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Political Commentator
Off devices early ct mobile.com on his 91st birthday, former Prime Minister of Canada Jean Kretchen wrote an op ed directed at Donald Trump. He says to Donald Trump, from one old guy to another, give your head a shake. What could make you think that Canadians would ever give up the best country in the world? And make no mistake, that is what we are to join the United States. Now. Former Prime Minister Jean Kretchen was the Prime Minister of Canada member of the Liberal Party from 1993 to 2003. He first became a member of the House of Commons, get this, in 1963. So he's coming with a very strong historical political perspective right here. And he penned this op ed to the Globe and Mail in Canada on his 91st birthday. Now, you know we here in the Midas Touch Network are expanding to Canada. You'll hear more about that over the coming weeks and months. But you know, we've been featuring a lot of Canadian politicians here on our show because the pro democracy movement is international in scope in order to combat the anti democracy pro authoritarianism movement, which is international in scope. Where you see Elon Musk and Maga also having their tentacles in Canada with their right wing Pierre Poliev with Germany and the AfD in the UK with the reform Party, whether it's in Austria, in France with Le Pen. I can go on and on here, but an international effort is what's called for right now. Let me read for you first Jean Kreten's incredible op ed. You're going to love this. And then I want to share with you. Connecting Krechen to to Prime Minister Trudeau had actually a pretty powerful appearance on some of the weekend shows. You're gonna love that. And then I'm gonna show you some of the Canadian voices we had recently on the Midas Touch Network. So here's the op ed by Jean Kretchen. Canadians Will Never Give up the Best country in the World to join the U.S. today is my 91st birthday. It's an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends, to look back on the life I've had the privilege to lead and to reflect on how country we all love so much as has grown and changed over the course of the nine decades I've been on this earth. This year I've also decided to give myself a birthday present. I'm going to do something in this article that I don't do very often anymore and sound off on a big issue affecting the state of the nation and profoundly bothering me and so many other Canadians. The totally unacceptable insults and unprecedented threats to our very sovereignty for from US President Elect Donald Trump. I have two very clear and simple messages to Donald Trump from one old guy to another. Give your head a shake. What can make you think that Canadians would ever give up the best country in the world? Make no mistake, that is what we are to join the United States. I can tell you Canadians prize our independence. We love our country. We have built something here that is the envy of the world when it comes to compassion, understanding, tolerance and finding a way for people of different backgrounds and faiths to live together in harmony. We've also built a strong social safety net, especially with public health care that we are very proud of. It's not perfect, but it's based on the principle that the most vulnerable among us should be protected. This may not be the American way or the Trump way, but it is the reality I have witnessed and live my whole long life. If you think that threatening and insulting us is going to win us Over. You really don't know a thing about us. You don't know that when it came to fighting in two world wars for freedom, we signed up both times, years before your country did. We fought and we sacrificed well beyond our numbers. We also had the guts to say no to your country when it tried to drag us into a completely unjustified and destabilizing war in Iraq. We built a nation across the most rugged, challenging geography imaginable. And we did it against the odds. We may look easygoing, mild mannered, but make no mistake, we have spine and toughness. And that leads me to my second message to all our leaders, federal and provincial, as well as those who are aspiring to lead our country. Start showing that spine and toughness. That's what Canadians want to see, what they need to see. It's called leadership. You need to lead. Canadians are ready to follow. I know the spirit is there. Ever since Mr. Trump's attacks, every political party is speaking out in favor of Canada. In fact, it is to my great satisfaction that even the block Quebec is defending Canada. But you don't win a hockey game by only playing defense. We all know that. Even when we Satisfy One demand, Mr. Trump will come back with another, bigger demand. That's not diplomacy, it's blackmail. We need another approach, one that will break this cycle. Mr. Trump has accomplished one thing. He has unified Canadians more than we have ever been before. All leaders across our country have united in resolve to defend Canadian interests. When I came into office as Prime Minister, Canada faced a national unity crisis. The threat of Quebec separation was very real. We took action to deal with this existential threat in a manner that made Canadians, including Quebecers, stronger, more united, and even an even prouder of Canadian values. Now there is another existential threat and once again need to reduce our. We once again need to reduce our vulnerability. That is the challenge for this generation of political leaders. And you won't accomplish it by using the same old approaches. Just like we did 30 years ago. We need a plan B for 2025. Yes, telling the Americans we are their best friends and closest trading partners is good. So is lobbying hard in Washington and the state capitals, pointing out that tariffs will hurt the American economy too. So are retaliatory tariffs. When you are attacked, you have to defend yourself.
