Letters, March 6

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/03/2025 (386 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A hostile cloud

Re: Annexation through the tech ‘back door’, Think Tank, March 3

In raising the threat to Canadian sovereignty posed by the vulnerability of our digital information systems, Tom Nesmith points to our dependency on U.S.-based providers who control most of the cloud infrastructure storing our digital information.

Until the arrival of the new American administration, we assumed that a rule-based system in the U.S. would protect vital Canadian information. However, control of that information is now in the hands of corporations only too willing to bend to the will of an aggressive president who has not hesitated to tear up the Canada-U.S. Mexico Agreement.

Clearly, all levels of government in Canada must build their own digital infrastructure to ensure they control our information.

There is no time to waste. We must quickly break old habits and discard old assumptions, because we can no longer rely on the United States for stability in our trading and security relationships.

However regrettably, we must think about the United States in a completely different way since it has chosen to act as an adversary rather than an ally.

For the same reasons, the government of Canada must redirect a significant portion of its advertising expenditures towards local media. As Sophie Gaulin points out (Innovation is not enough if the rules are rigged, Think Tank, March 3), governments are diverting their advertising expenditures from Canadian media to American and Chinese tech giants.

This robs Canadians of access to an independent press dedicated to providing rigorous and verifiable information.

In light of recent events, governments in Canada must quickly amend their policies in order to support and protect our access to information about the world in which we live.

Michel Lagacé

Winnipeg

Tariff for tariff

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed import tariffs, which of course penalize American companies.

It’s time for Canada to impose another kind of tariff… an export tariff on essential minerals and oil.

China uses export controls, which amount to tariffs. Canada already uses Critical Mineral legislation to block China from having control of such resources in Canada.

Potash is critical to almost all American agriculture.They don’t have any potash. Uranium is critical too… they don’t have much. Oil flows south in great volume; they don’t have enough.

So let’s use the federal power to impose export taxes on such critical materials, and rebate the revenues back to Canadians. Sure, it will drive up prices… for Americans.

Inflation there is already rising and further increases are now inevitable. Americans will not be happy.

Don’t tell us; tell the president.

Tim Sale

Winnipeg

Questions for Hydro

The Trump tariffs of 10 per cent on energy imports raise some questions.

In January Manitoba Hydro officials declined to engage with what they termed “hypotheticals” regarding the potential impact of the Trump energy tariffs on Hydro revenues. Now, with a 10 per cent energy tariff applied, I’d ask what is the anticipated impact on Manitoba’s U.S. electricity export revenues?

Hydro’s U.S. sales revenues will vary year to year, but can be fairly estimated to be in excess of $500 million annually, representing approx. 20 per cent of the corporation’s electricity sourced revenues. How might these export sales be affected, e.g. do the contracts include force majeure clauses such that either buyer or seller could abrogate or renegotiate in case of significantly changed circumstances and thereby impacting anticipated revenues from the particular sale?

And if not on firm contractual sales, how might tariffs affect anticipated spot market purchases?

Ontario Premier Ford has called for curtailing hydro exports to the U.S. and the leading Liberal leadership candidates are also indicating support for cutting electricity exports and dollar for dollar countervailing Canadian export tariffs.

Is Manitoba considering halting sales to the U.S.? Would this be contractually possible, or even advisable given the revenue dependence of both Hydro and Manitoba generally? What is Manitoba’s position on a potential federal imposition of an energy export tariff?

To conclude, significant questions remain and Free Press readers will no doubt have their own. An open and transparent discussion about potential Canadian and Manitoba export levies can only be useful in charting a course that will get buy-in from Manitobans as we navigate the turbulence ahead.

Sig Laser

Winnipeg

Power play

Doug Ford is threatening to cut off hydro electric exports to customers in the United States.

If Canada enters into an energy war with the US, the impact to Canadians will be severe. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers warn that the main path for oil from Western Canada is via the Enbridge Mainline, which flows from western Canada exiting at Gretna, MB, through the U.S. to Sarnia Ontario. Anyone who believes that the Trump administration wouldn’t shut that down in a heartbeat in retaliation to Doug Ford’s actions is a fool.

The impact of an oil embargo on eastern Canada would be catastrophic.

Let’s not forget that Manitoba imports electricity from US producers during low Lake Winnipeg water levels and high demand during severe cold periods. Where would Manitobans be without that energy security from Minnesota and other midwestern states?

An energy embargo war with the Trump administration is not one which Canadians can win.

John Warkentin

Winnipeg

Birds of a feather

Re: Trudeau lashes out at Putin after summit with European leaders, March 3.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided reporters at the Canadian High Commission in London with an accurate description of Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Vladimir Putin is a liar and a criminal, and cannot be trusted to keep his word in anyway, shape or form. Because he has demonstrated time and time again that he will break any agreements.”

Simply substitute Donald Trump’s name for that of Vladimir Putin in the above quotation and, voilà, you have an equally accurate description of the president of the United States.

A creepy congruity but surely not surprising, given what’s recently taken place.

These are, essentially, the same man, the only — and crucial — difference being that one is vastly more intelligent than the other.

Guess which one it is.

Ross McLennan

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Apologies, Canada

I would like to apologize for the people of the United States for U.S. President Donald Trump’s boorish behavior towards Canada.

You have always been one of our staunchest allies and Trump’s behaviour towards you is unwarranted.

Our economies have long been tied together. Trump’s tariffs are completely out of line.

I grew up in Michigan and I know how tied together our auto companies are with Canada. Trump crows about how wealthy the U.S. will become with tariffs. That alone tells the world that he’s crazy!

We, the people, will bear the brunt of tariffs with rising prices. Again, sorry for the way you’re being treated.

Greg Fraser

Taylorsville, Utah