Maky Abugu

Maky Abugu 🌍 🇨🇦 Maky Abugu | Canada, global politics, power shifts, and the world economy.

06/07/2026

Charlie Angus: There was a group of young Normandy students, and two young teenage girls read a poem in French to the commemoration ceremonies and to the immense field of the dead. And she said, "We are the children that you never had. We are the children of liberty."

And there wasn't a dry eye in the house, but I always remember because Charles Scott Brown, in his 90s, stood up. And he broke protocol, of course, and he said to those young girls, "Don't cry for any man in this field. They came to free you, and they would do it again if they were asked."

That's what we come from. That is [Canada's] legacy. Do you think that we're going to let the likes of Pete Hoekstra push us around, or Donald Trump and his predator government threaten us? That's what we represent.

Lara Trump says Donald Trump is "one of the funniest people I've ever met."But it was what came next that caught my atte...
06/07/2026

Lara Trump says Donald Trump is "one of the funniest people I've ever met."

But it was what came next that caught my attention.

During a discussion on Fox News about political correctness and comedy, commentator Ben Bankas claimed that Canada has "gone very far left" and accused the country of moving toward laws that could criminalize speech.

His exact words were:

"Canada has gone very far left, to say the least."

He also claimed Canada is working on laws that would make it "illegal to offend me."

That's a pretty serious accusation.

The problem is that a lot of these debates often mix up hate speech laws, online harms legislation, human rights rules and criminal law, treating them as if they're all the same thing when they're not.

Canada does have restrictions on certain forms of hate speech. It also has ongoing debates about online regulation and harmful content. But Canada is not a country where simply offending someone automatically lands you in jail.

What's interesting is that these comments are increasingly becoming part of a broader narrative coming from some American conservative media circles. Canada is often portrayed as a warning of what happens when governments become too involved in regulating speech, while supporters of those policies argue they're designed to protect vulnerable groups and reduce harm.

The real debate isn't whether people should be free to speak.

Almost everyone agrees with that.

The debate is where the line should be drawn between free expression and harmful conduct.

And depending on who you ask, Canada is either protecting people or overreaching.

One thing is certain.

Canada has become a major talking point in America's culture wars.

Do you think Canada has gone too far when it comes to speech laws, or do you think these criticisms are exaggerated?

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06/07/2026

Fred DeLorey: It's problematic when you choose to go down that road that Poilievre has chosen to go down so aggressively, almost like he's rooting for a recession. I'm a tribal conservative. I want to win the next election ... screaming that the sky is falling every week is not how you do it.

06/07/2026

David Cochrane: You don't create 88k jobs if you're in a recession. So what does this do to the whole argument?

Peter Armstrong: It probably won't put it to bed, though it probably should.

06/07/2026

If you could permanently delete one monthly bill, which one are you choosing?

The Canada-U.S. relationship has rarely been this tense.Now one of Canada's most respected political journalists, John I...
06/07/2026

The Canada-U.S. relationship has rarely been this tense.

Now one of Canada's most respected political journalists, John Ibbitson, is openly discussing something that would have been almost unthinkable just a few years ago: whether the U.S. ambassador should be declared persona non grata and sent home.

Speaking on CBC's political panel, Ibbitson said:

"There are people who believe that we should declare that the ambassador is persona non grata and send him back to Washington."

He added that while doing so might be "deeply satisfying," Pete Hoekstra is in many ways a reflection of the administration he represents.

Then came the line that is generating headlines:

"He is belligerent and rude, and he represents a belligerent and rude administration."

This comes after months of growing friction between Canada and the Trump administration over tariffs, repeated comments about Canada becoming the 51st state, trade disputes, and increasingly strained diplomatic exchanges.

For those unfamiliar with the term, declaring an ambassador "persona non grata" is one of the strongest diplomatic signals a country can send. It effectively means the host country no longer accepts that diplomat and wants them gone.

