The NY Times Editorial Board has updated its Autocracy Index for the US. The index measures the descent from democracy to autocracy across 12 dimensions. (Recall LY, I pointed to Levitsky's historical work on "competitive authoritarianism" - the intermediate stage before autocracy.)

Join us. 🇨🇦

“And if anyone thought that this might be a sign of Italy’s distaste for North America at large, the locals made it clear that their beef was specifically with the U.S. The Italians reserved some of the loudest cheers of the night for Mexico & Canada.” 3/3 www.wsj.com/sports/olymp...

"It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society." - Jiddu Krishnamurti, philosopher

Americans really outdid themselves when they chose to elect one of the worst humans on the planet to their highest office. Trump reminds me every day how fortunate I am to live in Canada. I just hope the sickness down south doesn't spread north.

BREAKING: Over 680 members of the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have endorsed articles of impeachment against RFK Jr. (1/2 🧵)

The deal to allow Chinese EV's into Canada at a low tariff rate will make Tesla a big winner. The largest stockholder is Elon Musk, the man who helped get Trump elected and appeared to fling Nazi salutes at his victory party. Can't imagine driving a so-called "swasticar". www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

There are a lot of lies and rage-baiting about immigrants, so from time to time I want to correct the record.

This week in the corrupted US: Trump appointee uses a weaponized FBI to grab 700 boxes of secure 2020 election data. Trump later announces his goal of "nationalizing" elections away from state control. This is like a burglar telling you he's planning a heist in plain sight.

ICE is part of the Department of Homeland Security. I thought DHS was responsible for preventing terrorist attacks that kill innocent Americans, not the reverse.

This is good news for those who don't want to see the Canadian Conservatives elected, the party that houses almost all MAGA/Trump supporters and other assorted far right extremists and disinformation believers. A fresh leader would have boosted their chances. globalnews.ca/news/1164481...

Why do Canadians stand with #Minnesota? Beyond the international cry for justice against his aggressions, we can see that someday we could be next, only on a much greater scale. If he's willing to trample on his own citizens like a third world dictator, then what's to stop him from doing worse here?

Bruce Springsteen's new song, "Streets of Minneapolis". Lyrics in reply. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKS...

Trump is removing an ICE commander from Minnesota. But let's be clear about this. The rhetoric, the policies, the rules of engagement, the inhumane and hateful media posts, the threats, the lies, the shirking of responsibility, the pardons of violent lawbreakers? They start from the top.

Canada and NATO allies fought bravely on the front lines in Afghanistan, whether Trump lies about it or not. The recruits to Trump's armed and masked ICE forces are killing on the front lines too, but they're in Minnesota and their bravery is against everyday American moms and nurses.

Trump's newest threat of 100% tariffs against Canada unless we follow his trade directives reinforces one thing: we cannot rely on the US for trade and must diversify to other countries as much and as fast as we can. That has to include major markets like China. He is shooting himself in the foot.

As many Canadians expected, Trump has returned to form and is threatening Canada with 100% tariffs if we do not heel to his trade demands, now including who we strike deals with (like China). He also called Carney "governor", a return to his direct attempts to subjugate us and threaten annexation.

“My belief is that if we do not hold the most powerful people in our society to the standards of the rule of the law, it can be catastrophic,” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...

Trump dominated Davos. But Canada’s Carney was the star. (gift article) wapo.st/4pSPwBm

A taste of how the world is reacting to Mark Carney's Davos speech. I hope more leaders wake up from the shock Trump delivered in 2025 and make 2026 a year where they speak clearly and work together to set a better course. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Trump: "Canada lives because of the United States." ❌ Mark Carney: "Canada thrives because we are Canadian. ✅ Yes. We're better-educated, have universal healthcare, live longer, our justice system and elections are fair, our businesses and workforce deliver quality, and our leader isn't corrupt.

It's official. The US has left the World Health Organization as of today. I don't know when or how or where, but I can guarantee that mathematically the infectious diseases of the world will not stop at national borders and they will cause millions more deaths when the world does not cooperate.

If there is one man in Washington that still stands tall as an American who believes in the Constitution, the rule of law, and the importance of truth, it is Jack Smith. There are Americans out there who still challenge Trump, I hope they withstand his attempts to muzzle or destroy them.

Trump said NATO has never come to the aid of the US. As a Canadian, I can say that is a shameless lie. As part of NATO, Canada came to the aid of the US in Afghanistan. We alone lost 159 members of our Armed Forces.

If you review this week's events and Trump's push on Greenland, you may arrive at the scenario I reached: Trump will press to establish bases and even control in Canada's far north and to gain priority access or control of our critical resources. The battle for our far north began with Greenland.

If Donald Trump set out to give a speech that was the perfect contrast to Mark Carney's eloquence and reasoning of the day before, he succeeded.

