Unruly North
@nastycanada.org
Canadian commentary on politics, power and sovereignty, with an eye on the wider world. Opinion only; no news or breaking coverage. Here to exchange ideas, question assumptions and build connections. Strong views, open minds and respectful disagreements.
Pinned
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Unruly North is a Canadian political account for people tired of being managed by slogans, outrage cycles, and polite lies.
I write about power, democracy, money, media, Canada’s place in the world, and the people expected to absorb the cost of other people’s decisions.
Unruly North is a Canadian political account for people tired of being managed by slogans, outrage cycles, and polite lies.
I write about power, democracy, money, media, Canada’s place in the world, and the people expected to absorb the cost of other people’s decisions.
1/3 Ukraine has democratized warfare. Cheap drones give small units precision once reserved for wealthy militaries. Tanks and fighters are not obsolete. But expensive platforms no longer own the battlefield by default. nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/u...
Ukraine Has Democratized Warfare - Nasty Canada
Ukraine has democratized warfare, showing how cheap drones, rapid adaptation and networked targeting are reshaping combat alongside costly missiles, aircraft and traditional weapons.
nastycanada.org
September 20, 2026 at 12:33 PM
1/3 Ukraine has democratized warfare. Cheap drones give small units precision once reserved for wealthy militaries. Tanks and fighters are not obsolete. But expensive platforms no longer own the battlefield by default. nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/u...
1/3 Canada’s trade problem is not a shortage of slogans. It is a shortage of alternatives. Prince Rupert is expanding the physical route to Asia while Indonesia is already a $3-billion market for Canadian goods.
nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/c...
nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/c...
Canada Is Building a Pacific Trade Route. Indonesia Will Test Whether It Works. - Nasty Canada
Canada is expanding its Pacific trade corridor through Prince Rupert as Indonesia emerges as a growing market for Canadian exports.
nastycanada.org
September 20, 2026 at 8:32 AM
1/3 Canada’s trade problem is not a shortage of slogans. It is a shortage of alternatives. Prince Rupert is expanding the physical route to Asia while Indonesia is already a $3-billion market for Canadian goods.
nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/c...
nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/c...
1/4 Trump wanted NATO allies to spend more. They are. But Canada and Europe are increasingly using that money to build alternatives to US weapons and supply chains. Stronger allies can also mean less American leverage.
nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/n...
nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/n...
Trump Wanted NATO to Spend More. Allies Are Building Alternatives to US Arms. - Nasty Canada
NATO allies are spending more on defense while Canada and Europe build alternatives to U.S. weapons, suppliers, and military technology.
nastycanada.org
September 20, 2026 at 6:21 AM
1/4 Trump wanted NATO allies to spend more. They are. But Canada and Europe are increasingly using that money to build alternatives to US weapons and supply chains. Stronger allies can also mean less American leverage.
nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/n...
nastycanada.org/2026/09/20/n...
1/3
A closer EU partnership could strengthen Canadian independence by widening our options. I support it.
Canada has not become an EU “associate member.” The status is undefined. We should pursue the opportunity without pretending the agreement already exists. #Canada
A closer EU partnership could strengthen Canadian independence by widening our options. I support it.
Canada has not become an EU “associate member.” The status is undefined. We should pursue the opportunity without pretending the agreement already exists. #Canada
September 17, 2026 at 8:02 AM
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A closer EU partnership could strengthen Canadian independence by widening our options. I support it.
Canada has not become an EU “associate member.” The status is undefined. We should pursue the opportunity without pretending the agreement already exists. #Canada
A closer EU partnership could strengthen Canadian independence by widening our options. I support it.
Canada has not become an EU “associate member.” The status is undefined. We should pursue the opportunity without pretending the agreement already exists. #Canada
1/6 Trump is his own worst enemy, but Americans pay for his self-sabotage. His administration chose these fights over voting, visas and personal glorification. Courts stopping him is good for America. Needing courts to contain its president is the public cost of his bad week. #USPolitics
September 17, 2026 at 7:18 AM
1/6 Trump is his own worst enemy, but Americans pay for his self-sabotage. His administration chose these fights over voting, visas and personal glorification. Courts stopping him is good for America. Needing courts to contain its president is the public cost of his bad week. #USPolitics
1/3 Trump cannot have his cake and eat it too: claim America needs nothing from Canada, then threaten Europe over closer ties with us. His administration’s freedom to change U.S. trade policy does not include a veto over Canada’s response.
September 17, 2026 at 1:46 AM
1/3 Trump cannot have his cake and eat it too: claim America needs nothing from Canada, then threaten Europe over closer ties with us. His administration’s freedom to change U.S. trade policy does not include a veto over Canada’s response.
