The political language around this felt very transparently tongue and cheek and in some ways bafflingly exposes even further how incompetent Republican politicians can be
Like ya Carney can put it in writing that they’ll stop the booze ban and put It back on the shelves but do these idiots not realize it’s the PEOPLE that started this?
We’re the ones who have control over what we do and don’t buy, personally this was the easiest boycott for me because I don’t really drink much alcohol in general, the only time I do is at social gatherings (bars, parties etc)
No, they don't understand that this was grass-roots driven, not top-down. ;-)
They haven't had something like this happen on their side of the border for a very long time - so they actually can't envision it. Worse, they seem to think it's just about "hurt feelings" and "Canadians can't take a joke."
Little do they appreciate that Canadians can not only 'take a joke' but we have 'exported' a ton of terrific comics to other areas of the world. We can also laugh at ourselves, something that no American I've ever met can do. :)
I'm not sure that we have straight-forward answers to why AB and SK "folded too early." Probably a combination of "all of the above" -- and you can put whatever thoughts you want into the "above" bucket.
Both AB's CPC and SK's Sask Party have significant right-wing electorate -- though not the whole of the parties think this way. Much like American Republicans -- not all are MAGA.
I suspect that Moe -- who is extremely good at talking logic to these things, to cover up whatever real reasons they had for doing it -- would be the first to state the exact point that I suspect all of us would say: "we can put it on the shelves -- but how many people will actually BUY it? Those that don't buy it - well, see Americans, we TOLD you. Don't blame my government. For those that do, well, we respect your right to do that (and remember who to vote for during the next election!)"
Whatever. From what I can discover, American alcohol sales in both provinces is substantially lower than what it was before.
“Folded too early” probably makes the motivation sound simpler than it was.
And your larger point may actually strengthen mine... Alberta and Saskatchewan could put the bottles back on the shelves and tell Washington, “There, we removed the restriction.”
Then Canadians in those provinces could walk right past them anyway.
If American alcohol sales there are still substantially below where they were before all this started, that’s the interesting part to me.
**Government policy can change overnight.
Consumer behaviour doesn’t necessarily follow it back.**
You've got that right. And don't get me started about American beer from the big brewers! Craft beer there is pretty good, but it still can't touch what we make here in Canada.
Please explain to me what the federal government can legally do to force provinces to lift their booze bans without setting an egregious precedent for toe-stepping that could in future affect other areas of provincial jurisdiction like education, healthcare, property rights and civil laws, or governance of municipalities? ❤️🇨🇦
Under the historic 1937 Labour Conventions case decided by the Privy Council, Canada's constitutional powers are split between external negotiation and internal implementation.
Federal Monopoly on Diplomacy: Only Ottawa can officially bind Canada to a foreign state under international law.
Provincial Monopoly on Implementation: If a treaty requires changes to domestic laws in areas like property and civil rights, natural resources, or health, the relevant provincial legislatures must pass their own laws to make the treaty effective domestically.
No Overriding Power: The federal government cannot use its foreign affairs power as an excuse to pass laws that intrude upon provincial jurisdictions.
How Ottawa Tries to Secure Cooperation
Because it cannot legally command a province to pass implementing legislation, the federal government relies on non-coercive tools:
Early Consultation: Federal departments regularly coordinate with provincial governments before signing major trade or environmental treaties.
Federal-Provincial Agreements: Provinces are frequently brought directly into international negotiations or delegations when the subject touches their powers (such as CETA).
Federal State Clauses: Treaties often include special clauses recognizing Canada's federal structure, meaning the international obligation applies only to the parts of the country where the implementing level of government agrees to act.
They can't, they have to negotiate with the Americans and the provinces at the same time.
It's also possible that the provinces have previously told the trade team what they'd accept to end the booze bans. They might have said "we want tariffs gone but we'll accept 10%" or they might have demanded other industrial protections or access.
DO NOT GIVE IN TO THIS OBVIOUS SHAKEDOWN. The shithead will find another reason to reimpose tarrifs the day after a bullshit "deal" is signed. WE ALL KNOW IT. I'd rather see us walk away from NAFTa altogether. It's meaningless anyway.
