against Czechia, they didn’t practise.
Cameron’s rationale for having fewer practices was peculiar for a team composed of teenagers.
“Because we were exhausted,” said Cameron. “There’s no system for tired hockey players.”
On Thursday, it seemed as though Canada would survive the first period down only 2-1 when the hapless Dickinson pinched to try to force offence and was burned with the Czechs racing down on another two-on-one. To add insult to misery, Czechia later claimed a 3-1 lead with just 2.1 seconds left in the period.
Dickinson wouldn’t have been asked to do so much heavy lifting offensively if Canada had put more pure talent on their roster. Canada left defencemen Zayne Parekh and Carter Yakemchuk sitting at home. Both had scored at a higher rate per game than all of Canada’s defence at the junior level aside from Dickinson and Matthew Schaefer, who broke his collarbone in the second game of the tournament.
Meanwhile, high scoring forwards Beckett Sennecke and Michael Misa were also left off the team. Why? Canada inserted checkers in their lineup such as Tanner Howe, Mathieu Cataford, Ethan Gauthier, and Cole Beaudoin with the goal of being more defensively sound, but their opponents played Czechbook hockey to shut the team down (a joke for the sake of levity).
The Canadians couldn’t score, finishing with 11 goals in five games with the lowest shooting percentage in the tournament at 6.34 per cent.
Canada’s special teams also let them down. Canada finished in the bottom-half of the tournament, running a 74.1 per cent penalty kill and a 21.1 per cent power play, both ranked sixth in the tournament.
The power play was more effective against Czechia. It got them back in the game when Porter Martone made a wonderful tip to cut the lead to 3-2. Then they played their best period of the tournament, outshooting Czechia 14 to six. Bradly Nadeau scored by finishing off a rebound to tie the game 3-3, seemingly sending the game to overtime. However, they were unable to capitalize off many more of their chances.
In the end, ill-timed penalties bit them in the you-know-what when Andrew Gibson took a kneeing penalty with less than three minutes left in the game. With 39.4 seconds left, Jecho sniped a shot past Carter George which the goaltender will be thinking about for a long, long time.
It ended for Canada the way it was bound to — allowing a goal on the kill after an untimely penalty.
McKenna, likely the face of Canada’s team next year, was not too pleased with the officiating.
“Speaks for itself, it was terrible,” said McKenna.
If you want to go glass half full, he is the future of Canadian hockey. A lot needs to change for McKenna and Canadian fans to replace tears of sadness with ones of joy.
The 2025 world juniors in Ottawa were supposed to bring a flurry of memorable moments in Canadian hockey history, such as the Summit Series in 1972. Now, it’s time for a different form of a summit. This one will be needed within the organization of Hockey Canada.
What’s clear is Hockey Canada needs a new approach to this tournament so that their failure to make the medal round is a blip and not a trend.
The world juniors tournament is an event that hockey fans across the globe look forward to every year. It showcases the best young talent in the sport and allows them to represent their countries on an international stage. For Team Canada, this tournament holds a special significance as they have a long history of success in the competition.
However, in recent years, Canada’s lack of discipline has been its ultimate undoing at the world juniors. Despite having a talented roster filled with top NHL prospects, the team has struggled to stay out of the penalty box and maintain their composure in crucial moments.
In the 2021 tournament, Team Canada’s undisciplined play cost them dearly in their semi-final matchup against the United States. They took multiple penalties in the third period, allowing the Americans to score two power-play goals and ultimately secure a 4-3 victory.
This lack of discipline has been a recurring issue for Canada at the world juniors, as they have consistently been one of the most penalized teams in the tournament in recent years. This undisciplined play has prevented them from reaching their full potential and competing for gold medals.
In order to regain their dominance at the world juniors, Canada must address their discipline issues and focus on playing a more composed and controlled style of hockey. Otherwise, their lack of discipline will continue to be their ultimate undoing in future tournaments.
It is not yet decided which forward will draw out of Canada’s lineup to make way for Martone.
Canada heads into the playoff round coming off a 4-1 loss to the United States on Tuesday.
Wins against Finland and Germany and a shootout loss to Latvia rounded out the team’s 2-0-1-1 record and third-place finish in Group A during the preliminary round.
