City notebook: What’s next for Canada as Trump 2.0 arrives?

By Collin Gallant on January 18, 2025.

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No offence to Bob Wanner, Rob Renner, or any of the other Medicine Hat area MLA’s from over the years, but its been a while since a representative of Gas City voters was involved in international intrigue.

Jim Horsman’s helping hands on NAFTA was probably the last time one was so close to the world’s singular stage as Danielle Smith’s appearance at Mar-a-Lago last weekend.

It was a brief meeting with the U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, but the Alberta Premier will be in Washington for the inauguration.

That’s Monday in case you’ve been out of the loop, by choice or otherwise.

It’s also another edition in the Days-of-our-Lives drama that’s been building up with a threat of massive tariffs from the unpredictable and protectionist U.S. Leader, the standing up of a Canadian response. There’s no shortage of subplots and rivalries among Canadian first ministers and within the governing federal Liberal Party, now seeking a new prime minister.

It all goes live Monday when Trump will begin signing executive orders to further his hot and heavy negotiating style that began with an initial offer of “how about you’re not longer an independent country.”

Regardless of whether Trump’s declarations about national sovereignty are real or simply projections, a strategy to put Canada on the back foot, his actions are bound to hurt economically.

In Alberta, that means oil exports that are the lifeblood of the provincial economy and the provincial budget, but also cattle and a host of other areas. This week Spain introduced a 100 per cent tax on non-EU residents owning property (i.e. British expats in retirement). Anybody around here own property in Arizona?

The response is a work in progress, but what of the larger national identity question.

Tweets have cause equal parts fits and naval gazing in Canada

At one point not long ago we defined ourselves as “not American” but not in a mean way… just happy to be quietly confident Average Joes in comparison.

But that has certainly waned in recent times, and it’s certainly not the stance of Trump’s not insignificant fanbase north of the border.

Whatever comes start Monday, I suspect we’ll all learn a lot about our country over the next weeks, months, and four more years.

A look ahead

City council sits on Monday to hear more about the long-planned regional economic development strategy. Redcliff and Cypress County councils have already received the briefing from consulting company Deloitte of the matter.

Speaking of regional collaboration, changes to the Intermunicipal Development Plan will go for first reading on Monday, but a three-council joint public hearing will be held at Medicine Hat College in early February on the issue.

100 years ago

Council debated how best to weigh a loaf of bread during the second week of 1925, the News of the day reported.

At issue was planned amendments to the city’s health bylaw,

Local solicitor G.M. Blackstock represented the Master Baker’s Association, and argued Calgary’s health board set of standard of testing no longer than six hours after production. That accounted for weight without evaporation that could steal an ounce or more from a loaf over time, and a standard system was needed to avoid disputes between bakers and merchants.

Also, council debated a requirement that all milk produced in the city be tested for tuberculosis.

“Donnybrook Tactics Galore” broke out in a city league hockey game between the Barberpoles and Native Sons of Canada before a crowd of 300. The Barberpoles prevailed 4-1.

Also on the sports page, an action photo – a technological marvel at the time – captured a West Ham player heading a soccer ball in a match against Sunderland in Upton Park, London.

Wheat prices rose above $2 for the first time in the history of the Winnipeg Grain exchange.

Winnipeg police seized 60 quarter-kegs and 5,000 bottles of beer from the clubrooms of the Great War Veterans Association, touching off some dispute in that city.

Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com.

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