1/3
A federal judge has again told Donald Trump that the Kennedy Center is not his personal trophy case. This brings me profound joy.
His attempt to force his name onto another president’s memorial exposes the frailty beneath the bluster: a consuming narcissism that cannot tolerate being left out.
A federal judge has again told Donald Trump that the Kennedy Center is not his personal trophy case. This brings me profound joy.
His attempt to force his name onto another president’s memorial exposes the frailty beneath the bluster: a consuming narcissism that cannot tolerate being left out.
September 15, 2026 at 5:07 PM
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A federal judge has again told Donald Trump that the Kennedy Center is not his personal trophy case. This brings me profound joy.
His attempt to force his name onto another president’s memorial exposes the frailty beneath the bluster: a consuming narcissism that cannot tolerate being left out.
A federal judge has again told Donald Trump that the Kennedy Center is not his personal trophy case. This brings me profound joy.
His attempt to force his name onto another president’s memorial exposes the frailty beneath the bluster: a consuming narcissism that cannot tolerate being left out.
I have a PET scan today. As far as I know, it’s routine. Next week I begin mogamulizumab infusions for mycosis fungoides, a rare cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
I usually post to start discourse, but too often people answer with ragebait instead. I don’t have the energy for that today.
#CancerCommunity
I usually post to start discourse, but too often people answer with ragebait instead. I don’t have the energy for that today.
#CancerCommunity
September 14, 2026 at 8:03 AM
I have a PET scan today. As far as I know, it’s routine. Next week I begin mogamulizumab infusions for mycosis fungoides, a rare cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
I usually post to start discourse, but too often people answer with ragebait instead. I don’t have the energy for that today.
#CancerCommunity
I usually post to start discourse, but too often people answer with ragebait instead. I don’t have the energy for that today.
#CancerCommunity
1/3
EU association and U.S. statehood are not equivalent. A negotiated EU partnership would preserve Canada as an independent country with treaty obligations. U.S. statehood would end that independence. One connects Canada to other countries. The other absorbs it into one.
EU association and U.S. statehood are not equivalent. A negotiated EU partnership would preserve Canada as an independent country with treaty obligations. U.S. statehood would end that independence. One connects Canada to other countries. The other absorbs it into one.
September 13, 2026 at 9:16 PM
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EU association and U.S. statehood are not equivalent. A negotiated EU partnership would preserve Canada as an independent country with treaty obligations. U.S. statehood would end that independence. One connects Canada to other countries. The other absorbs it into one.
EU association and U.S. statehood are not equivalent. A negotiated EU partnership would preserve Canada as an independent country with treaty obligations. U.S. statehood would end that independence. One connects Canada to other countries. The other absorbs it into one.
1/3 Our defence partner has suggested we stop being a country. Absurd, but true: Trump publicly proposed absorbing Canada.
Canada must diversify trade and defence partnerships because its closest ally has made dependence on it a sovereignty risk.
Canada must diversify trade and defence partnerships because its closest ally has made dependence on it a sovereignty risk.
September 13, 2026 at 7:33 PM
1/3 Our defence partner has suggested we stop being a country. Absurd, but true: Trump publicly proposed absorbing Canada.
Canada must diversify trade and defence partnerships because its closest ally has made dependence on it a sovereignty risk.
Canada must diversify trade and defence partnerships because its closest ally has made dependence on it a sovereignty risk.
Canada is finally treating the Arctic like Canada: $2.3B for military satellite communications, more than $6B for over-the-horizon radar, more than $11B for six icebreakers, and $405M to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway.
September 13, 2026 at 7:15 AM
Canada is finally treating the Arctic like Canada: $2.3B for military satellite communications, more than $6B for over-the-horizon radar, more than $11B for six icebreakers, and $405M to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway.
1/3
Unruly North is a Canadian political account for people tired of being managed by slogans, outrage cycles, and polite lies.
I write about power, democracy, money, media, Canada’s place in the world, and the people expected to absorb the cost of other people’s decisions.
Unruly North is a Canadian political account for people tired of being managed by slogans, outrage cycles, and polite lies.
I write about power, democracy, money, media, Canada’s place in the world, and the people expected to absorb the cost of other people’s decisions.
September 13, 2026 at 6:58 AM
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Unruly North is a Canadian political account for people tired of being managed by slogans, outrage cycles, and polite lies.
I write about power, democracy, money, media, Canada’s place in the world, and the people expected to absorb the cost of other people’s decisions.
Unruly North is a Canadian political account for people tired of being managed by slogans, outrage cycles, and polite lies.
I write about power, democracy, money, media, Canada’s place in the world, and the people expected to absorb the cost of other people’s decisions.