Goals have been relatively hard to come by for Canada after the 4-0 opening win over Finland, averaging just two goals per game in the three games since.
Martone, a highly rated prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft, plays for the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads and has scored 21 goals and 33 assists this season.
Czechia enters Thursday’s quarterfinal as the second-place finisher in Group B with a 3-0-0-1 record.
Exciting news for Canadian hockey fans as forward Porter Martone has been confirmed to be in the lineup for the quarterfinal matchup against Czechia. Martone, known for his speed and scoring ability, will be a key player for Team Canada as they look to advance to the semifinals.
Martone, who has been a standout player throughout the tournament, has already made a significant impact on the team’s success. His dynamic playmaking and offensive skills have proven to be crucial in Canada’s victories so far.
Fans can expect to see Martone flying up and down the ice, creating scoring opportunities and putting pressure on the Czechia defense. With his determination and skill, Martone will undoubtedly be a player to watch in this highly anticipated matchup.
Be sure to tune in to see Porter Martone and Team Canada in action as they battle it out for a spot in the semifinals. Let’s go Canada! #TeamCanada #PorterMartone #HockeyQuarterfinals
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Canada, Porter Martone, lineup, quarterfinal, Czechia, ice hockey, tournament, World Championship, national team
United States President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his apparent desire to make Canada a 51st American state, sharing a recent social media post about Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary’s support of the idea.
In fact, in her December resignation letter, Freeland placed the country’s response to Trump at the heart of her critique of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Among the many broadsides delivered to her former boss, the fact that Canada is ill-prepared to face the dire new threat of Trump’s second term was a recurring theme.
Trump wasted no time inserting himself into Canada’s internal affairs, calling Freeland “toxic” and continuing his running gag of referring to Trudeau as the governor of an American state rather than the leader of a sovereign nation.
The attacks are becoming routine, with Trump suggesting in another post that Canadians would “save massively on taxes and military protection” as the 51st state.
Economic and democratic decline
Whoever becomes prime minister in the weeks or months to come will have to figure out how to deal with Trump — and the existential threat he poses to Canada — in a much more effective manner than the Liberals have under Trudeau.
Trump is flagrantly disrespecting Canadian independence and, along with it, Canadian identity. He’s openly challenging the very idea of Canadian sovereignty. Canada must respond accordingly.
It can be hard to fully understand the nature and the extent of threats posed by someone so willing to flaunt respected political and diplomatic conventions. His annexation threats create a constant set of multifaceted challenges to Canada’s economic prosperity, democratic norms and sovereignty.
The economic dimension of his threat to Canada is now well-known. Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian exports to the U.S. are going to be incredibly costly to both countries, given the integration of their economies. But given the size disparity between the two countries, the impact will be bigger in Canada.
The democratic threat is also clear. Trump has shown he regards democracy not as a crucial set of rules and norms, but as a set of obstacles to overcome.
He’s unable to admit defeat or even graciously accept victory.
Violent protesters loyal to Trump storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
His revenge tour has begun, with lawsuits against media outlets and even against a pollster whose data suggested Democrat Kamala Harris was pulling ahead during the late days of the U.S. election campaign.
Once back in the White House, Trump has promised to use public institutions to punish opponents. A partisan U.S. Supreme Court decision last year ensures that even if his own actions are criminal, he will remain immune from prosecution.
Trump’s disrespect of democratic institutions is corrosive and contagious. During his first term, experts sounded alarm bells about how he was linked to democratic decline around the world. If the U.S. president can openly challenge democratic norms, after all, what’s to stop other would-be demagogues from doing the same?
A second Trump administration is likely to continue such trends, and his willingness to intervene in Canadian politics is already causing shock waves north of the border.
A threat to Canadian sovereignty
Trump’s actions have repeatedly suggested he has no respect for those he views as powerless — and right now Canada fits the bill. He’s made it a running joke that Canada is not a real country, but just another American state. Nervously laughing off this threat doesn’t cut it as a response.
Canada has so far acted in a manner that makes it seem as though Trump has a point. Rather than pushing back by defending Canada’s strong record in managing its part of the border relationship, the government immediately promised more than $1 billion in new border spending. Canada’s leaders have failed to call out Trump’s threats as the bluster of a bully.
