Cost of living is still Canada’s number-one concern. A global diesel squeeze shows why some of the prices we pay are determined thousands of kilometres from home.
Canada would be foolish not to diversify its supply chains and security net. After all what it comes down to is you have to protect your own because if you don’t “you’re on the menu.” Carney understands that as well as most Canadians. Sadly most Americans don’t have a clue and are being served up on the menu to the elites.
I apologize for the brevity of my original comment. My point was if you don't have an internal sense of protecting yourself, family, community or your country it's just as Carney said, you're on the menu. (Zelensky really understands that.) Carney is using all the resources at hand--and he knows how to leverage those resources to Canada's advantage. He's building systems where all countries can benefit. He called it a geometric variable approach, an interconnecting web of cooperation between countries. However, participation has to be voluntary and respectful. Smart man. Reciprocal, Mutual Interdependence is always smarter in every relationship.
To explain why I said most Americans don't have a clue:
Neocon or Establishment Dems evolved over the past few decades where they are mostly supported by special interests or corporate America and vote accordingly. They then develop deafness to what their constituents have to say. Also, historically, those candidates who raised the most money in an election won, which is why they typically defaulted to corporate donors and corporations, which is how they bought their votes. Establishment Dems also lost in '24 to Trump whose major slogan was "Drain the Swamp," or get rid of all the corruption while at the same time people were tired of the silent treatment from their politicians. This is an extremely important point going forward as there is a struggle in the Dem Party currently and that fact seems to have been forgotten.
Conversely, Democratic Socialists are only supported by their constituents, have to work harder, are not supported by the Democratic Party and are fighters. They have to be as the Neocons work twice as hard as the Republicans to eliminate them. Mamdani of NY, as an example, is turning around the city in short order doing exactly what Carney is doing: using the resources he has available to him to the advantage of the people, not himself. He listens and he organizes and then delivers where he can.
A fraction of the public is just starting to wake up to the difference, but the majority still don't have a clue. If Dems take Congress and Establishment Jeffries is the Speaker, applying his idea of yesteryear's ossified and antiquated system will result in once again a Dem defeat in '28. I'll also point out that the current Establishment Democratic system is not that much different from the Republicans, except they are taking their marching orders from the oligarchs with Trump at the head of that bunch.
And to some extent, I disagree that many want someone to fix it for them. If they understood a little bit more about some of the issues or where to start they would be happy to fix it for themselves. The answer is at once complicated and simple like most things in life: Democracy was set up to be a Participatory System and the only way it works is to Vote. And Vote Early. That's how you start fixing it. Refine your selections from there as you learn more over time. And like most things in life you'll make some bad decisions. That's how learning works.
It is not true that most Americans don’t have a clue. Most clearly understand what is going wrong. What is wrong with America is that we don’t want to deal with it. We want someone to fix it for us. As if there’s anyone out there that can, or will.
Mark Carney’s value right now is that he’s a crisis‑tested economic insider with deep global finance connections. In a U.S. trade war, that background matters more than charisma. The currency in our trade war with US is now driven by diesel. Carney’s pivot? Keep our most precious commodity close and make plays on our terms.
What’s actually doable with diesel during the next 2–3 months:
• Lease more space in existing terminals. Companies like NuStar, Gibson, Enbridge, Suncor, etc. already operate large product terminals with diesel tanks; operators can renegotiate contracts, shift allocations, and prioritize diesel over other products fairly quickly if volumes and economics work.
• Run terminals fuller and delay turnarounds. Refineries and terminals normally keep operating inventories below max for flexibility; in an emergency they can push utilization closer to design limits and defer some maintenance to free up short-term capacity.
• Use smaller modular above‑ground tanks for specific sites. Vendors in Alberta and elsewhere sell/rent 1,000–100,000‑litre diesel tanks with delivery in days to weeks; this helps fleets, farms, remote sites, but doesn’t move the needle on national-scale storage.
• Redirect flows and slow export loading. Operators can reduce loading at export terminals (e.g., Burnaby, Saint John) and send more product to domestic primary terminals; this doesn’t create new tanks but keeps more diesel physically in Canada.
The smart play is to keep selling oil to the US but on our terms: redirect oil from pipelines to tankers so we capture higher world prices, use the Energy Supplies Emergency Act to ring‑fence diesel for farmers, truckers and critical services, and quietly signal that if Washington weaponizes fuel, Ottawa can tax exports, prioritize domestic allocation, and make every barrel hurt more in the U.S. than it does here.
Nicely put. We need fewer choke points in our economy.
I’ll nominate two to get a list started.
1. Interprovincial trade barriers on consumables and labour. Not being able to get BC wines to Ontario and Quebec Cheeses to BC.
2. Foreign interference by company owners based in the US. Stelco’s recent lay off notice is a perfect example. Breaking signed agreements and expecting no consequences? I think there are some government lawyers in Ottawa chomping at the bit to go after Stelco’s Board and CEO.
