{"id":57057,"date":"2025-03-06T14:13:33","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T14:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2025\/03\/06\/canada-put-regionalism-aside-financial-post\/"},"modified":"2025-03-06T14:13:33","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T14:13:33","slug":"canada-put-regionalism-aside-financial-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2025\/03\/06\/canada-put-regionalism-aside-financial-post\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada: put regionalism aside | Financial Post"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><\/div><p> \n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header article-header--story\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\" data-aqa=\"nav-breadcrumb\">\n<p>Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/p>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\">Economy<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"article-header__detail\">\n<div class=\"article-header__detail__texts\">\n<p class=\"article-subtitle\">It inhibited us from striking important decisions that would have made us stronger \u2014 like Energy East<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<p><span class=\"published-date__since\">Published Mar 06, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span class=\"published-date__word-count\">4 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta__bottom\">\n<div class=\"bookmark-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"popover\" data-aqa=\"popover\" data-click-to-appear=\"True\" data-container=\"\" data-container-offset=\"\" data-no-style=\"\" data-popover-component=\"\" data-position=\"top\" data-sticky=\"\" data-tail-offset=\"200\" data-tail-position=\"right\"><button class=\"popover__trigger bookmark-button\"><span class=\"save-article-button save-article-button--default\" title=\"Save article\" data-article-id=\"162c5d61-0b5f-477a-b1bd-2ffb8bc3f6b7\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-describedby=\"popover-desc-popover-bookmark\" class=\"popover__content\" hidden=\"\" role=\"dialog\">\n<div class=\"popover__content__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"popover__content__text\" id=\"popover-desc-popover-bookmark\">\n<div class=\"bookmark__popover__content\">\n<p>You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"popover__content__close\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\" title=\"Close\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" class=\"icon--close\" height=\"12\" version=\"1.1\" width=\"12\"><polygon points=\"12 0.95 11.05 0 6 5.05 0.95 0 0 0.95 5.05 6 0 11.05 0.95 12 6 6.95 11.05 12 12 11.05 6.95 6\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"featured-image\" data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture class=\"featured-image__ratio\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"featured-image__caption image-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Protesters march against the Energy East pipeline in Saint John, N.B. in 2015. The project was ultimately struck down to keep the regional peace, Donald Savoie argues.<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Photo by Colin McPhail<\/span> \/<span class=\"distributor\">Telegraph-Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>The world order, as we have known it for the past 80 years, is over and unlikely to return. For the first time in our history, Canada stands alone.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>We can lament the past when we knew who the good guys were and when signed treaties between friends were respected. We had easy access to a large market which enabled us to avoid making difficult decisions.<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">The old order fuelled selfish regionalism which inhibited us from striking important decisions that would have made us stronger \u2014 and helped us fight a tariff war. Energy East jumps to mind. The private sector was happy to take it on, but Ottawa let it die in the name of national unity and perhaps the environment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_2\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment825347169986950674662393663979520\" class=\"ad\">\n<p>Advertisement 2<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-2\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:600px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-block article-block-bg 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Joe O&#8217;Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.<\/li>\n<li>Daily content from Financial Times, the world&#8217;s leading global business publication.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"intro-body__anonymous\">\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled list-checkmark\">\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"intro-body__registration_only hidden\">\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled list-checkmark\">\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"identity-screen m-x-0 p-x-0 col-xs-12 col-md-6 flex-justify-center flex-align-center\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<section class=\"sail\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-sailthru-personalization-engine=\"\" data-sailthru-personalization-engine-component=\"\"\/>\n<div class=\"m-x-0 p-x-0 col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-12 flex-align-justify-center\" data-auth-component=\"\" id=\"auth-screen-form\">\n<div class=\"identity-screen-form--active w-full flex-align-justify-center\">\n<div class=\"identity-screen-form identity-screen__content w-full\">\n<h2 class=\"blocker-title\">Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"identity-divider__line\"\/><span class=\"identity-divider__text\">or<\/span><span class=\"identity-divider__line\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"identity-footer identity-screen__content m-x-0 p-x-0 col-sm-6 col-md-12\"\/><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>The decision forced Canada to import oil from the Middle East. Heavy oil tankers crossing oceans are not good for the environment. Energy East would have made Canada economically stronger, would have lessened Europe\u2019s dependency on Russian oil, and would have helped us deal more effectively with a belligerent U.S. president. However hard I try, I am unable to make the decision make sense.