In the face of Trump’s tariff threats, Trudeau made a surprise trip to Florida to pay his respects to the president-elect and plead Canada’s case, rather than observing the normal protocol and waiting for a formal post-inauguration state visit. This made Trudeau appear more like a supplicant than a visiting head of government.
It’s helpful in this situation to think of Trump as a schoolyard bully demanding someone else do his homework — in this case, defend America’s borders. Such bullying doesn’t end when you give in to the bully, but only when it becomes clear you won’t.
Border protection is a core function of any state, and a responsibility of any American president. Trump’s demand that others do it for him is both a sign of weakness and an attempt to create a scapegoat should his efforts fail.
The world is watching how Canada responds to the bully. If Canada hopes to enjoy the respect of its peers, it must show a willingness to fight for itself, its prosperity and its values. It must defend its sovereignty from those who refuse to respect it, and act assertively to maintain Canadian prosperity. That could mean a trade war.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and president-elect Donald Trump at a recent dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. (X/@JustinTrudeau)
Power imbalance
For more than a century, Canada and the U.S. have found ways to co-operate and prosper side by side despite the fact that the U.S. is a much more powerful nation. They’ve built alliances and agreements founded on shared norms, values and customs as part of a deep and multifaceted relationship.
None of that history seems to matter to Trump, and now American power seemingly matters more than Canadian sovereignty. This power imbalance is all the more acute given Canada’s dependence on the American economy and American military might.
But Canada is not powerless. Dependency works both ways, and the deep integration of the two countries’ economies makes the U.S. vulnerable as well. Shutting off power exports, as Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggests, is one course of action that would have an immediate and significant detrimental effect on the American economy. Ditto for petroleum. Energy is power in more ways than one.
Other countries stand to lose if the U.S. gets away with disrespecting Canadian sovereignty as well. If Trump refuses to respect Canadian sovereignty, no country is safe. Panama and Denmark can already attest to that.
Finding ways to creatively push back against such demands should be an imperative for any country that values its independence, and Canada needs to work with such allies.
Trump will soon be U.S. president again. But he is not and should not be treated as the president of Canada. Whoever leads Canada in the months to come has tools at their disposal to defend Canadian sovereignty, and they must be prepared to use them.
In recent years, Canada has found itself embroiled in a tense and often tumultuous relationship with the United States, particularly under the leadership of President Donald Trump. While much of the focus has been on trade disputes and economic tensions, the conflict between the two countries goes much deeper than just dollars and cents. In fact, Canada’s fight with Trump isn’t just economic – it’s existential.
At the heart of the issue is a fundamental clash of values and principles. Canada, with its commitment to multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion, stands in stark contrast to the divisive rhetoric and policies of the Trump administration. From the Muslim travel ban to the separation of families at the border, Canada has found itself at odds with many of the actions taken by the US government.
But it’s not just about policy differences – it’s about the very essence of what it means to be Canadian. Canada prides itself on being a welcoming and tolerant society, one that embraces people of all backgrounds and beliefs. The rise of Trumpism in the US has forced Canadians to confront the possibility that their values and way of life could be under threat.
The US has long been seen as Canada’s closest ally and neighbor, but under Trump, that relationship has been strained like never before. The imposition of tariffs, the renegotiation of NAFTA, and the constant threats and insults from the President have put Canada in a difficult position. The country must now navigate the challenges of dealing with an unpredictable and hostile neighbor, while also standing firm in defense of its principles and ideals.
In this sense, Canada’s fight with Trump is not just about trade deals or economic interests – it’s about the very soul of the nation. Will Canada be able to maintain its commitment to openness and diversity in the face of growing hostility from its southern neighbor? Can it continue to uphold its values and principles in the face of external pressure and threats?
These are difficult questions with no easy answers, but one thing is clear – Canada’s fight with Trump goes beyond mere politics. It is a battle for the identity and future of the country, a struggle to defend the values that define what it means to be Canadian. And in this fight, Canada must stand strong and united, ready to face whatever challenges may come its way.
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Canada, Trump, trade war, economy, international relations, political tensions, North America, tariffs, diplomatic relations, global impact.
(Bloomberg) — Canadian investment strategists expect the country’s main stock index to keep up its momentum next year, even with possible tariffs from Donald Trump’s incoming administration hanging over the economy.