1/3
Canada cannot prepare for 21st-century warfare by pouring too much of its defence budget into a few expensive, slow-to-procure platforms.
Canada cannot prepare for 21st-century warfare by pouring too much of its defence budget into a few expensive, slow-to-procure platforms.
September 13, 2026 at 6:00 AM
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Canada cannot prepare for 21st-century warfare by pouring too much of its defence budget into a few expensive, slow-to-procure platforms.
Canada cannot prepare for 21st-century warfare by pouring too much of its defence budget into a few expensive, slow-to-procure platforms.
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Anthropic says frontier AI is advancing dangerously fast.
Anthropic is also helping advance it as fast as it can.
Amodei’s answer is essentially: “The race is dangerous, but we don’t think we can safely leave it.”
Anthropic says frontier AI is advancing dangerously fast.
Anthropic is also helping advance it as fast as it can.
Amodei’s answer is essentially: “The race is dangerous, but we don’t think we can safely leave it.”
September 13, 2026 at 4:44 AM
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Anthropic says frontier AI is advancing dangerously fast.
Anthropic is also helping advance it as fast as it can.
Amodei’s answer is essentially: “The race is dangerous, but we don’t think we can safely leave it.”
Anthropic says frontier AI is advancing dangerously fast.
Anthropic is also helping advance it as fast as it can.
Amodei’s answer is essentially: “The race is dangerous, but we don’t think we can safely leave it.”
Britain just gave Canada a useful warning: two crypto billionaires handed Reform UK £72M in 48 hours.
Here, the 2026 limit to a federal party is $1,775 per person. Corporations and unions can donate $0.
Political equality means little if billionaires can simply buy louder voices.
Here, the 2026 limit to a federal party is $1,775 per person. Corporations and unions can donate $0.
Political equality means little if billionaires can simply buy louder voices.
September 13, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Britain just gave Canada a useful warning: two crypto billionaires handed Reform UK £72M in 48 hours.
Here, the 2026 limit to a federal party is $1,775 per person. Corporations and unions can donate $0.
Political equality means little if billionaires can simply buy louder voices.
Here, the 2026 limit to a federal party is $1,775 per person. Corporations and unions can donate $0.
Political equality means little if billionaires can simply buy louder voices.
Dear America: you did not liberate Venezuela. You discarded its election winner, kept a government you could coerce and took control of oil revenue.
A gunboat is not a ballot box. It is an ultimatum.
www.nastycanada.org/dear-america...
A gunboat is not a ballot box. It is an ultimatum.
www.nastycanada.org/dear-america...
Dear America: Gunboat Diplomacy Is Back
The U.S. used an armada, regime coercion and oil control to subordinate Venezuela. The method has a name and a shameful American history.
www.nastycanada.org
September 10, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Dear America: you did not liberate Venezuela. You discarded its election winner, kept a government you could coerce and took control of oil revenue.
A gunboat is not a ballot box. It is an ultimatum.
www.nastycanada.org/dear-america...
A gunboat is not a ballot box. It is an ultimatum.
www.nastycanada.org/dear-america...
Dear America: at some point, you need to ask: “Are we the good guys?”
Not, “Are our enemies worse?”
Not, “Did we mean well?”
When other nations’ sovereignty is negotiable because America wants something, you already know the answer.
www.nastycanada.org/america-this...
Not, “Are our enemies worse?”
Not, “Did we mean well?”
When other nations’ sovereignty is negotiable because America wants something, you already know the answer.
www.nastycanada.org/america-this...
America, This Is What the Bad Guys Do
American power has repeatedly demanded other peoples’ land, resources and obedience. Mr Trump has made that imperial logic impossible to ignore.
www.nastycanada.org
September 10, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Dear America: at some point, you need to ask: “Are we the good guys?”
Not, “Are our enemies worse?”
Not, “Did we mean well?”
When other nations’ sovereignty is negotiable because America wants something, you already know the answer.
www.nastycanada.org/america-this...
Not, “Are our enemies worse?”
Not, “Did we mean well?”
When other nations’ sovereignty is negotiable because America wants something, you already know the answer.
www.nastycanada.org/america-this...
If another country threatened annexation, bombed across borders, backed mass civilian killing, talked openly about taking land, and dismissed international law whenever it became inconvenient, Americans would know exactly what to call it.
They would call it evil
www.nastycanada.org/america-this...
They would call it evil
www.nastycanada.org/america-this...
America, This Is What the Bad Guys Do
American power has repeatedly demanded other peoples’ land, resources and obedience. Mr Trump has made that imperial logic impossible to ignore.
www.nastycanada.org
September 9, 2026 at 11:10 PM
If another country threatened annexation, bombed across borders, backed mass civilian killing, talked openly about taking land, and dismissed international law whenever it became inconvenient, Americans would know exactly what to call it.
