Akeeagok could be Ford’s lieutenant on Team Canada
Plenty of room for premiers to show leadership skills as country braces for Trump’s return
Canada’s premiers, including Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok at far left, meet in Ottawa on Jan. 15 prior to their mission to Washington, D.C. in February to confer with Trump administration officials over plans to levy a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods imported to the U.S. (Photo by Nehaa Bimal)
Suddenly, somehow, shockingly, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has become the voice of reason.
The occasionally bombastic Ford has projected a sea of calm in the now topsy-turvy world of Canada-U.S. relations as both countries brace for Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
In the face of a looming Canada-U.S. trade war, Ford is calling to maintain the traditionally stable relationship for the benefit of both countries.
With Ford carving out his role as captain of the “Team Canada” approach, why couldn’t Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok serve as his lieutenant (or assistant captain, if you prefer a hockey metaphor)?
The urgency started in November after Trump was elected president of the United States. Again.
Right away, the president-elect’s public ramblings blamed Canada for drugs and illegal immigrants entering his country across what has historically been the world’s longest undefended border.
He threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian goods coming into his country.
Then Trump started musing about Canada becoming the 51st state, an idea he doubled down on by saying he wouldn’t rule out using “economic force” to make it happen.
But at least we’re not Greenland, which Trump wouldn’t rule out using military force to bring under American control.
So, there’s a lot on going on for Canada as Trump returns.
With the federal Liberal party in the midst of a badly timed leadership race, Canada’s premiers are stepping up to convey a united front to face whatever Trump’s second presidency brings.
Akeeagok is uniquely positioned to play a role on the so-called Team Canada approach. He’s the elected leader of the largest geographic jurisdiction in Canada.
That’s got to count for something. His territory includes the Northwest Passage, and is next door to Greenland and Russia.
Akeeagok is the head of government for Canada’s smallest jurisdiction by population.
A Canada-U.S. trade war could be more devastating to Nunavummiut than to other Canadians. If Trump imposes a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, Canada will retaliate with similar tariffs on American imports, including of all things orange juice — a punitive swipe at Trump’s home base of Florida.
Groceries are already expensive enough in Nunavut. A retaliatory tariff could push that $12 carton of orange juice to $15.
And Akeeagok is Inuk.
Once upon a time — because it was 2015 — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared there’s “no relationship more important” to him and Canada than the one with Indigenous Peoples.
Trump’s return, however, is forcing Canada to turn its attention to its relationship with its southern neighbour.
As the premiers move toward a Feb. 12 mission to Washington, D.C. to meet members of the new Trump administration, it looks like roles are being carved out for various premiers to play.
Ford probably gets centre stage because he leads Canada’s most populous province and its biggest economy. Or maybe it’s because he can flip a switch and turn out the lights in New York and Michigan.
But as Canada makes its case not to be pushed around by Trump, there should be a leadership role for a premier like Akeeagok.
Worst editorial ever.
Was it written by an ignorant AI?
Full of factual errors and rediculousness.
Boy, this editor is so woke, one sided story teller.
What is woke about this though? I’m as anti-woke as anyone, but just don’t see what you mean here. Can you explain?
There’s nothing ‘woke’ here, it’s not a great editorial either. It’s safe and says almost nothing interesting, it almost feels patronizing. But woke? A lot of people who use this word as a fashionable slur, thrown at anything that looks ‘progressive’ in some way. Of course this does more harm than good to those cases of legitimate criticism when they arise.
This editorial is delusional.
Premier PJ couldn’t lead his way out of a wet and soggy paper bag.
Nunavut is already embarrassing enough on its own.
Don’t make it funnier. Or not.🤣
Ford gets center stage because trudeau SUCKS. Not a trump fan but he’s least of our worries. Eject trudeau now!
And take Akeeagok along, Trudeau.👏
1. Orange juice is not $12 everywhere in Nunavut.
2. A 25% import tariff on orange juice does not mean you just add 25% to the price ($12-$15). That orange juice at the border crossing is maaaaybe $2 (maybe less). A 25% tariff means it becomes $2.50. So maybe that orange juice goes from $12 to $12.50. I’m stunned this $12-$15 reference made it in, there should be an editor for the editor.
3. Orange juice is not a necessity, and really is not even particularly healthy. Consume in moderation.
People need to calm down about Trump.
At least half of what he says is misdirection.
Trump is there to give himself and his rich buddies more advantages. That is it.
Trump will have the whole world looking at what he does with Greenland, Canada and Ukraine while he passes massive tax breaks for himself and his friends.
Everyone will think that is the least of anyone’s worries based on all the other issues that he manufactures.
Nothing will come of this, it is all smoke and mirrors.
From all the past traumas put on Inuit people. from forced relocation, residential schools, the famous 60’s scoop, the dog slaughter causing forced settlements, to now the legal system breaking up families and making countless men homeless, access to housing never improving, education system not improving, being given basic pain medication and not diagnosing cancer properly, sky high grocery prices and airfare because of the Carbon Tax.
Maybe it is time US Inuit take a real hard look in the mirror and ask yourself do you want to continue being Canadian? What are the benefits? The Canadian Government will never respect us. Do you want to continue being loyal to a King and Government that feeds you scraps and keeps you down?
It is was not for the US military in the 1950’s and 60’s developing DEW line sites across the Arctic many families would have staved to death because the Canadian Government did not care about us.
Iqaluit Airport and Runway was developed by the US Military giving Inuit employment just after the RCMP slaughtered all our dogs to force Inuit into settlements.
Today they are using the legal system as their colonial tool to keep Inuit oppressed, they prevent family reconciliation with their EPO’s and NO Contact Orders. Yet they created all this inter generational trauma in the first place and continue to fuel it though supplying alcohol and drugs legally to our people.
Our Governments should be using this as a tool in their tool box to at least get more funding from the Canadian Federal Government.
Hey maybe life will be better under the US in Nunavut, maybe it would not be. but right now life sucks for many Inuit living in Nunavut Is it because the Nunavut Government is mis managing the federal funding?
Why can’t life improve in Nunavut? Why is it hard for RCMP to come up? Teachers Nurses etc?
Why does ti cost so much to build a house? It cost more per sq foot to build a basic house than it is to build in Toronto why is that? Why is life so expensive?
If we used the US dollar that price would drop in 1/2 we would not be paying a carbon tax, heck the US may say as Inuit we pay no taxes and get the same benefits the Canadian Government is giving us,
$2 Billion Canadian a year vs. $2 Billion US is a big big difference.
Just my two cents on the story.