Jörg Broschek 🇨🇦

The lack of clarity - and resulting confusion - is a general pattern. Similar: The PM has never explained what exactly he means by "nation-building" or "cooperative federalism", but frequently and deliberately uses these terms - which can mean a lot of different things in Canadian federalism.

Oh we will, can't wait to get out for a day!

Same here. Our default used to be Lake Huron, and it took some time before we realized how beautiful Lake Erie is. And, yes, we love our rivers, too. Still need to explore more of the Nith though.

Paris is a gem! I always take on day off during March break and we make a short family road trip. This was last year: we followed the Grand River right to Lake Erie, close to Port Maitland. Paris was our first stop (usually we only see the hockey rink in Brant :) )

Iconic train bridge crossing the Grand River in Paris, ON, with two trains.

I love this view. A little closer, from last March, with two trains crossing, but without the dam.

Merz in China: German chancellor, Xi seek more cooperation Friedrich Merz said he saw a "great opportunity" for the industrial exporters, while Xi Jinping called for "enhanced strategic cooperation." China has been courting Western leaders amid Trump's trade ...

February: Merz in China, Carney in India.

January: Merz in India, Carney in China.

The new politics of re-risking unfold at a breathtaking pace.

www.dw.com/en/merz-in-c...

Building Fortress Am-Can: Ontario’s Am-Can growth plan Ontario’s Am-Can Growth Plan envisions a new American and Canadian century as we work together to build Fortress Am-Can, a renewed strategic alliance between the U.S. and Canada that’s a beacon of sta...

The premier's posturing strikes me as rather distractive. It would be more interesting to hear what his long-term plan is - is it still Fortress Am-Can (January 2025), and if so, based on what premise?

www.ontario.ca/page/buildin...

Great essay, worth reading.

"Instead, she uses political speak to say she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. What does that even mean?"

Exactly. Define sovereignty, Premier Smith.

Mark Carney and the failure of co-operative federalism in Canada Carney promises co-operative federalism, but without institutional reform, Canada risks falling back into competitive provincial politics.

PM Carney on Nov 27: “This is Canada working, this is co-operative federalism”. Only, it isn't.

policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/02/comp...

Ad hoc deal-making ≠ co-operative federalism.

Danielle Smith won’t change. But if we had co-operative federalism, Ottawa would not also alienate allies like David Eby.

There is always a chance to put institutional reform on the table – to establish co-operative federalism.

Fed-Prov conference features collaboration with a MAGA-inspired twist Canada’s longest-running simulated federal-provincial conference wrapped up at Wilfrid Laurier University on Friday, culminating in 50 bills to make everyday life for Canadians better.

Last week, Wilfrid Laurier University hosted the 59th FedProv Conference.

It's a fantastic opportunity for high school students to learn about federalism, and to develop civic literacy skills.

Big shout out to the WRDSB teachers for their preparatory work!
www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...

As usual, excellent analysis from Eric Helleiner:

"...Trumpian protectionism is best seen as sui generis, even if there are echoes from the past in different aspects of its content."

Mark Carney and the failure of co-operative federalism in Canada Carney promises co-operative federalism, but without institutional reform, Canada risks falling back into competitive provincial politics.

Some historical and comparative context from me, with a particular focus on industrial policy.

Like others before, the PM is committed to cooperative federalism. Without institutional reform, however, competitive federalism will prevail.

policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/02/comp...

Danielle Smith Is No Separatist. She’s Much Worse | The Tyee The premier’s referendum plan is destructive, divisive and ultimately evil.

The Tyee has republished my post on Danielle Smith's fear-sowing, xenophobic, unconstitutional 'referendum' plans. thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...

To diversify trade, ditch the ideological baggage Canada’s trade diversification policy amounts to signing more old school free trade and investment deals as quickly, and with as little debate, as possible.

Canada’s trade diversification policy amounts to signing more old school free trade and investment deals as quickly, and with as little debate, as possible. By @policyalternatives.ca director of trade research Stuart Trew @ccpa-tirp.bsky.social #cdnpoli www.hilltimes.com/story/2026/0...

Thank you!

Thank you, Emmett! I agree and would be careful with any experiments towards German style joint-decision making, which could lead to stalemate. It is a delicate balance, but I am convinced we need stronger intergovernmental institutions (plus administrative "state" capacity), without "veto points".

Thank you!

Mark Carney and the failure of co-operative federalism in Canada Carney promises co-operative federalism, but without institutional reform, Canada risks falling back into competitive provincial politics.

Some historical and comparative context from me, with a particular focus on industrial policy.

Like others before, the PM is committed to cooperative federalism. Without institutional reform, however, competitive federalism will prevail.

policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/02/comp...

Our son has an away game and we have to leave here at 10:30. Something needs to happen, fast.

Open letter to the next prime minister: We need a royal commission on Canada’s future (Version française disponible ici) Sign up for A Stronger Canada for The Trump Era. A temporary newsletter with the latest Canada-U.S. analyses from Policy Options. There is no longer any room for dou...

Broken record, but not even considering to establish a (royal) commission was a missed opportunity.

policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/03/roya...

One can only hope that governments across the country - collectively - do not underestimate the threat authoritarian populism poses to Canada’s federal democracy.

25-29 % sympathetic to the idea of separatism, WH support plus this latest spin can unleash a very destructive dynamic.

U.S. Supreme Court complicates—but does not end—Trump’s trade war - CCPA Impacts on Canada, Mexico and the CUSMA review

Quick take from @policyalternatives.ca researcher Stuart Trew on the SCOTUS tariff ruling this morning as it relates to the #USMCA review. www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

In other words: No one cares what political scientists and other experts are saying. It is “Team Canada” (for the lack of a better term) who needs to call this out, frequently and unambiguously, to counter this dangerous narrative.

Danielle Smith is no separatist; she's much, much worse In a televised address last night Danielle Smith launched a xenophobic assault on immigration and proposed a set of referendum questions for next Fall advocating a constitutional agenda that would red...

NEW POST: Danielle Smith is no separatist; she's much, much worse
emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/danielle-s...

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces fall referendum on immigration, constitutional questions | CBC News Premier Danielle Smith wants to hold a referendum in October on measures to limit immigration to Alberta and changes she believes would give the province more rights under the Constitution.

Two factors enable political leadership in federalism:
1.) How successful a leader mobilizes their own constituents
2.) How political leaders from other jurisdictions respond to the challenge

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

1.Je ne me souviens pas d'avoir vu l'appui à l'indépendance aussi bas. Et dire que les nationalistes identitaires affirmaient que le virage vers un nationalisme plus civique du PQ avant 2007 avait nui au projet indépendantiste. L'appui à l'indépendance au début 2007 était pourtant au-dessus de 40%.

New at Debating Canadian Defence:

open.substack.com/pub/philippe...

Opinion: Why do we have such extraordinary centralization in the PMO? A powerful PMO isn’t unusual. But power has become highly consolidated under our last three prime ministers

A profound problem for good governance and policy-making - "comms trump's everything":

"Even the policy advice process became highly centralized....The objective was not to receive fearless advice from non-partisan public servants."

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

True. The Ontario PP group (plus the Algonquin one) is one of the very few reasons why I haven't deleted my FB account yet.

Interesting. And yes, as someone who did backpacking interrail trips in Europe in the 1990s I can relate. You got off the train station in, let's say Lagos/Portugal and just walked right to the campground close to the coast.