Editor's note: The column was updated to reflect the impact of the detention of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in China in the struggle with Canada and the United States.
Happy Victoria Day 2019. The day theoretically applies to Queen Victoria's birthday falling on the Monday before the actual birthday (May 24). In reality, this is the start of Canadian summer.
CanadianCrossing.com NBA coverage
Staying up later to watch the Toronto Raptors win their first game of the NBA Eastern Conference finals 118-112 in double overtime was easier if you didn't have to go to work today. The Raptors are now 1-0 in double OT in the NBA playoffs.
This was Milwaukee's first road loss in the playoffs. Milwaukee only has 2 playoff losses this season. Game 4 is Tuesday night at 8:30 pm Eastern on TSN in Canada and TNT in the United States.
The New York Times introduces Americans to butter tarts and more Canadian food
IFC should applaud the unique drink that is a Caesar
Celebrating the Caesar
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Caesar. Dan Aykroyd in the Toronto Sun video above talks about how the Caesar is Canada's drink and you would have a tough time arguing otherwise.
Read the stories above. Watch the video. Google a recipe or two. You don't have to be at the cottage to enjoy a Caesar. The drink is a taste of Canada.
The opposite of that might be Mayochup, a combination of mayonnaise and ketchup from Kraft Heinz. The U.S. product recently came into Canada.
The product doesn't sound all that great. You could combine the two without having to buy a specific separate product.
The funny part comes with the name Mayochup, which in the Cree language isn't so funny. The rough translation of Mayochup is "shitfaced" or "shit is on my face."
If you are having a picnic, bring both condiments separately and let your guests make up their own minds.
Trump threat to withdraw from NAFTA should lead back to original Canada-U.S. free trade agreement
NAFTA 2.0, er, USMCA is a nightmarish trade deal for Canada
Despite childish threats by Donald Trump, Canada should hold out for a good NAFTA deal
Deal in place to (finally) lift damaging #steel #aluminum #tariffs on #Canada. Do not let that be a reason to consider ratifying #CUSMA #USMCA https://t.co/Y8mPU8cl8K #cdnpoli #cdntrade
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) May 17, 2019
Let's start with the good news: the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs — 25% on imports of steel and 10% on aluminum — are gone as are Canada's retaliatory tariffs.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is still worried about future tariffs from the United States. "Eternal vigilance is required."
The steel and aluminum industries aren't the only ones to feel the wrath of the angry toddler. There were the 292% tariffs against Bombardier over its C-Series aircraft. The only reason why that isn't an issue any more is that the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled unanimously that "100- to 150-seat large civil aircraft from Canada do not injure U.S. industry."
Boeing has had other issues lately rather than fighting the Canadian airplane industry.
The softwood lumber tariffs are the centre of a battle Canada is fighting with WTO and NAFTA.
The Trudeau Government is going "full steam ahead" — in Freeland's words — to ratifying the new USMCA | CUSMA trade deal. Canada was diligent in not considering the approval of the trade deal without the lifting of the steel and aluminum tariffs.
Parliament almost certainly won't approve the deal before the summer recess. We argue that Canada should receive considerable concessions to consider ratifying the trade deal, despite the lifting of the specific tariffs, especially when there isn't a guarantee that the tariffs won't return.
A long-term softwood lumber deal would be a start. The deal would have to be thorough and reasoned, traits that haven't existed in the U.S. trade delegation.
A no-more-tariffs promise would be ideal, though the current U.S. administration can't be counted on to keep a promise. A name change to the deal would help symbolically. An apology for the steel and aluminum tariffs is less likely than a pipe dream.
Though a short-term deal isn't a lot against long-term trade damage, the U.S. putting pressure on China to release Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig would be helpful. The United States is the reason why Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada and the reason why Spavor and Kovrig were essentially kidnapped.
Canada's passage means nothing if the Democratic legislators in the U.S. House don't approve the deal. Canada's passage of the deal, even if it doesn't go into effect, shows tremendous weakness. No one will come along to bail Canada out of the horrible USMCA | CUSMA trade deal.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. brings a lot of excitement to Toronto Blue Jays
CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage
I saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the first time in person. His fourth HR of his career, the first one not to dead centre field, gave the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead on the way to a 5-2 win. I saw his father play for the Montréal Expos in the same ballpark on the South Side of Chicago. Good memories on both sides of the family equation.
Billy McKinney (solo HR) and Danny Jansen (2-run HR) contributed to the offence to give Toronto a split in that series. MLB Network in the United States will have the Blue Jays this afternoon at 1 pm Eastern; Rogers Sportsnet carries the game in Canada.
Xavier Dolan is back with a new film at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
La femme de mon frère | A Brother's Love has already played at Cannes. Xavier Dolan's Matthias et Maxime makes its world debut Wednesday at 4 pm local time. (10 am Eastern).
photo credit: me
video credit: Toronto Sun
Twitter capture: @canadian_xing
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