Thursday 3 September 2026
Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room. I know it will come as a surprise to you that I have an opinion, but I am working to find my voice.
As we sail out of Canadian waters due north
bound for Greenland, we reflect on the extraordinary political times that Canada is experiencing, and how fortunate we are to have spoken with some thoughtful, politically aware and warm Canadians.
These proud people are feeling the pressure, the frustration, and the anger, aimed at their southern neighbour. The arrogance of renaming Lake Ontario, the crippling tariffs which sting, but the harshest sting of all is the indignity of being told that Canada should become the 51st state.
We are aboard a ship which has passengers primarily from Canada, many of them French speakers, and from the US. All the on board lectures we have attended have been delivered by Canadians, Britons or Australians, and all have referenced the difficult political times. They are not specific, they are not critical, but humour is cleverly used to suggest that tips should be in Canadian dollars and not US, that the Lakes and Gulfs should be referred to in their correct names and not the new, ego driven names and that American products should be avoided in favour of Canadian. We should no longer refer to North America, but rather the US and Canada. Each dig is rewarded by a round of applause. Presumably by the Canadians, plus we Australians.
On October 19 this year the province of Alberta will hold a referendum as to whether Alberta should separate from Canada. This is an extraordinary situation, particularly since Alberta is land locked. Its premier (Female) is a strong Trumpite and spends a lot of time cosy-ing up to him. Alberta is also a very wealthy province, primarily gained from oil and gas resources. A bit like WA, they ask why their hard earned cash should go to Ottawa and not stay in house. This is a province which boasts Calgary and Edmonton amongst its cities. There are 10 questions to be answered in the referendum and they are, to our mind, horrifyingly racist. They make One Nation look centrist. For those interested, those questions can be read here
http://www.albertareferendum2026.ca
Our onboard intelligence contact is very well connected and predicts that the vote will be favoured by those in the regions and resisted by those in the cities. Should the vote carry that Alberta separates from Canada then it is likely that Alberta will become the 51st state.
Cherrie and I are very careful with whom we discuss politics, but it is evident that everyone on board is aware of the delicate situation. At breakfast the other day we sat with a couple from Florida, who lived 300 miles north of Miami. I simply asked if they had felt a shift in politics during this current administration. Turns out, yes. Who hasn’t. These are a dyed in the wool Republican couple who can’t stand the current President or his administration. Another couple who are embarrassed to be American. Others who skirt the subject altogether, probably the right thing to do. Or the Republican couple who will vote Democrat next time and who are challenged by their Trump supporting family.
By far the most interesting pair we have met, and with whom we dined last night, are from Hobart. She is a Quebecan, he Australian. They have lived and worked all over the world. Highly educated, highly successful. Before their marriage, so about 25 years ago, she was the chief negotiator for the Canadian Government with the US for lumbar and salmon. Two pretty big industries, for both countries. Everything she and her colleagues worked for, across all industries, has been wound back to such an extent that she believes it will take decades to recover. She is, understandably, apoplectic about the entire situation. He, a former Liberal Party operative (I have not yet asked him if he is awaiting his invitation to ICAC) who has made a 180 degree turn from the Libs to ALP. He was a strong Howard man, sought for pre-selection, and can’t mention Abbott or Morrison without taking on a red hue of anger. Both argue, and Cherrie and I agree, that Australia really needs to revisit its foreign policy. That Australia needs to align more with China, and allies such as Canada, rather than the US. These are an engaging and interesting couple, who speak thoughtfully and intelligently.
Mark Carney is pretty much lauded here for his stance against the US administration. As our Canadian friend from dinner last night observed, he is not a politician. It is his economic background which is driving Canada forward at the moment. His interest is for the welfare of the country and not a further term in government. His strength, passion, oratorial and strategic skills and his damn good sense is what is driving his popularity. She believes that history will not record his administration as a great one (she is a historian) largely because of his probable short term as PM and because the weakening of the Canadian economy will reflect on him, rather than where the real blame lies.
We are careful not to buy any American goods on board, or off. Pardon the irony that I am writing this on an iPad and that all photos are taken with an iPhone. We support Canada. What a beautiful country it is and how very pleased we are to have spent the past two weeks here.
May you all be blessed by a maple leaf.