So we never bought the US booze.( our's Trumps theirs ...heehee) But we are large consumers of fruit and veggies and won't buy US anymore. Or other grocery items unless they are critical. No meat, produce, beans, soup... bottled or canned anything. Mexico is the usual backup, but we see and buy from ashore a lot. And frankly the US stuff often looks terrible. Rotting on the vine or in transit and when unscrupulous grocers dare to continue putting on the shelves, we just dump the stores for all shopping
I believe Canadians will once again act with their hearts and minds and not bother with American products until this is over. My only concern is that some Canadians could be swayed by the PP + Ford backlash, questioning Carney's ability to negotiate (if you can) with the US.
Not only am I 'unlikely' to buy American booze again, I simply will NOT buy American booze again. I prefer single malt scotch to any bourbon in the world for one thing, but to me it is a choice to spend my money in places other than the USA. We have depended on our economic partnership with them for far too long. We need to develop more areas in Canada; biotech companies, metal processing, oil refining, and other industries so that we are not reliant on ANY other country to the extent that we have relied on the USA to date. We have the talent here. We have the natural resources here. I have long thought that our natural resources ought to be used to make finished products right here in Canada, NOT in another country. Hopefully that thought will be growing in other Canadians' minds too.
The political language around this felt very transparently tongue and cheek and in some ways bafflingly exposes even further how incompetent Republican politicians can be
Like ya Carney can put it in writing that they’ll stop the booze ban and put It back on the shelves but do these idiots not realize it’s the PEOPLE that started this?
We’re the ones who have control over what we do and don’t buy, personally this was the easiest boycott for me because I don’t really drink much alcohol in general, the only time I do is at social gatherings (bars, parties etc)
Exactly, Kyle.
That’s the part Washington seems unable to grasp.
Carney can agree to put American booze back on the shelves.
**He can’t agree that Canadians will buy it.**
The government started the restriction.
Canadians turned it into something much bigger... a change in buying habits.
And once people discover they can simply spend their money somewhere else, that’s a hell of a lot harder to reverse than a government policy.
No, they don't understand that this was grass-roots driven, not top-down. ;-)
They haven't had something like this happen on their side of the border for a very long time - so they actually can't envision it. Worse, they seem to think it's just about "hurt feelings" and "Canadians can't take a joke."
Exactly, Grant.
That’s the part I think they badly misread.
Governments may have put the bottles behind the curtain, but Canadians decided what happened next.
This stopped being about hurt feelings a long time ago.
People changed habits, found Canadian and other alternatives, cancelled trips, changed where they spent their money... and discovered they could.
You can negotiate away a government restriction.
**You can’t negotiate away a grassroots change in behaviour.**
Little do they appreciate that Canadians can not only 'take a joke' but we have 'exported' a ton of terrific comics to other areas of the world. We can also laugh at ourselves, something that no American I've ever met can do. :)
Oh so true Leslie! Good one!
I'm not sure that we have straight-forward answers to why AB and SK "folded too early." Probably a combination of "all of the above" -- and you can put whatever thoughts you want into the "above" bucket.
Both AB's CPC and SK's Sask Party have significant right-wing electorate -- though not the whole of the parties think this way. Much like American Republicans -- not all are MAGA.
I suspect that Moe -- who is extremely good at talking logic to these things, to cover up whatever real reasons they had for doing it -- would be the first to state the exact point that I suspect all of us would say: "we can put it on the shelves -- but how many people will actually BUY it? Those that don't buy it - well, see Americans, we TOLD you. Don't blame my government. For those that do, well, we respect your right to do that (and remember who to vote for during the next election!)"
Whatever. From what I can discover, American alcohol sales in both provinces is substantially lower than what it was before.
Fair point, Grant.
“Folded too early” probably makes the motivation sound simpler than it was.
And your larger point may actually strengthen mine... Alberta and Saskatchewan could put the bottles back on the shelves and tell Washington, “There, we removed the restriction.”