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Trump’s threats have disrupted Canadian politics and led economists to worry about a recession. Yet the S&P/TSX Composite Index is higher today than it was on US election day, and the benchmark has jumped about 18% this year, its best showing since 2021.
Rising corporate earnings and lower interest rates will help drive the equity benchmark toward a record 28,000 points in 2025, according to some market watchers, which would mean another year of double-digit returns in 2025.
Among those making that call is Philip Petursson, chief investment strategist at IG Wealth Management, who said Canadian stocks have more reasonable valuations than US equities, which gives them room to catch up.
“I think Canada has quite the edge over the S&P 500,” Petursson, who set his TSX target at 28,000 points, said in an interview. “If we are in an environment where US inflation and interest rates are going to be a little bit higher, Canada looks quite attractive.”
The TSX got off to a slow start this year before gaining speed after the Bank of Canada began its rate-cutting cycle in June. The central bank has delivered five successive rate cuts, bringing the overnight rate down to 3.25%. That’s a full 125 basis points below the upper bound of the Federal Reserve’s policy rate.
Policymakers in Canada will keep cutting, bringing the overnight rate to 2.5% by the middle of next year, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg.
Easier central-bank policy helped give a tailwind to technology and financial shares, making them the best performers of the TSX’s 11 major subgroups. Shopify Inc., the biggest tech heavyweight in Canada, is up 50%. Gold rallied, as it sometimes does when borrowing costs decline, boosting precious metals companies.
BMO Capital Markets strategist Brian Belski has a TSX target of 28,500 by the end of next year, and expects valuations to expand thanks to rate cuts and a rebound in flows into Canadian stocks.
“Overall, we believe that the Canadian recovery trade remains in its early stages,” Belski told clients last month.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg are forecasting a pickup in growth next year to 1.8%, from an expected rate of 1.2% this year — though Trump’s trade policy is a big source of uncertainty.
The Canadian dollar has been weak — slower growth, lower rates and Trump are the key factors. But the TSX benefits “quite strongly” from that, Petursson said, because it has so many companies with a sizable percentage of US-dollar earnings, which are worth more when converted back into loonies. For exporters, a lower Canadian dollar would be a partial offset to tariffs.
To be sure, the TSX is still exposed to exogenous shocks. If trade war breaks out with the US, it would damage a Canadian economy that’s already close to stalling. Statistics Canada estimates that gross domestic product shrank by 0.1% in November, contracting for the first time this year.
“A knock ’em down, drag them out, all-out trade war is kind of mutually assured destruction both for Canada and the US,” Brian Madden, chief investment officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel, said in an interview. “The US is bigger than us, so they probably can make that bluff more credibly than we can, but nobody really wants that.”
Meanwhile, population growth is expected to slow as the government tightens the rules for immigration.
“Longer term, it may be positive for GDP-per-capita growth because our infrastructure — now we’ve come to realize — couldn’t support all this population immigration coming into the country,” Christine Poole, chief executive officer at GlobeInvest Capital Management Inc., said in an interview. “But in the near term, it would probably have a negative impact on the economy because people coming into the country is a source of demand for goods and services.” Sectors where earnings are tied to domestic population growth, such as telecom, may suffer.
Not everyone is bullish on the broader index. Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at SIA Wealth Management, called tariffs a big risk to the market outlook. He said the TSX is more likely to produce small gains, reaching around 26,000 points by the end of the upcoming year.
In a bold move, strategists are betting that Canada’s TSX will hit 28,000 next year as interest rates continue to fall. Despite economic uncertainties, many believe that the Canadian stock market is poised for significant growth in the coming months.
With the Bank of Canada expected to lower interest rates further, investors are optimistic about the potential for increased spending and investment. The TSX has already seen gains this year, and many analysts believe that this trend will continue into 2020.
While there are always risks involved in investing, many strategists are confident that the TSX has the potential to reach new highs in the coming year. With a strong economy and favorable market conditions, Canada’s stock market may be on track for a historic performance.
It will be interesting to see how this prediction plays out in the coming months, but for now, many investors are feeling optimistic about the future of the TSX.
Donald Trump joked about Canada becoming the 51st state during his dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago last month
Published Dec 26, 2024 • Last updated 2 days ago • 5 minute read
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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump apparently joked about Canada becoming the 51st state during his dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago last month. — from CBC News, Dec. 10.