Trump at Davos: "Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that Mark, the next time you make your statements." I interpret Trump's statement as just another threat against us. We have two choices, either curry favour and subordinate ourselves to Trump, or stand up. I choose the latter. 🇨🇦

Carney's speech today had me wanting to snip quote after quote and post them, much as I would have done when I read Churchill's speeches. It will have a reach beyond Canada but I hope Canadians do read his words and rally around both the reality and the vision he laid out for middle power countries.

Mark Carney gave a historic speech in Davos today, a speech that calls out appeasement and warns the world. "There is a strong tendency for countries to go along to get along, to accommodate, to avoid trouble, to hope that compliance will buy safety. Well it won't." www.youtube.com/watch?v=uStu...

In the wake of the Denmark/Greenland leaders speaking clearly to their population about the risk of a US takeover, we are nearing the time when Mark Carney must speak openly to Canadians about the real and urgent threat they also face. It just hasn't been vocalized by Trump lately. But it's there.

Powerful speech from Mark Carney. The CBC headline labels it "provocative". In these times, speaking the truth and making sure the world is grounded in this historical reality is de facto provocative. If you're concerned about our future it means you're paying attention. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

If the intention of Trump's threats and tariffs against Canada was to weaken investment in our country, it failed. In 2025, the Canadian stock market rose twice as much as its American counterpart. global.morningstar.com/en-ca/market...

At the risk of being labelled a moralist, I believe there is a truth that should remind us of how we should act in public spaces during times like this. Openly detesting and rejecting evil and corruption is the best way to celebrate and encourage kindness and fairness to our fellow man.

The Toronto Sun is owned by PostMedia. PostMedia is 2/3 owned by Chatham Asset Management, a US hedge fund. According to a 2018 Fortune article, Chatham has close ties to the US Republican Party. The founder, Anthony Melchiorre, is a Trump friend and supporter. Charlie Angus is right.

Looks like I was only a few days ahead of the curve this time. NATO allies are now responding to Trump's latest threats against Greenland.

Influenza activity in Ontario Canada is dropping at a rate similar to its steep rise. This is commonly seen in epidemiology, see Farr's Law. #flu www.cebm.net/covid-19/cov...

This is consistent with the Trump moves in other areas of human health, including vaccines, cancer research funding, international aid, and healthcare. At this stage his greed over health choices are expected.

Where are Canadians moving within the country? The largest net outflows are from Ontario, the largest net inflows are to Alberta.

In case you missed it, Canada is not standing still. We rank second in projected 2026 economic growth among the G7 nations, according to the latest IMF and OECD reports. source: UK Parliament HoC Library research briefing commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

I think it is past the time when NATO can expect words and meetings to resolve the Trump threats against NATO. It is time to place a small but symbolic NATO presence in Greenland and Canada. Confronting both Russian and American threats unfortunately requires a presence at both fronts.

I am not sure how much people realize the importance of clear, objective data in the running of a democracy and economy. Those who depend on disinformation and deception to achieve economic and political power will naturally work to suppress scientific evidence and reliable statistics.

Bob Rae, former Canadian UN Ambassador, in interview with Global News: “We’re on the menu,” he said. “If you don’t think we’re on the menu just because he hasn’t mentioned the words ’51st state,’ I think that’s really missing the boat in terms of what this administration is about.”

NATO allies are unwilling to directly criticize Trump and the US as he ramps up threats against Greenland. I find a striking similarity to the prewar history of Europe when meek diplomatic statements and appeasement told Hitler all he needed to know.

Much like I have shared signs of increased avian flu risk, I have tried to share signs that help confirm the increased risk Canada faces from the south. Like bird flu, it is easy to ignore until it isn’t.

The backstory behind Trump’s public statements and attack on Venezuela, like his threats and exaggerated claims elsewhere from Greenland to Canada, is critical resources. In this case, critical access to crude oil that matches US refinery capabilities, at a cheaper cost than Canada’s reserves.

This chart overlays Ontario Canada influenza hospital bed occupancy by year. The latest available trend is blue and rockets up to December 17th. (Holiday hospital reporting is usually delayed, incomplete, and/or unstable.) Chart: PHO

An economy dominated by billionaires and corrupt, powerful politicians is not the same as a free market economy.

"Influenza A percent positivity is now higher than in any of the past three seasons, with increases across all age groups. Percent positive remains highest in children (5-11 years) at 63.8% and adolescents (12-19 years) at 54.6%." - Public Health Ontario

Ontario Canada's covid-19 activity and short-term outlook remains stable. Test positivity is currently 5.8%. This chart shows the current trend in blue compared to past seasons. #covid Chart: Public Health Ontario www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Docu...

Flu season is taking off as shown by this Public Health Ontario Hospital Admissions chart up to Nov 29th. We're already at a high level of lab test positivity (18.3%). It's not too late to get vaccinated and reduce your chances of a hospital visit. #flu www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-...