<\/p>\n<p>Governments became comfortable with the old order. It made life easier. Instead of striking difficult decisions, they patched up problems with new programs all too often defined on the fly without a full appreciation of how they would be implemented. Governments just kept growing. Today the federal government is home to 300 organizations, 368,000 positions, too many management levels, too many associate positions attached to too many executive positions, all costing taxpayers some $70 billion in addition to $15-billion-plus in consultant fees.<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">An existential crisis offers hope that we will be able to address long-standing problems and there are encouraging signs that we are on the right track. Selfish regionalism is on the wane, thankfully. There is a growing sense of national pride that I have never seen. This opens the window to big ideas, striking difficult decisions and embracing change.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"js-widget-content article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--content-slot14 article-content__widget-group--newsletter-slot\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-widget__new-story-page fp-headlinenews background--primary-light-gradient\" aria-labelledby=\"FinancialPostTopStories1078894137877434068851743296323584\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component=\"\" data-target-list=\"FP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-new-story-page-template\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__header__new-story-page\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__banner__new-story-page\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 75w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 100w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 150w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 240w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 320w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 500w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 640w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 800w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 1024w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 1280w, https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg 1600w\" alt=\"Top Stories\" loading=\"lazy\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.1.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-fp-topStories.svg\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Top Stories<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page\">Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__body__new-story-page\">\n<div class=\"js-replace-main__new-story-page\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer__new-story-page text-size--tiny\">By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"js-submit-success\" hidden=\"\" id=\"submitSuccessFP_HeadlineNews\">\n<p>Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page\">A welcome email is on its way. If you don&#8217;t see it, please check your junk folder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page newsletter__feedback--last\">The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page js-submit-error\" style=\"margin-top: 8px\" hidden=\"\" id=\"submitErrorFP_HeadlineNews\">We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_3\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment3660869750562445381061434583023616\" class=\"ad\">\n<p>Advertisement 3<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-3\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>We have been talking for the past 55 years about giving Western Canada a stronger say in shaping national policies. Time to do something about it. We have been talking about moving away from governing from the centre in Ottawa for the past 25 years. Time to do something about it. Canadians need to see that their views expressed through their members of Parliament and cabinet ministers matter. Governing from the centre discourages innovation and bottles up decisions that should be made down the line.<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">We have been talking about dealing with interprovincial trade barriers for 50 years or more. Time to do something about it. There are encouraging signs that premiers are finally looking at doing away with them, but talking about it is not enough. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is showing the way, time for the other premiers to follow his lead.<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">Leading economists have of late talked about the need to strengthen productivity. Time to do something about it with a sense of urgency. We need to overhaul our tax policies to encourage investments both domestic and foreign. Our entrepreneurs can show the way to increase productivity, but we need to give them the room and incentives to do it. The full impact of artificial intelligence is just around the corner and there is a need to equip our small businesses and Canadians to become full participants in this fast-emerging economy.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_4\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8314708766503788443233050601455616\" class=\"ad\">\n<p>Advertisement 4<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-4\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Governments also need to strengthen productivity. The problem is not with individual public servants \u2014 they want to be productive and to serve the public interest. The decision-making process and public sector unions inhibit their work to the point that far too many are kept busy turning a crank that is not attached to anything. I do not believe that the Government of Canada needs 300 organizations. It is long overdue for someone to ask hard questions about government operations. The old public administration model is on life support and now is the time to come forward with big ideas to make government more efficient. For too long, governments have given the appearance of change while standing still.<\/p>\n<p>A good place to start is to ask: \u201cDoes the Government of Canada need 300 organizations?\u201d I think not. For example, there are now seven federal government regional agencies. We have reached the point where every postal code in Canada has access to a federal regional development agency. Even only a cursory look at their mandates reveals that much of what they do falls in areas of provincial government responsibilities. I can also easily identify a number of Ottawa-based agencies that should come under review. We need to redirect some of the savings from a smaller and more efficient government to strengthening our national defence. The focus should be on the Arctic, because no one else will look after our economic interest there.