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Political Commentator
But we also have to play offense. Let's tell Mr. Trump that we have we too have border issues with the United States. Canada has tough gun control legislation, but illegal guns are pouring in from the U.S. we need to tell him that we expect the United States to act to reduce the number of gun crossings into Canada. We also want to protect the Arctic, but the United States refuses to recognize the Northwest Passage, insisting that it is an international waterway even though it flows through the Canadian Arctic as Canadian waters. We need the United States to recognize the Northwest Passage as being Canadian waters. We also need to reduce Canada's vulnerability in the first place. We need to be stronger. There are more trade barriers between provinces than between Canada and the United States. Let's launch a national project to get rid of those barriers and let's strengthen the ties that bind this vast nation together through projects such as a real national energy grid. We also have to understand that Mr. Trump isn't just threatening us. He is also targeting a growing list of other countries, as well as the European Union itself. And he is just getting started. Canada should quickly convene a meeting of leaders of Denmark, Panama, Mexico, as well as the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyden, to formulate a plan for fighting these threats. Every time that Mr. Trump opens his mouth, he creates new allies for all of us. So let's get organized. To fight back against a big, powerful bully, you need strength in numbers. The whole point is not to wait and dread for Donald Trump's next blow. It's to build a country and an international community that can withstand those blows. Canadians know me. They know I'm an optimist, that I am practical, and that I always speak my mind. I made my share of mistakes over a long career, but I never for a moment doubted the decency of my fellow Canadians or of my political opponents. The current and future generations of political leaders should remember they are not each other's enemies. They are opponents. Nobody ever loved the cut and thrust of politics more than me, but I always understood that each of us was trying to make a positive contribution to make our community or country a better place. That spirit is more important now than ever. As we address this new challenge. Our leaders should keep that in mind. I am 91 today and blessed with good health. I am ready at the ramparts to help defend the independence of our country, as I have done all my life. Viva la Canada. So let me show you this right now. First, let me show you Prime Minister Trudeau over the weekend during one of his appearances. Let's play it.
Political Analyst
You're already at our borders.
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I'm assuming he didn't bring up his intention to publicly say he was going to annex through economic means your country.
Political Analyst
It actually. It actually sort of came up at one point, and then we started musing back and forth about this. And when I started to suggest, well, maybe there could be a trade for Vermont or California for certain parts, he immediately decided that it was not that funny anymore, and we moved on to a different conversation. So this isn't out of the blue that he's doing this, but my focus has to be not on something that he's talking about that will not ever happen, but more on something that might well happen, that if he does choose to go forward with tariffs that raise the cost of just about everything for American citizens, that on top of that, we're going to have to have a robust response to that.
Political Commentator
I want to ask you, okay, next, let me show you again, Liberal Party Prime Minister Trudeau, let me show you new Democratic Party Party leader from Ontario, Merit Stiles here on the Midas Touch Network. Let's show you.
New Democratic Party Leader
And so like this kind of threat that's coming at us, at first I think people thought it was sort of funny or interesting or he's just, he's just being, he's just trying to get us, get our backs up. But we're taking it real seriously right now. We see this as an existential threat. And let's be clear, it's not just, you know, a threat to our leadership. Right. This is a threat to working people in our country who rely on trade, who rely on those relationships. And what I have to say to Donald Trump is you, you're going to come after us, we're going to fight you like hell.
Political Commentator
And now let me show you Doug Ford, the provincial leader and the current provincial leader in Ontario, Conservative Party member, what he has to say about Trump. Play this clip. Trump once again talked about the idea of now a merger between Canada and the United States. You would dismiss that as a joke. At what point do you say that that's no longer a laughing matter and something that should be taken with quite a bit of seriousness?
Doug Ford
Well, I know under my watch for Ontario, I'd never be for that at all. We have the greatest country in the world. We have the greatest province anywhere, any sub sovereign nation is Ontario and the rest of the province as well. You know, something to the president, I'll make him a counteroffer. How about if we buy Alaska and we'll throw in Minnesota, Minneapolis at the same time? So, you know, it's not realistic. I know he likes making these comments and he likes joking around. I take, I take that seriously. He may be joking, but under my watch, that will never, ever happen.