CANADA should be SUEING america or Trump directly for our cost of living increase due to his War on Iran...Peace via Law! (I'm smelling a Peace Prize, suck on that, Captain Orange 🍊)
🇨🇦🍁Another great article - did some checking. What’s actually doable in diesel during the next 2–3 months.
• Lease more space in existing terminals. Companies like NuStar, Gibson, Enbridge, Suncor, etc. already operate large product terminals with diesel tanks; operators can renegotiate contracts, shift allocations, and prioritize diesel over other products fairly quickly if volumes and economics work.
• Run terminals fuller and delay turnarounds. Refineries and terminals normally keep operating inventories below max for flexibility; in an emergency they can push utilization closer to design limits and defer some maintenance to free up short-term capacity.
• Use smaller modular above‑ground tanks for specific sites. Vendors in Alberta and elsewhere sell/rent 1,000–100,000‑litre diesel tanks with delivery in days to weeks; this helps fleets, farms, remote sites, but doesn’t move the needle on national-scale storage.
• Redirect flows and slow export loading. Operators can reduce loading at export terminals (e.g., Burnaby, Saint John) and send more product to domestic primary terminals; this doesn’t create new tanks but keeps more diesel physically in Canada.
The smart play is to keep selling oil to the US but on our terms: redirect oil to tankers so we capture higher world prices, use the Energy Supplies Emergency Act to ring‑fence diesel for farmers, truckers and critical services, and quietly signal that if Washington weaponizes fuel, Ottawa can tax exports, prioritize domestic allocation, and make every barrel hurt more in the U.S. than it does here.
Canada would be foolish not to diversify its supply chains and security net. After all what it comes down to is you have to protect your own because if you don’t “you’re on the menu.” Carney understands that as well as most Canadians. Sadly most Americans don’t have a clue and are being served up on the menu to the elites.
Exactly, Sheena.
Diversification isn't about cutting ourselves off from anyone.
It's about making sure Canada has options when things go sideways.
We've learned what too much dependence can cost us.
Time to put that lesson to work.
I apologize for the brevity of my original comment. My point was if you don't have an internal sense of protecting yourself, family, community or your country it's just as Carney said, you're on the menu. (Zelensky really understands that.) Carney is using all the resources at hand--and he knows how to leverage those resources to Canada's advantage. He's building systems where all countries can benefit. He called it a geometric variable approach, an interconnecting web of cooperation between countries. However, participation has to be voluntary and respectful. Smart man. Reciprocal, Mutual Interdependence is always smarter in every relationship.
To explain why I said most Americans don't have a clue:
Neocon or Establishment Dems evolved over the past few decades where they are mostly supported by special interests or corporate America and vote accordingly. They then develop deafness to what their constituents have to say. Also, historically, those candidates who raised the most money in an election won, which is why they typically defaulted to corporate donors and corporations, which is how they bought their votes. Establishment Dems also lost in '24 to Trump whose major slogan was "Drain the Swamp," or get rid of all the corruption while at the same time people were tired of the silent treatment from their politicians. This is an extremely important point going forward as there is a struggle in the Dem Party currently and that fact seems to have been forgotten.
Conversely, Democratic Socialists are only supported by their constituents, have to work harder, are not supported by the Democratic Party and are fighters. They have to be as the Neocons work twice as hard as the Republicans to eliminate them. Mamdani of NY, as an example, is turning around the city in short order doing exactly what Carney is doing: using the resources he has available to him to the advantage of the people, not himself. He listens and he organizes and then delivers where he can.
A fraction of the public is just starting to wake up to the difference, but the majority still don't have a clue. If Dems take Congress and Establishment Jeffries is the Speaker, applying his idea of yesteryear's ossified and antiquated system will result in once again a Dem defeat in '28. I'll also point out that the current Establishment Democratic system is not that much different from the Republicans, except they are taking their marching orders from the oligarchs with Trump at the head of that bunch.
And to some extent, I disagree that many want someone to fix it for them. If they understood a little bit more about some of the issues or where to start they would be happy to fix it for themselves. The answer is at once complicated and simple like most things in life: Democracy was set up to be a Participatory System and the only way it works is to Vote. And Vote Early. That's how you start fixing it. Refine your selections from there as you learn more over time. And like most things in life you'll make some bad decisions. That's how learning works.
It is not true that most Americans don’t have a clue. Most clearly understand what is going wrong. What is wrong with America is that we don’t want to deal with it. We want someone to fix it for us. As if there’s anyone out there that can, or will.
Fair point.
There's a big difference between not understanding the problem and not wanting to confront it.
And I certainly wouldn't paint all Americans with the same brush.
Plenty see what's happening and are just as frustrated as we are.
Appreciate the perspective.
Make the response sound more like meTrim this into a sharper reply
🇨🇦🍁Another great article . Thx.
