Monthly Archives: January 2026

Politics and Reality

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‘Was Carney’s speech in Davos in part for political expediency – to score points at home while on the world stage? A kind of ‘elbows up’ moment. And did it really help Canada’s economy, it’s workers and businesses?’ I asked Camp after he sat down at our usual table by the window overlooking the grey waters of Gibsons harbour.

 ‘You could ask why poke the orange bear with a sharp stick and get him angry and lashing out, knowing full well that the bear is vicious and unpredictable? On the other hand, facing a certain attack, it doesn’t really matter if we poke it or not, therefore it is best to be realistic about the threat and call it what it is: An assault on our country, on our political systems and on our way of life. Should we just play dead and hope the bear goes away?’

‘But we all know that we cannot easily disentangle our economies and go it alone, without the US. NATO cannot, the EU and UN cannot and certainly Canada cannot either. We do share the longest undefended border in the world with the US and our mutual trade and culture is integrated and intertwined. Untangling it is like unravelling a large ball of wool in a storm.’ 

‘It’s been a sobering week with ICE in all-out war against the immigrant population in the streets of the nation’s cities. They have taken the war from the borders and brought the border into the country. It’s from an old playbook used by dictators and despots since time immemorial,’ Camp said, shaking his head in disgust.

‘I did a bit or research,’ I said. ‘The reality is that as of 2025, the US foreign-born population reached a record high of approximately 53 million people, about 16% of the total population. Of those about 15 million are undocumented. Most of those come to the US for work and these individuals are in the prime of their working lives.’ 

‘Yes, and studies also indicate that undocumented immigrants are not displacing US born workers. Rather, they are filling jobs that few Americans are interested in. One sector, in particular, offers a striking illustration: Undocumented immigrants account for 50 percent of all hired field and crop workers, making them essential to the success and continued viability of American farms.’

We both paused, taking the edge off our conversation by concentrating on our beers. I changed the subject, wanting to coast into friendlier waters than the stormy US politics. 

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Mark Carney’s speech in Davos

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            Like millions of other people, I have read and listened to Mark Carney’s extraordinary speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. It struck me as a defining moment in our present times and he galvanized and accurately described in real time the world we live in today. When I asked Camp if he had a chance to listen or read the speech.

            ‘Yes, I did. Both. I read and listened to it. A speech both erudite and eloquent with none of the pathos and rhetoric that we are so used to hear from politicians. For once a political leader, who by the way does not come from a political background but is well versed and experienced in world affairs, has called out the elephant in the room. He delivered a courageous, honest and accurate speech that will be remembered as a turning point and an inspiration to other leaders of middle-powers. Hopefully, they will join Carney and Canada in forming a united front to oppose the destructive bully, whose imperial and megalomanic ambitions are shaking up the world today.’ 

            ‘I totally agree, ‘I said. ‘but what scares me the most is the fundamental, religious convictions of those people in power in Washington.  It’s no coincidence that the American delegation has rented an interdenominational church in Davos as their headquarters. They claim God to be on their side just as Trump publicly stated the other day that ‘God put me here and He is very proud of me’. 

            ‘Their militant Christianity is indeed worrisome. Look no further than J.D. Vance or Callista Gingrich, the US ambassador to Switzerland and formerly to the Holy See. Both of them zealous Catholics. J.D. only converted in 2019 and like many converts, be it from a smoker to a non-smoker or an alcoholic to a tea-totaller, he is a fervent believer now, convinced that he is doing God’s work. Watch out for him.’ 

            ‘Do you think Carney’s speech will have an impact on how other countries, especially the EU, go forward in their relationship to the US?’

            ‘It only stands to reason that we all wake up and stand up to the bully. This speech could well be the spark that lights the fire. As Carney pointed out, we all have the tools, the skills and the wherewithal to remake the world in a better way, representing values like fairness, tolerance and inclusiveness and grounded on trust and commonality as opposed to wild threats of territorial takeovers and punitive, vengeful aggression aimed at foes and friends alike.’

            He also offered a way forward: Middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu. And he pointed out that Nostalgia is not a strategy. There is no going back to the old world-order. This is a rupture, not a transition.

            A day later, in typical fashion, Trump lashed out at Carney like the schoolyard bully he is. “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, next time you make your statements.”

And today he uninvited Carney from his ludicrous self-serving ‘Peace Board’. Trumps billion dollar club with himself as chairman for ever,’ Camp said, shaking his head.

