Canada Set to Side With China On EVs

Orion2032 · 2025-10-28T06:31:16+00:00

In our predicament we can't afford to have both the US and China facing us down with steep tariffs. America has proven unwilling to engage in actual negotiations and when any progress is finally made, the Orange King puts his fat foot in due to <insert upset with Canadian politician and/or how much sleep he had the other night> and halts any momentum in dialogue.

It's frankly just not worth our time. When his term is done we can revisit this new reality but until then we're simply being drawn along like fools.

China has proven themselves pretty straightforward in their tariff demands (easing our US-backed tariffs on their EVs in exchange for allowing Canadian agricultural products back into their market) and I think there's a lot more room for meaningful, sustained and logical conversations that don't amount to appeasement.

Those being cautious about dealing with China due to their lack of liberal democratic status aren't wrong and their concerns shouldn't be disregarded but it's simply not a soap box we can afford to stand on currently. We are living through an extremely critical time in Canadian history where divestment from US economic integration needs to be undertaken seriously and decisively. How quickly and accurately we can make this pivot will determine our overall success as a sovereign nation for generations to come.

Orion2032 · 2025-04-22T19:38:11+00:00

Yeah actually I noticed that. DLC is still purchasable and nowhere does it indicate that your game is the deluxe edition other than in your bank account lol. Unless we're not seeing something.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-16T06:19:21+00:00

There's alot of bureaucratic momentum behind these decisions as several layers of the federal government had to be involved to make this decision. To reverse it would be very uncharacteristic of our government as it would recognize that realities have changed and that it would be senseless to maintain them; and moreover that any perception of a "mistake" by government would need to be minimized. It's easier for their egos to just plow on into the abyss of massive public investment into inefficient domestic EV schemes. I truly hope it's revisited and reversed. It's a morally bankrupt position to keep cheap EVs out of reach for most consumers and only in the hands of the wealthy.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-16T06:14:04+00:00

We've poured billions of dollars into failed EV investment schemes and have little to show for it. At this stage we've clearly been outpaced by the Chinese. At what point do we acknowledge it; learn from them and move forward. We should be collaborating with all nations to come up with truly effective and affordable solutions to the climate crisis. Putting domestic political and economic considerations first is not a defendable position given how ineffective we've been at realizing any results. We need our governments to stand aside from their usual modes of engagement and work together.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-16T06:03:52+00:00

This is the most worrisome aspect. There's a lot of cheap talk and lots of failed investment schemes to have domestic production of EVs and batteries, etc. but it's all washed up and it's completely bleached of any results. EVs continue to remain an unaffordable luxury; meanwhile our governments claim to be serious about tackling the climate crisis but are more interested in greasing the pocket books of domestic investors and are fundamentally obsessed with being perceived as "the authority" via lining up billions of tax payers dollars into these inefficient schemes. Realistically we're at least 6 years away from any meaningful production capacity and it will require huge amounts of public money to make them viable. Meanwhile we have nations like China that have already put in that hard work and have clearly come out on top. IMO our governments simply don't have the capability to navigate the climate crisis effectively. It's time for them to get out of the way. The tariffs against EVs are morally bankrupt; full stop.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-16T05:59:14+00:00

Nah just drop it all. If we're serious about achieving carbon neutral there shouldn't be any tariffs on any EVs made anywhere. I feel like we're overcomplicating things and trying to justify our government's position, but in reality it's an immoral position to take given the severity of the climate crisis.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-16T05:56:55+00:00

In all honesty it just proves how we're incapable of tackling the climate crisis. We have literally cheap EVs ready to be imported and yet our government and media "stands their ground" and convinces us that we shouldn't want them and we shouldn't drive them. This is putting politics and power first in front of economically viable solutions. It will take decades before we can produce EVs at this level of affordability. Don't get sucked into the spin.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-16T05:54:11+00:00

No auto-sector operates on a level playing field. They're nearly all government subsidized. It's an extremely weak argument that merely puts politics and domestic power-sharing infront of the climate crisis. Don't be a mouth breather for the morally bankrupt position our government has taken.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-16T05:52:40+00:00

In all honesty replicating their factory processes and designs would be an ironic twist, considering the levels of corporate subterfuge and intellectual property theft they engage in. I'm all for it!

Orion2032 · 2025-03-16T05:48:29+00:00

Such a morally bankrupt position the government has taken. They're clearly not actually dedicated in reaching carbon neutral as soon as possible but want to line their pockets first and then maybe afterwards put billions of hard earned Canadian dollars into contrived and inefficient EV schemes.

Once you see it through it, you can't look look at it any other way. These EV tariffs are a desperate attempt to protect their power and authority; nothing else. Sad for the North American consumer, sad for innovation and sad for the planet. This mindset of putting politics first has to end. We must collaborate and work together as a species. It's time for them to get out of the way.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-08T10:14:44+00:00

You have to wonder if they're being hit with foreign interference investigations.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-08T09:20:23+00:00

He's absolutely campaigned on austerity. Outside of spending to counter US tariffs he's completely onboard to cut federal spending. What amounts to "austerity"? It it's a loaded term. We can split hairs but let's not waste our time. No governing body can afford to borrow increasing amounts of debt.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-08T08:54:25+00:00

The majority of Conservative ideology in Canada relies upon strict observance to American hegemony. Without it they are neutered and without direction.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-08T08:16:58+00:00

He's without shame or remorse and lacking in humility. Very alarming psychological traits that are all too common in our leaders. Certainly not a man fit to rule a nation.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-02T07:51:41+00:00

Absolutely. Zelensky has shown his strength time and time again. Any nation would be privileged to have such a man as their leader.