Mark Carney’s value right now is that he’s a crisis‑tested economic insider with deep global finance connections. In a U.S. trade war, that background matters more than charisma. The currency in our trade war with US is now driven by diesel. Carney’s pivot? Keep our most precious commodity close and make plays on our terms.
What’s actually doable with diesel during the next 2–3 months:
• Lease more space in existing terminals. Companies like NuStar, Gibson, Enbridge, Suncor, etc. already operate large product terminals with diesel tanks; operators can renegotiate contracts, shift allocations, and prioritize diesel over other products fairly quickly if volumes and economics work.
• Run terminals fuller and delay turnarounds. Refineries and terminals normally keep operating inventories below max for flexibility; in an emergency they can push utilization closer to design limits and defer some maintenance to free up short-term capacity.
• Use smaller modular above‑ground tanks for specific sites. Vendors in Alberta and elsewhere sell/rent 1,000–100,000‑litre diesel tanks with delivery in days to weeks; this helps fleets, farms, remote sites, but doesn’t move the needle on national-scale storage.
• Redirect flows and slow export loading. Operators can reduce loading at export terminals (e.g., Burnaby, Saint John) and send more product to domestic primary terminals; this doesn’t create new tanks but keeps more diesel physically in Canada.
The smart play is to keep selling oil to the US but on our terms: redirect oil from pipelines to tankers so we capture higher world prices, use the Energy Supplies Emergency Act to ring‑fence diesel for farmers, truckers and critical services, and quietly signal that if Washington weaponizes fuel, Ottawa can tax exports, prioritize domestic allocation, and make every barrel hurt more in the U.S. than it does here.
Thanks, Roxy.
Some interesting ideas there, particularly protecting diesel supplies for farmers, trucking and essential services.
The challenge is that storage, refining capacity and pipeline routes all have limits.
I'd want to see the numbers before supporting export restrictions.
We need to protect Canadian supply without creating another problem for ourselves.
Nicely put. We need fewer choke points in our economy.
I’ll nominate two to get a list started.
1. Interprovincial trade barriers on consumables and labour. Not being able to get BC wines to Ontario and Quebec Cheeses to BC.
2. Foreign interference by company owners based in the US. Stelco’s recent lay off notice is a perfect example. Breaking signed agreements and expecting no consequences? I think there are some government lawyers in Ottawa chomping at the bit to go after Stelco’s Board and CEO.
Good nominations, Jim.
We've spent years talking about opening foreign markets while making it unnecessarily difficult to trade between our own provinces.
That's ridiculous.
And the Stelco situation raises serious questions about accountability when foreign owners make commitments to Canada.
Fewer choke points should start right here at home.
CANADA should be SUEING america or Trump directly for our cost of living increase due to his War on Iran...Peace via Law! (I'm smelling a Peace Prize, suck on that, Captain Orange 🍊)
..
Bernie, I suspect the lawyers would have a field day figuring out who to sue and under what law. 😂
Proving the economic damage is one thing.
Establishing legal responsibility is another.
But I do like the idea of settling international disputes in court instead of creating more of them with bombs.
Great post Fred! Your explanations makes it easier to understand :)
Thanks, Patsy!
That's exactly what I'm trying to do.
If I can make complicated issues a little easier to understand, I'm doing my job.
Appreciate you reading!
🇨🇦🍁Another great article - did some checking. What’s actually doable in diesel during the next 2–3 months.
• Lease more space in existing terminals. Companies like NuStar, Gibson, Enbridge, Suncor, etc. already operate large product terminals with diesel tanks; operators can renegotiate contracts, shift allocations, and prioritize diesel over other products fairly quickly if volumes and economics work.
• Run terminals fuller and delay turnarounds. Refineries and terminals normally keep operating inventories below max for flexibility; in an emergency they can push utilization closer to design limits and defer some maintenance to free up short-term capacity.
• Use smaller modular above‑ground tanks for specific sites. Vendors in Alberta and elsewhere sell/rent 1,000–100,000‑litre diesel tanks with delivery in days to weeks; this helps fleets, farms, remote sites, but doesn’t move the needle on national-scale storage.
• Redirect flows and slow export loading. Operators can reduce loading at export terminals (e.g., Burnaby, Saint John) and send more product to domestic primary terminals; this doesn’t create new tanks but keeps more diesel physically in Canada.
The smart play is to keep selling oil to the US but on our terms: redirect oil to tankers so we capture higher world prices, use the Energy Supplies Emergency Act to ring‑fence diesel for farmers, truckers and critical services, and quietly signal that if Washington weaponizes fuel, Ottawa can tax exports, prioritize domestic allocation, and make every barrel hurt more in the U.S. than it does here.
Thanks for digging into this, Roxy.
There's a lot worth exploring here, especially protecting diesel supplies for farmers, truckers and essential services.
My concern is making sure any emergency measures actually work without creating new shortages or disrupting Canadian producers.
More control over our energy security makes sense.
Getting the details right matters just as much.