Political Commentator
And folks, I could show you, I did a video on, on one of the Green Party members as well. But we're running out of time in this video. And you get the point, whether you're the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party, the Conservative Party there, they're all basically saying the same thing. And you connect it with that historical precedent and perspective that I just read for you. Canada is pissed. As I said many months ago, United, we are expanding. The Midas Touch network is expensive expanding into Canada. We have a lot more Canadian coverage. And I think it's important that they know that they have allies here also in the United States. We're not all MAGA. Less than 50% of voters voted for Donald Trump. I think that's an important fact. There are lots of Americans who regret voting for Donald Trump. Now that he's talking about invading Canada or annexing Canada and invading Panama and Greenland or whatever. That's they thought they were voting for lower prices, I guess. I'm not sure why they would think that, but cuz Trump lies about everything essentially. But whatever. So it's important that we form alliances here that can withstand generations. That's what we're gonna build in the for the future. That's one of the things we're building this platform to do. Thanks to your help. I thought it was worth reading again that incredible op ed on Prime Minister Crutchen's 94 first birthday. There you go. Thanks for watching and hit subscribe. Let's go to 4 million. Love this video. Make sure you stay up to date.
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Political Commentator
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The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Former Canada PM HITS Trump Where IT HURTS THE Most" Release Date: January 13, 2025
In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve into a significant political development involving former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Kretchen's outspoken op-ed directed at former U.S. President Donald Trump. The discussion centers around Kretchen's critique of Trump's rhetoric towards Canada, the broader implications for Canadian-American relations, and the international pushback against anti-democratic movements.
[01:19] Political Commentator: The episode kicks off with the hosts highlighting the release of an op-ed by Jean Kretchen, a prominent figure in Canadian politics. Celebrating his 91st birthday, Kretchen takes the rare step of publicly addressing Trump’s antagonistic remarks towards Canada.
Key Points:
[02:30] Reading of the Op-Ed: The hosts present the full text of Kretchen's op-ed, emphasizing his strong stance against Trump's comments. Kretchen underscores Canada's commitment to its independence, social safety nets, and the unity among Canadian political parties in defense of national interests.
Notable Excerpts:
Kretchen to Trump: "Give your head a shake. What can make you think that Canadians would ever give up the best country in the world?"
(Timestamp: [04:10])
On Canadian Values: "Canadians prize our independence. We love our country. We have built something here that is the envy of the world when it comes to compassion, understanding, tolerance..."
(Timestamp: [05:20])
Call for Leadership: "Start showing that spine and toughness. That's what Canadians want to see, what they need to see. It's called leadership."
(Timestamp: [07:00])
Summary of Op-Ed: Kretchen articulates Canada's resilience and unity in the face of Trump's provocations, advocating for a strategic and fortified national stance to safeguard sovereignty and democratic values.
[13:14] Political Analyst: A clip features Prime Minister Trudeau addressing Trump's comments, dismissing the notion of any feasible merger between Canada and the U.S. Trudeau emphasizes the strength and independence of Canada.
Quote: "We have the greatest country in the world. We have the greatest province anywhere."
(Timestamp: [15:22])
[14:08] Political Commentator: Merit Stiles, leader of the New Democratic Party, labels Trump's remarks as an existential threat and vows to counteract any negative impacts on Canadian workers and trade relationships.
Quote: "Donald Trump is going to come after us, we're going to fight you like hell."
(Timestamp: [14:22])
[14:55] Political Commentator: Doug Ford responds with a mix of seriousness and humor, rejecting the possibility of Canada’s annexation and affirming Ontario's pride and independence.
Quote: "Under my watch, that will never, ever happen."
(Timestamp: [15:22])
The Meiselas brothers analyze the implications of Kretchen's op-ed and the responses from various Canadian political leaders. They highlight the unified front Canada is presenting against Trump's provocations and the importance of international alliances in combating anti-democratic movements.
Key Insights:
Notable Host Commentary: "When you connect it with that historical precedent and perspective that I just read for you, Canada is pissed. We're expanding our coverage because the pro-democracy movement is international in scope."
(Timestamp: [16:00])
[01:19] Political Commentator: The hosts announce the expansion of the MeidasTouch Network into Canada, aiming to provide more comprehensive coverage of Canadian politics and support the pro-democracy movement.
Highlights:
Quote: "We're not all MAGA. Less than 50% of voters voted for Donald Trump. There are lots of Americans who regret voting for Donald Trump... we build alliances that can withstand generations."
(Timestamp: [16:30])
In wrapping up the episode, the hosts reiterate the significance of Jean Kretchen's op-ed and the steadfastness of Canadian leadership in defending national sovereignty. They underscore the importance of unity both within Canada and internationally to resist anti-democratic influences.
Final Remarks: "It's important that we form alliances here that can withstand generations. That's what we're gonna build for the future."
(Timestamp: [16:50])
The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to stay informed and engaged through the MeidasTouch Network's expanding platform.
For those interested in the intersection of international politics and democratic advocacy, this episode offers a comprehensive analysis of Canada's strategic stance against external threats and the vital role of unified political action.