The Current Elbows up, gloves off: Can Canada disentangle from the U.S?
Jul 21, 2025
Stephen Marche, host of Gloves Off and author of The Next Civil War, dives into the intricate relationship between Canada and the U.S. He expresses concern over Canada’s struggle to assert its independence. Topics include the challenges posed by reliance on U.S. military and economic systems, and how recent political dynamics affect Canada’s quest for autonomy. Marche highlights the need for stronger industrial capabilities and infrastructure to secure a distinct national identity, while navigating the complexities of global relationships.
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Canada’s Integration Challenge
- Canada has been deeply integrated with the U.S. since 1965, making separation a huge and sudden challenge.
- The country is unprepared for political realism and must rethink its relationship urgently.
Trump as a Symptom
- Donald Trump is a symptom, not the root cause, of U.S. decline and deep structural crises.
- Canada's future should not depend on a declining and troubled U.S.
Institutional Inertia Hinders Change
- Canada's institutions are built for decades of U.S. integration, strongly resisting disentanglement.
- Overcoming bureaucratic inertia to disentangle is a massive task requiring new questions and thinking.