They would call it evil
www.nastycanada.org/america-this...
They would call it evil
www.nastycanada.org/america-this...
Dear America: you are not entitled to Canada.
Your president can call our border “artificial,” threaten our economy, talk annexation, rename geography, and dress imperialism up as “security” None of it gives the United States a claim on us
We are done being polite
www.nastycanada.org/dear-america...
Your president can call our border “artificial,” threaten our economy, talk annexation, rename geography, and dress imperialism up as “security” None of it gives the United States a claim on us
We are done being polite
www.nastycanada.org/dear-america...
Dear America: You Are Not Entitled to Canada
A Canadian letter to Americans on Trump's annexation rhetoric, tariff coercion and the imperial logic of treating neighbours' sovereignty as conditional.
www.nastycanada.org
September 9, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Dear America: you are not entitled to Canada.
Your president can call our border “artificial,” threaten our economy, talk annexation, rename geography, and dress imperialism up as “security” None of it gives the United States a claim on us
We are done being polite
www.nastycanada.org/dear-america...
Your president can call our border “artificial,” threaten our economy, talk annexation, rename geography, and dress imperialism up as “security” None of it gives the United States a claim on us
We are done being polite
www.nastycanada.org/dear-america...
Mr Trump’s “Economic Force” www.nastycanada.org/mr-trumps-ec...
Mr Trump’s “Economic Force” Has Now Become an Import Ban
The White House began with tariffs, Canada answered them, and Mr Trump answered Canada’s resistance with selected import exclusions.
www.nastycanada.org
September 9, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Mr Trump’s “Economic Force” www.nastycanada.org/mr-trumps-ec...
Exactly what are Jared Kushner’s qualifications?
September 8, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Exactly what are Jared Kushner’s qualifications?
Ottawa has put $405M toward the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Arctic sovereignty needs more than a road: year-round capacity and Inuit authority over decisions that reshape their homeland. www.nastycanada.org/canadian-wat... #cdnpoli
Canadian Waters, Northern Responsibilities
Climate change is making the Northwest Passage more accessible. That does not erase Canadian sovereignty, Inuit authority or the obligation to make global shipping pay for Arctic risk.
www.nastycanada.org
September 8, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Ottawa has put $405M toward the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Arctic sovereignty needs more than a road: year-round capacity and Inuit authority over decisions that reshape their homeland. www.nastycanada.org/canadian-wat... #cdnpoli
Counter-tariffs took effect today. The real question is whether Ottawa turns pressure into permanent capacity: European customers, export-ready firms, Atlantic infrastructure and Canadian suppliers in new industrial chains. A second door, not a substitute
www.nastycanada.org/europe-is-th...
#cdnpoli
www.nastycanada.org/europe-is-th...
#cdnpoli
Europe Is Canada’s Second Option
Canada does not need to replace the United States. It needs enough alternatives so that Washington can no longer dictate the price of saying no.
www.nastycanada.org
September 8, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Counter-tariffs took effect today. The real question is whether Ottawa turns pressure into permanent capacity: European customers, export-ready firms, Atlantic infrastructure and Canadian suppliers in new industrial chains. A second door, not a substitute
www.nastycanada.org/europe-is-th...
#cdnpoli
www.nastycanada.org/europe-is-th...
#cdnpoli
When Canada Became a Sovereign Country www.nastycanada.org/when-canada-...
Canada’s Independence Did Not Happen on One Day
1867 created the country. The years 1919–1931 produced sovereign statehood. In 1982, Canada brought home the final constitutional power.
www.nastycanada.org
September 8, 2026 at 9:16 PM
When Canada Became a Sovereign Country www.nastycanada.org/when-canada-...
Trump says Bombardier can’t sell in the U.S. unless it builds there. Bombardier already employs 3,500 Americans and spends $2.5B yearly with U.S. suppliers. Canada-U.S. trade isn’t a scoreboard. It’s one production system.
www.nastycanada.org/what-america...
www.nastycanada.org/what-america...
What America Actually Gets From Canada
Canada depends heavily on the U.S. market. But America has built refineries, farms, factories and supply chains around Canadian oil, gas, aluminum, fertilizer, uranium and lumber. Replacing them is po...
www.nastycanada.org
September 8, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Trump says Bombardier can’t sell in the U.S. unless it builds there. Bombardier already employs 3,500 Americans and spends $2.5B yearly with U.S. suppliers. Canada-U.S. trade isn’t a scoreboard. It’s one production system.
www.nastycanada.org/what-america...
www.nastycanada.org/what-america...