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Sixteen reasons why the U.S. should become Canada’s 11th province:
• Because Canada isn’t led by a convicted felon.
• Because the only thing in maple syrup is maple syrup, as opposed to high-fructose corn syrup, water, cellulose gum, salt, caramel colour, sorbic acid, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate and artificial flavours, which Americans call “pancake syrup” — although in a pinch it can be used as transmission fluid.
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• Because the scandal-ridden U.S. Supreme Court has members on it who appear to be uniquely unqualified to judge conflicts-of-interest, women’s rights or ethical conduct. According to most recent polls, the court’s reputation has sunk to historical lows, with a majority of Americans unhappy with its performance. Meanwhile, the only thing scandalous about Canada’s Supreme Court is … wait, what? Canada has a Supreme Court?
• Because Saturday Night Live has never been, or ever will be, as funny as SCTV or Kids In The Hall.
• Because as of 2022, life expectancy in Canada was 81.3 years, while life expectancy in the U.S. was 77.43 years. Scientists believe this discrepancy was due, in large part, to the consumption of pancake syrup.
• According to the U.S. non-profit Prison Policy Initiative, the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate of any democracy in the world. In fact, every single U.S. state incarcerates more people per capita than all but 28 other nations on earth. Louisiana has the highest rate of incarceration at 1,067 inmates per 100,000 population, while Massachusetts has the lowest rate at 241 inmates per 100,000 population. Canada’s is 88 inmates per 100,000 population.
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• Because while thousands of Canadians were dying on the battlefields of Europe and Asia during the Second World War, the U.S. remained neutral for the next two years, unable or unwilling to recognize the threat that fascists posed to the world. Apparently, Americans are still unable to recognize that threat, especially the one at home.
• Because the United States has transformed the longest undefended border in the world into a bullshit political talking point in which trade, transgressions and blame flow only one way. If President-elect Donald Trump is upset by fentanyl going southward — despite the fact that the amount of fentanyl going into the U.S. from Canada is so small his own U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration characterizes it as “slippage” — why does he not show the same concerns for illegal firearms going northward? If, as he sees it, a trade imbalance exists in Canada’s favour, why is he resorting to inflationary tariffs on Canadian goods rather than recognizing and addressing the real reason for that trade imbalance — namely his constituents’ insatiable appetites and need for Canadian oil, gas, electrical power, automobiles, rare minerals, gold, lumber, etc.?
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• As of mid-December, according to CNN, there have been at least 83 school shootings in the U.S. in 2024, which left 38 people dead and at least 115 people physically injured. How many people were left permanently traumatized by those shootings was not reported. While the U.S. government does not track these attacks, The Washington Post was able to document at least 426 school shootings since the infamous 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado. At least 215 children and teachers died in those attacks. America’s response to end this carnage? More guns. As of last count, at least 25 U.S. states allow schools or school districts to give permission to “individuals” to carry guns on school property. Twenty states already allow school security personnel to carry guns, while nine states have enacted policies allowing school employees other than security personnel to carry guns on school property.
• Because Americans insist on killing themselves due to a perverse love of guns. Americans make up four per cent of the world’s population but own just under 50 per cent of the entire global stock of civilian firearms. American civilians own approximately 400 million guns, more than those held by the other top 25 countries combined. The U.S. Constitution enshrined the right of people “to keep and bear arms” in a militia — an anachronism Americans still embrace with deadly enthusiasm. Since 2014, the number of related gun deaths have surpassed 39,000 a year, and have topped 50,000 deaths a year several times. Firearms have become the leading cause of death for children ages one to 17, and disproportionately increase rates of violence among the poor and people of colour.
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• Because even the American anthem glorifies war and violence. Rockets’ red glare? Bombs bursting in air? Words to die by. The Canadian anthem? The only thing remotely incendiary are glowing hearts.
• Because the American ethos of unbridled egotism, consumerism and capitalism is given licence in the aptly named Declaration of Independence, where it is enshrined as “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” — which could double as the catchphrase for Eat, Pray, Love. The Canadian ethos, on the other hand, is stated in our constitution as “peace, order and good government” — which is undeniably duller and less inspiring, but then it has been the guiding principle in developing a civil society in which we don’t feel the need to arm our teachers.
