THE OUTLAW LEDGER: Canada Is Not a Partner — It's an Empire Promethean Updates Aug 19, 2026 The Midweek Update
President Trump announced a three-day pause on planned 50% tariffs against Canada, citing a pending deal and suggesting Keystone XL could be revived. Susan Kokinda argues the dispute is larger than USMCA negotiations, portraying Canada as an “outlaw” that enables transshipment “smuggling,” fails to enforce forced-labor bans, and facilitates “snow-washing” through weak corporate transparency and money laundering documented in British Columbia’s Cullen Commission. She contrasts U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s pro-development case for oil and gas as civilizational progress with Canadian Minister Mélanie Joly’s Chatham House speech promoting “geo-industrialization” and a Mark Carney-aligned “middle powers” strategy against U.S. and China “hegemons.” Kokinda highlights a House of Commons petition led by Green Party leader Elizabeth May to declare U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra persona non grata, and notes Joly’s outreach to U.S. lawmakers and cities during the trade fight.
00:00 The Midweek Update - Canada Is Not a Partner — It's an Empire 01:40 The Outlaw Ledger 05:11 Two Cabinet Officers, Two Systems 09:16 The Petition and the Outpost