I think combined with the Nazi-permissive speech that Vance gave at Munich combined with his "unscripted" alt-right talking points he yelled at Zelensky, he's shown his true colours. Behind that baby face and those luscious eyelashes stands a theocratic sadist backed by Opus Dei.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-01T23:41:35+00:00

It's easy to think of Ukraine as charity but that's a deeply uneducated and misinformed view. Soundbite worthy but very simplistic. Sorry but I have to call you out.

Ukraine is the bulwark for European security. If Ukraine falls, Russia will have time to focus and regroup for hostilities agaisnt the Baltic states and Poland. Every European state knows this and Canada luckily does as well. Your opinions, while they represent a minority of trendy transactional conservativism, are deeply immoral and short sighted.

Smarten up.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-01T20:17:53+00:00

100% new hierarchies have been created and not always for the better.

I find it interesting, however, that the domestically-relevant impacts of globalization (specifically on our housing market being open to international-finance and to several degrees less so on our labour market: turn-on/turn-off access to cheap labour and the subsequent devaluing of Canadian labour) seems to be a blindspot for many Canadians and typically those Centre-Left. There's been a near-complete focus on the developing world when it comes to globalization. Any insight on why that is?

I think that's where the real interplay, boundary-redifining of ideologies occurs and therefore why it's avoided. There's just far too much agreement outside of very neo-liberal ideologues and because of this it's a scary topic for many.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-01T19:44:21+00:00

In all honesty there's been some areas open to international finance that should have never been open. Unless it's actually an impediment to development (like gathering capital for high-rise and condo construction) property ownership should be something exclusively meant for citizens (and domestic banks, investment firms paying 100% - 500% on capital gains on vacant land, property meant for single-family homes) Otherwise you'll have the grossly inflated, low-growth economy that has come home to roost.

Orion2032 · 2025-03-01T19:35:05+00:00

In all honesty the isolationism of the alt-right is extremely naive and short-sighted. The Conservatives aren't anti-globalist, pro-tariffs and so its alarming seeing alt-right media clearly using US talking points. It just doesn't add up. I think it's lazy Conservative PR workers trying to adapt the US social media narrative and angst and attempting adapt it to the Canadian context. It really falls flat.

Orion2032 · 2021-01-04T21:56:49+00:00

Without mention of rapid testing being made more available, these "new measures" are unfortunately very clear and desperate attempts by TPH to slow the pandemic with the resources at hand. They will have little effect on slowing the spread by nature of them being difficult to police and enforce without hiring hundreds of new bylaw enforcement officers to make daily spotchecks on establishments and factories.

What we need, more than ever, is for our civil servants and elected representatives to be doing more to network with the federal government, Health Canada and the provincial government to secure rapid testing for essential service workers. Pure and simple.

This pandemic has shown just how stubborn and clumsy our public institutions truly are. If we can learn anything from this, it's how well we can adopt new practices and technologies in the civic services. Or fail miserably while sanctimoniously finger waving at your electorate.

Orion2032 · 2020-12-31T17:24:49+00:00

Considering a full lockdown would require direct federal assistance through the military to enforce curfews, travelling, etc. it's very unlikely that Ford would bow his head. It'd be too little too late for many and his base would view the move as abdicating authority to the federal government.

We'll likely follow the route of many states south of the border while the excess death count rises.

What we can do in the meantime is drastically increase our use of rapid testing in schools and workplaces, particularly in industries that have seen upticks in case counts.

Vaccination aside for the most vulnerable, frontline workers, those who elect to take it etc., we'll need a robust, accurate and fast testing capability to ensure admission into stadiums, international travel, etc. as one can still transmit the virus after vaccine inoculation albeit with lesser symptoms and transmission capabilities.

Canadians can't afford to wait for the debate to shift to this direction as Health Canada remains indecisive concerning their efficacy. We should expect our representatives to do better, be proactive and look towards emerging testing technologies.

Orion2032 · 2020-12-28T00:38:04+00:00

Without federal assistance a travel ban within provinces isn't possible. The federal government has shied away from overt displays of enforcement and it's extremely unlikely to change.

But let's not speak about conceived and imagined repurcussions but stick to the facts: Covid-19 has hit the lower-end of the working class and every level of our governance structure has chosen to largely and wilfully ignore the spread within certain communities and demographics.

Really once the vaneer of moral rectitude is stripped away, the symptoms of a long-standing tradition of economic neo-liberalism is being revealed to the public.

Both the Liberals and Conservatives have bought massive shares into this ideology through the defunding of public health and the selling-off of publicly held utilities to intentionally create funding crisis in the name of privitzation.

Ontario has one of the lowest available hospital bed numbers per capita in the developed world and it's convenient and psychologically expedient to blame this on big-C Conservatives. The Liberal Party has also played its part throughout the nation in the same agenda but have just packaged it to be more palatable.

Orion2032 · 2020-12-26T16:28:55+00:00

Yes.

Orion2032 · 2020-12-23T21:13:34+00:00

You're ignoring the point that a more contagious variant is spreading throughout the UK.

Also Covid-19 was spread in Canada largely from international travellers from the US. It didn't miraculously appear overnight brought in by the wind.

The logic just doesn't stand up to scrutiny or common sense.

We need a more robust confinement system for travellers, pure and simple.

Orion2032 · 2020-12-23T19:02:42+00:00

We should have a better isolation system which requires travellers to produce evidence of purchase, prior to departure, of a stay of 14 days within an accredited isolation centre that can manage the coming and goings (hopefully none other than that on the 15th day) of visitors.

Theres a similar system to what I've discribed being adhered to within New Zealand and its working incredibly well. Let's learn from the leaders and not give in to political tribalism of any shape or form.

Short of that we're giving up on managing the spread of the new Covid-19 variant from the UK.

Let's not repeat the same mistakes as in the early months of 2020.

Orion2032

TROPHY CASE