Then Canadians in those provinces could walk right past them anyway.
If American alcohol sales there are still substantially below where they were before all this started, that’s the interesting part to me.
**Government policy can change overnight.
Consumer behaviour doesn’t necessarily follow it back.**
That’s becoming the bigger story.
I know, I won't be buying it! They do not know how to make spirits! As for wine European, South African, and Canadian wines are far superior!!
You've got that right. And don't get me started about American beer from the big brewers! Craft beer there is pretty good, but it still can't touch what we make here in Canada.
Please explain to me what the federal government can legally do to force provinces to lift their booze bans without setting an egregious precedent for toe-stepping that could in future affect other areas of provincial jurisdiction like education, healthcare, property rights and civil laws, or governance of municipalities? ❤️🇨🇦
Constitutional Division of Treaty Powers
Under the historic 1937 Labour Conventions case decided by the Privy Council, Canada's constitutional powers are split between external negotiation and internal implementation.
Federal Monopoly on Diplomacy: Only Ottawa can officially bind Canada to a foreign state under international law.
Provincial Monopoly on Implementation: If a treaty requires changes to domestic laws in areas like property and civil rights, natural resources, or health, the relevant provincial legislatures must pass their own laws to make the treaty effective domestically.
No Overriding Power: The federal government cannot use its foreign affairs power as an excuse to pass laws that intrude upon provincial jurisdictions.
How Ottawa Tries to Secure Cooperation
Because it cannot legally command a province to pass implementing legislation, the federal government relies on non-coercive tools:
Early Consultation: Federal departments regularly coordinate with provincial governments before signing major trade or environmental treaties.
Federal-Provincial Agreements: Provinces are frequently brought directly into international negotiations or delegations when the subject touches their powers (such as CETA).
Federal State Clauses: Treaties often include special clauses recognizing Canada's federal structure, meaning the international obligation applies only to the parts of the country where the implementing level of government agrees to act.
They can't, they have to negotiate with the Americans and the provinces at the same time.
It's also possible that the provinces have previously told the trade team what they'd accept to end the booze bans. They might have said "we want tariffs gone but we'll accept 10%" or they might have demanded other industrial protections or access.
DO NOT GIVE IN TO THIS OBVIOUS SHAKEDOWN. The shithead will find another reason to reimpose tarrifs the day after a bullshit "deal" is signed. WE ALL KNOW IT. I'd rather see us walk away from NAFTa altogether. It's meaningless anyway.
Hard no across the board - we will never purchase ANY U.S. goods unless there is no alternative.
American booze,hmmmm.
1) Wine: Overpriced insipid shit.
2) Liquor: For fueling ride on mowers & exterminating fire ant nests,shit. Again,overpriced.
3) Beer: Carbonated raccoon piss. Shit!
Sure,put it back. Nobody's going to buy it!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
So we never bought the US booze.( our's Trumps theirs ...heehee) But we are large consumers of fruit and veggies and won't buy US anymore. Or other grocery items unless they are critical. No meat, produce, beans, soup... bottled or canned anything. Mexico is the usual backup, but we see and buy from ashore a lot. And frankly the US stuff often looks terrible. Rotting on the vine or in transit and when unscrupulous grocers dare to continue putting on the shelves, we just dump the stores for all shopping
I believe Canadians will once again act with their hearts and minds and not bother with American products until this is over. My only concern is that some Canadians could be swayed by the PP + Ford backlash, questioning Carney's ability to negotiate (if you can) with the US.
Not only am I 'unlikely' to buy American booze again, I simply will NOT buy American booze again. I prefer single malt scotch to any bourbon in the world for one thing, but to me it is a choice to spend my money in places other than the USA. We have depended on our economic partnership with them for far too long. We need to develop more areas in Canada; biotech companies, metal processing, oil refining, and other industries so that we are not reliant on ANY other country to the extent that we have relied on the USA to date. We have the talent here. We have the natural resources here. I have long thought that our natural resources ought to be used to make finished products right here in Canada, NOT in another country. Hopefully that thought will be growing in other Canadians' minds too.