Canadians Are More Concerned About Trump Than Their Own Freedom: A Nation’s Quiet Descent Into Authoritarianism

As American politics dominate headlines, Canada silently erodes its own rights, freedoms, and sovereignty.

For years, Canadians have become more fixated on the political circus happening south of the border—Donald Trump, American elections, and the culture wars—while our own freedoms and sovereignty continue to deteriorate under the radar. But as we become more obsessed with American politics, we are blind to the growing fragility of our economy and our increasing dependence on the United States. Tariffs on Canadian goods are a stark reminder of just how vulnerable our economy is to external pressures—and how we are about to learn this lesson the hard way.

The economic dependence on our southern neighbour has never been clearer. While Canada continues to rely heavily on the U.S. for trade, particularly in sectors like oil, agriculture, and automotive, the tariff wars and shifts in U.S. trade policy are now showing just how exposed we are to the whims of American politicians. Our economic stability is increasingly at the mercy of decisions made in Washington, D.C.—and we have little recourse when tariffs are imposed, or trade deals are renegotiated. We can pretend, talk tough, and make threats, but time will show just how idle our threats truly are.

The loss of manufacturing jobs, resource disputes, and trade imbalances are clear indications that Canada’s reliance on the U.S. is unsustainable. What happens when the U.S. decides to tighten its grip on trade, further restricting or tariffing goods that were once considered freely exchanged?

We are about to find out, and it could mean severe economic consequences for Canadians—especially those in sectors directly affected by tariff increases.

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The Distraction of American Politics While Canada Sinks Into Authoritarianism

In recent years, Canada’s obsession with American politics has reached new heights. News about Trump, Biden, and the culture wars have been omnipresent in Canadian media. But as Canadians have their eyes fixed southward, our civil liberties, economic security, and political freedoms are steadily being stripped away by an unaccountable government and troubling new legislation.

This distraction has created a significant problem—Canadians have become so Americanized that we are more concerned with the outcomes of U.S. political battles than with defending our own rights and freedoms. And the government is taking full advantage of this apathy to push through laws that will have profound consequences for individual rights and the nation’s sovereignty.

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The Threat of Bill C-59: National Security Act (2019)

Bill C-59, the National Security Act (2019), represents one of the most pervasive threats to civil liberties in Canadian history. The bill, designed to overhaul Canada’s national security laws, gives the government sweeping new powers to monitor and intervene in the lives of Canadians under the justification of counter-terrorism and national security.

• Expanded Surveillance Powers: Bill C-59 expands the powers of CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service), Canada’s national spy agency, allowing it to conduct surveillance on Canadians both at home and abroad. This includes the power to monitor online activities, including social media, in the name of national security, without clear oversight or accountability.

• Increased Government Authority: The bill grants government agencies the ability to intercept communications and engage in covert operations against Canadians suspected of posing a threat to national security. This presents a massive threat to privacy and opens the door for unwarranted surveillance of anyone who might be deemed a political dissenter or a perceived threat by the state.

• Data Collection and Retention: In practice, this means that government agencies can gather and store vast amounts of personal data, including browsing histories, phone records, and social media interactions, all without explicit consent from the individual.

Bill C-59 sets the stage for state surveillance that could easily be misused to target political dissidents, activists, or anyone critical of the government's policies. These measures could also impact those engaged in peaceful protests or opposition movements, stifling free expression and political activism in Canada.

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Bill C-11 (2023): The Online Streaming Act and the Attack on Free Speech

Bill C-11, also known as the Online Streaming Act, was designed to regulate digital platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, and social media by forcing them to promote Canadian content. While its initial intention might have been to ensure Canadian content gets visibility, the bill carries severe consequences for free speech and digital autonomy.

• Government Censorship: One of the most alarming features of Bill C-11 is the government's ability to regulate and censor online content. By imposing obligations on digital platforms to prioritize Canadian content, the bill essentially forces platforms to comply with government-imposed regulations on what can be seen and heard, leading to potential censorship of content that does not align with state-approved narratives.

• Content Moderation: Bill C-11 also compels online streaming services to “promote” content that reflects Canadian culture, potentially limiting the exposure of diverse perspectives and voices. The bill grants the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the authority to regulate online platforms as though they were traditional broadcasters, subject to the same content restrictions.

• Erosion of Digital Privacy: Bill C-11 also provides broad powers to investigate and monitor users' digital behaviour, including which content they consume and engage with. This not only invades privacy but also opens the door to state-sanctioned monitoring of Canadians' digital lives.