            ‘I wonder who explained Carney’s speech to Trump’ I said.

            ‘An impossible task,’ Camp said. ‘It’s like trying to explain the universe to a flat earther.’

            When Vicky came around with a fresh round of golden goodness, I had to ask her if she’d seen or heard Carney’s speech.

            ‘I haven’t got the time but I trust it was a good speech. That’s why I voted for him; to do and say the right thing, at the right time, for all of us.’

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mark-carney-speech-davos-rules-based-order-9.7053350

Lists

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Before smart phones and reminder apps we wrote our shopping and to-do lists in a special notebook or on a piece of paper stuck to the fridge with a magnet, next to a list of emergency numbers. The same for appointments and other reminders like birthdays and holidays. Those are still reminder lists that most everybody uses but these days they are embedded in our handheld devises with notification sounds to make sure we didn’t miss a grandchild’s birthday or a dentist appointment. 

Some of us have lists of movies to watch, books to read. There are even so called ‘bucket lists’ full of dreams and wishes of places to visit and things to do and people to see. The term comes from a 2007 buddy comedy written by Justin Zackham with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, two terminally ill men on their road trip with a list of things to do before they ‘kick the bucket’. I wanted to know if Camp had any such lists.

He looked at me as if I asked him if he was on drugs. 

“I don’t do lists. Not shopping lists or bucket lists. It’s all in here,” he said, tapping his temple. I still have the capacity to remember when I have a doctor’s appointment or Muriel’s and Sophie’s birthdays. And as you know I’m no great fan of celebrating events that we had nothing to do with, like birthdays or religious holidays. Getting born and growing older is not an accomplishment but a fact of life. I can do anniversaries and university grads and admire anyone who sticks to a goal and gets it done.”

“What about shopping lists? To-do lists?”

“Muriel does the shopping and I do things when they come up. If the sink is plugged, I plunge it, if something breaks, I try to fix or replace it. I don’t repair things that work and I don’t think about chores, I just do them, like taking out the garbage every Tuesday.”

“What about when people ask you to do things, maybe order a book for them or have a look at their manuscripts or if they invite you to a party a couple of months in advance. Don’t you make a note of these dates and events?”

“Not really. I usually ask people to remind me if it’s something to do in the future and I don’t get invited to a lot of parties. I let Muriel handle the social calendar and I’m constantly reminded and prompted on bookstore events like fairs or upcoming releases.”

“I talk to a lot of retires, like at the monthly discount events at the grocery store and one of the most asked questions is: What do you do all day long now that your time is your own and you don’t have to go to work anymore? You know what I often hear? I don’t know where the time goes and I seem to be busy all the time. I have a list as long as my arm of things to do. Some have even told me that they have a list of lists, in order of importance or immediacy. These people never run out of things to do, never sit idle and twiddle their thumbs or watch daytime TV or god forbid, read a book in broad daylight.”

“Well, first of all I’m not retired yet and once I am, I’m sure as hell will not make a list as to what to do with my time. I have so many books to read and reread, walks that I want to do in the middle of the day like to the pub on Thursday’s like you. I look forward to doing nothing. Now that is an art. To do nothing and not feel guilty about it.”

When Vicky came around with our refills I had to ask. “Do you make lists of stuff to do or buy or go?”

“I have a reminder app but you two are on my hit list of favorite people.”

“Wow, how did we deserve that?”

“By being who you are. Dependable, predictable and always interested in my opinions and wellbeing.”  

Happy Eating Season

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Camp was late for our weekly brew chat because he is busy at the store, probably tallying up the accounts for the end of the year. This is of course the time of year when running a bookstore is actually rewarding in more than in just an esoteric sense; he’s actually making some money since books are still the best of all presents. 

            Now that a new year has started, we all want it to be better than the last one. A wishful fantasy at best. It started with a tragedy in the Swiss Alps when a night club erupted into an inferno at 1:30AM, killing at least 40 people and injuring 115 others. Unimaginable. I was shaking my head in disbelieve when I read the awful news.        

I was pawing through my emails when Camp walked in, shook off his rain-soaked jacket and plunked into his chair.

‘Good year at the store?’

            ‘Yes and no. Not as good as previous years but still better than a kick in the pants. Heard about that awful fire in Switzerland. A catastrophic heartbreak.’

            We both sat in silence for a minute, finding no words. 

            Finally, Camp broke the silence.

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