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_5\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8433239575126691448123075642523648\" class=\"ad\">\n<p>Advertisement 5<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-5\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<section aria-labelledby=\"moreTopicLabel1025220672737012695082552052940800\" class=\"more-topic\" data-aqa=\"embed-more-topic\" data-carousel-component=\"\" data-carousel-icon-button=\"\" data-carousel-type=\"list\">\n<p>Recommended from Editorial<\/p>\n<p><button aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"more-topic__button-prev\" data-carousel-prev=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" title=\"previous\" type=\"button\"\/><\/p>\n<ol class=\"more-topic__items list-unstyled\" data-carousel-slide-list=\"\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" paint=\"\" bleak=\"\" picture=\"\" as=\"\" trade=\"\" war=\"\" erupts=\"\" data-carousel-item=\"\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"> <picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" 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https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=opdpbKGY-VCAecoEuBOsVw&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=opdpbKGY-VCAecoEuBOsVw&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=opdpbKGY-VCAecoEuBOsVw&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=opdpbKGY-VCAecoEuBOsVw&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=opdpbKGY-VCAecoEuBOsVw&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=opdpbKGY-VCAecoEuBOsVw&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=opdpbKGY-VCAecoEuBOsVw&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"The Canadian and United States flags fly near the border in Blackpool, Que.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&sig=OEe-ueXBMwDYCYLGDO3WSQ\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=opdpbKGY-VCAecoEuBOsVw&ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&sig=OEe-ueXBMwDYCYLGDO3WSQ, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80&sig=WYsFoVV2gC10Zkto651kYA 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/no0304flags.jpg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80&sig=6n9PfbA4tTqZ0i7e8SW5-w 3x\" class=\"lazyload\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\">Economists paint bleak picture as trade war erupts<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" war=\"\" threatens=\"\" to=\"\" speed=\"\" the=\"\" drain=\"\" of=\"\" corporate=\"\" money=\"\" from=\"\" canada=\"\" data-carousel-item=\"\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"> <picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Making it easier for Canadian companies to leave, and the \u201chollowing out\u201d of Canada\u2019s capital markets and parts of its economy that would follow, could thrust Canada into an \u201cexistential\u201d crisis.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&sig=UHLM_6ywNIY9ttvAS_vjDg\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=m51MvuK0pNXaILWdZTa-yw&ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&sig=UHLM_6ywNIY9ttvAS_vjDg, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80&sig=Qp3Okm4wtI5YWI1l29uTEg 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0306-mg-office.jpg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80&sig=OHkJ20Dv6TXXLkRNPb1n8A 3x\" class=\"lazyload\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\">Tariff war threatens to speed the drain of corporate money from Canada<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" gets=\"\" wakeup=\"\" call=\"\" that=\"\" world=\"\" and=\"\" dangerous=\"\" place=\"\" data-carousel-item=\"\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"> <picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Graffiti in Calgary expresses disillusionment with the United States after President Donald Trump triggered a trade war with Canada and Mexico.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&sig=DFjJZn-gydk3oDaYKg-5Pg\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=UHxCsHL3qWLM8peyMfSuqQ&ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&sig=DFjJZn-gydk3oDaYKg-5Pg, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80&sig=FoVO8uXvDzDNIALnXAn36A 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trump-tariffs-0305-ph.jpg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80&sig=fdPMJLd3TVGdBEedaIfNJw 3x\" class=\"lazyload\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\">Canada gets wakeup call that world &#8216;unstable and dangerous place&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><button aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"more-topic__button-next\" data-carousel-next=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" title=\"next\" type=\"button\"\/><\/section>\n<p>Donald Trump\u2019s imposition of tariffs in response to a fabricated crisis about fentanyl flowing from the north, his desire to crush the Canadian economy and his repeated insult that Canada should become the 51st state are making Canadians mad. But getting mad serves no purpose. The moment calls for decisions to make Canada and the Canadian economy stronger. We need to grab the moment with both hands knowing that political sovereignty and economic strength go hand in hand.<\/p>\n<p><em>Donald J. Savoie is a professor at Universit\u00e9 de Moncton\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" data-evt-typ=\"page_scroll\">\n<p>Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<br \/>Canada: put regionalism aside | Financial Post<\/a><br \/>\n<br \/>2025-03-06 14:13:33<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breadcrumb Trail Links Economy It inhibited us from striking important decisions that would have made us stronger \u2014 like Energy East Published Mar 06, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read You&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":57058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/energy-east-gs0306.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=M0otv8_-Z1gvO-pX5U24gA","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57057"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57057\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/57058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}