By opening the door for the government to control the digital landscape, Bill C-11 poses a significant threat to free speech, limiting Canadians' ability to express their opinions online without fear of reprisal or censorship.

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Bill C-18 (2023): The Online News Act and the Threat to Independent Journalism

Bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act, was designed to force tech companies like Google and Facebook to pay Canadian news outlets for sharing news content. While this may seem like a reasonable effort to support struggling media organizations, the bill's ramifications are far-reaching and deeply problematic for the freedom of press in Canada.

• Government Control of News: Bill C-18 effectively puts the Canadian government in charge of the distribution of news content, encouraging corporations and state entities to dictate which news gets pushed to Canadians. This consolidation of power could result in a monopolization of media, where only government-sanctioned outlets receive significant visibility, drowning out independent and dissenting voices.

• Impact on Alternative Media: Independent news outlets and alternative media would be disproportionately affected by this bill, as online platforms may be less inclined to feature smaller, non-mainstream news outlets due to the financial burden imposed by the bill. This creates an environment where mainstream narratives dominate, while independent journalism struggles to stay afloat.

• Censorship of Alternative Voices: Ultimately, Bill C-18 risks transforming the digital landscape into one controlled by corporate and state interests, undermining press freedom and silencing those critical of the establishment.

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Bill C-63, Bill S-233, Bill C-223: The Digital Harms Bill and Online Harms Act

The Digital Harms Bill (which includes Bills C-63, Bill S-233, C-223, C-10, and C-293) represents a sweeping effort by the government to regulate digital spaces and eliminate what it deems harmful content. While this may sound like a well-intentioned move to protect Canadians from online dangers, such as hate speech and terrorist propaganda, the bills come with significant risks.

• Overreach and Censorship: The bills give the government the power to define what constitutes harmful content and compel digital platforms to remove such content. However, the definitions of "harmful" and "dangerous" content are vague and subjective, potentially leading to overreach and the censorship of political discourse, criticism of the government, or anything deemed inconvenient by the powers that be.

• Surveillance and Monitoring: The bills also create the framework for mass surveillance of online activities, allowing the government to track Canadians’ online behaviour and enforce compliance with arbitrary standards of speech. This could lead to a chilling effect, where individuals self-censor out of fear of government punishment.

• Control Over Public Dialogue: By controlling digital spaces and cracking down on online speech, these bills could undermine the fundamental right to free expression, creating an environment where Canadians are afraid to speak their minds, particularly when it comes to dissenting political views.

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Frozen Bank Accounts: The Quiet Tyranny of Government Overreach

One of the most chilling examples of state power in Canada is the freezing of bank accounts during the Freedom Convoy protests of 2022. Under the Emergencies Act, the government froze the accounts of individuals involved in peaceful protests, cutting them off from their basic financial resources—an unprecedented move that raises alarm bells about the future of financial autonomy and personal freedom in Canada.

This incident highlighted the government's ability to target and punish individuals based on their political opinions, stifling dissent in the process. It serves as a warning of how easily the state can wield economic power to control citizens and suppress political opposition.

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Conclusion: The Dangers of Distraction

While Canadians remain distracted by American politics, our own country is quietly sliding into authoritarianism. From free speech restrictions to digital surveillance, economic decline, and the rise of secession movements, Canada is rapidly becoming a country where individual liberties are in constant jeopardy. Yet, beyond these legal and political encroachments, the personal toll on Canadians has been just as severe. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our elders died alone in long-term care homes, isolated from their families due to lockdowns and stringent government policies. Many were denied the comfort and companionship of loved ones during their final days, all in the name of "public health"—but at what cost?

And even now, unvaccinated Canadians—who may have been unwilling or unable to receive the vaccine—are still being denied access to organ donations, one of the most fundamental forms of life-saving healthcare. What justification is there for such exclusion? Safety? Or is it something far more sinister—control? The government's role in dictating who gets healthcare, who can live and who can die, raises serious questions about the erosion of personal freedoms. These measures are not just about public health; they reflect a growing desire to enforce compliance at every level of our lives.

The question remains: when will Canadians stop being distracted by the noise from south of the border and start fighting for their own country’s future? When will we recognize that our freedoms are being slowly suffocated, and it’s time to defend the rights and dignity of our citizens, no matter their vaccination status or political beliefs?

It’s time to wake up.

Darren Grimes