• Because one has to wonder why, in 2023, the U.S. spent $916 billion on its military, or more than the next nine countries combined. Possibly, this may have to do with the fact that, since its inception, the U.S. has been involved in 115 military conflicts. Baseball is not America’s national pastime.
• Because abortion was made legal in Canada in 1969 under certain circumstances, and became legal throughout the country in 1988, while in the U.S., the Supreme Court (see “uniquely unqualified” above) overturned previous legal decisions protecting abortion rights, thus boldly going back to a patriarchal past where women are second-class citizens without the right to make decisions about their own bodies while men are still free to procreate without regard to legal, financial or moral responsibility.
• Because it’s called North America, not “Amerika.”
• Because America has chosen to alienate its closest friend and ally in the world. Make that America’s last remaining friend in the world.
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In a recent article, journalist Pete McMartin made a bold suggestion: that the United States should become Canada’s 11th province. While this idea may seem far-fetched to some, McMartin argues that there are several compelling reasons why this merger could benefit both countries.
First and foremost, McMartin points to the economic advantages of such a union. By joining forces, Canada and the U.S. could create a single, unified market with a combined GDP that would rival that of China. This would not only increase trade and investment opportunities for both countries, but also strengthen North America’s position in the global economy.
Additionally, McMartin argues that a united Canada and U.S. would have greater political influence on the world stage. Together, they could more effectively address shared challenges such as climate change, terrorism, and cybersecurity. This could also lead to greater cooperation on issues like border security and immigration, ultimately benefiting citizens of both countries.
While the idea of the U.S. becoming Canada’s 11th province may seem radical, Pete McMartin makes a compelling case for why such a merger could be mutually beneficial. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, perhaps it’s time for Canada and the U.S. to consider a closer partnership that goes beyond just being neighbors.
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Pete McMartin, U.S. should be Canada’s 11th province, Canadian-American relations, North American unity, political commentary, international relations, Canada-U.S. relations, Pete McMartin article
Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the current favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, was injured early in the first period of Team Canada’s round-robin game on Friday against Latvia during the World Juniors in Ottawa.
Schaefer was coming into the offensive zone at full speed, and his left shoulder collided with the net following a chance on goal. He immediately left the ice and didn’t return. Ahead of the second period, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Schaefer had been one of the more important players for Canada through their first four periods of tournament play.
Canada’s Matthew Schaefer went down the tunnel after running into the goal at full speed with his shoulder then hitting the boards pic.twitter.com/TJoyQ3Qcui
(Photo: Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press via AP)
In a disappointing turn of events, Canada’s Matthew Schaefer had to leave the World Juniors game against Latvia due to an injury. The talented defenseman was forced to exit the game early, leaving fans concerned about his condition.
Schaefer, known for his strong defensive play and leadership on the ice, will be sorely missed by Team Canada as they continue their quest for gold in the tournament. The extent of his injury is not yet known, but his absence will undoubtedly be felt by his teammates and coaches.
We wish Matthew Schaefer a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the ice soon, ready to make a strong comeback. In the meantime, Team Canada will have to rally together and overcome this setback as they strive for success in the World Juniors.
Welcome to the ultimate Nova Scotia travel guide for 2025! Join us on a journey through Canada’s most scenic shores and vibrant communities as we explore the hidden gems and must-see attractions of this beautiful province.
From the iconic Cabot Trail to the charming towns of Lunenburg and Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia offers a wealth of experiences for every type of traveler. Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff, foodie, or simply looking to relax and unwind, there’s something for everyone in Nova Scotia.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the best places to visit, top things to do, and insider tips for making the most of your Nova Scotia adventure. Discover the breathtaking landscapes of Cape Breton Highlands National Park, indulge in fresh seafood at the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, or explore the rich maritime history of the region at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
With our detailed itineraries, helpful recommendations, and stunning photography, this travel guide is your ticket to experiencing the best of Nova Scotia in 2025. So pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through Canada’s most picturesque province. Happy travels! #NovaScotia #Canada #TravelGuide2025 #ExploreNovaScotia
#NOVA #SCOTIA #TRAVEL #GUIDE #Journey #Canadas #Scenic #Shores #Vibrant #Communities #Williams #Travel #Collection