To be clear, the Canadian government has not suggested taking such a step. But the fact that serious political commentators are even discussing it shows just how much the relationship has deteriorated compared to where it was only a few years ago.

What's remarkable is that this conversation is not happening because of a military conflict or a national security crisis. It's happening between two countries that share the world's longest undefended border and one of the closest economic partnerships on Earth.

The bigger question is this:

Has the Canada-U.S. relationship entered a fundamentally different era, or is this just a rough patch that will eventually pass?

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Pete Hegseth just sparked a major controversy in Europe.Speaking at the 82nd anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, the U.S. ...
06/06/2026

Pete Hegseth just sparked a major controversy in Europe.

Speaking at the 82nd anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, the U.S. Defense Secretary compared modern migration into Europe to an "invasion" and questioned why European leaders have not done more to stop it. He said:

"Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies."

He then pointed to Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, saying:

"Boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion?"

Think about that for a second.

This wasn't a campaign rally. This wasn't a television interview.

This was a D-Day commemoration in Normandy, where Allied soldiers landed to help liberate Europe from N**i occupation during World War II.

The remarks immediately sparked debate across Europe because many saw it as linking immigration directly to an invasion while using one of the most symbolic moments in modern European history to make that argument.

Supporters will say Hegseth is simply speaking openly about concerns many Europeans already have regarding illegal migration, border security and social integration.

Critics argue that comparing migrants arriving by boat to a military invasion crosses a line and risks inflaming tensions at a time when Europe is already deeply divided over immigration policy.

What makes this even more significant is that these comments come as the Trump administration continues to pressure European allies on immigration, defence spending and what it sees as a failure to protect Western values.

Whether you agree with Hegseth or not, one thing is clear.

The debate over immigration is no longer just a domestic political issue. It is now front and centre in the conversation about the future of the West itself.

Do you think Hegseth was telling an uncomfortable truth, or was this the wrong message at the wrong place?

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So now we have two completely different versions of the same story.Earlier this week, reports citing unnamed Liberal MPs...
06/06/2026

So now we have two completely different versions of the same story.

Earlier this week, reports citing unnamed Liberal MPs claimed that Prime Minister Mark Carney was dismissive of concerns, centralized power, and even yelled at caucus members behind closed doors.

But now Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney is pushing back hard.

In an interview with CTV's Question Period, Maloney called the reporting "absolutely false," "factually incorrect," and repeatedly insisted that "the story is wrong."

When asked directly about allegations that Carney "punches down at caucus all the time," Maloney responded:

"Absolutely false."

He went even further, saying:

"When I read that two nights ago, one of my reactions was anger, one was concern, and one was great disappointment because it's not true. Absolutely not true."

Maloney also said he has "never" heard Carney yell and described caucus meetings as a "safe environment" where MPs, cabinet ministers and the prime minister are free to voice their opinions.

What's interesting here is that the accusations came from anonymous sources, while the caucus chair, whose job is literally to represent MPs inside caucus, is publicly putting his name behind a complete rejection of the claims.

That doesn't automatically mean every MP is happy. Every government has internal disagreements. But it does mean Canadians are now hearing two very different versions of events.

So who do you believe?

Unnamed sources speaking through media leaks?

Or the elected caucus chair saying, "Look, the story is wrong"?

This story is becoming less about whether Carney yelled and more about whether anonymous political sourcing should outweigh public accountability.

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The phrase "elbows up" has become one of the most talked-about political slogans in Canada this year, and according to s...
06/06/2026

The phrase "elbows up" has become one of the most talked-about political slogans in Canada this year, and according to some Conservatives, it's confusing voters.

But former Liberal strategist Greg MacEachern says they're completely missing the point.

Speaking on CBC's Power & Politics, MacEachern argued that "elbows up" is not about aggression. It's about self defence.

"Elbows up is about defending yourself," he said, adding that "throwing an elbow is a little bit different, and that has not been our style."

That distinction matters.

The phrase exploded in popularity as Canada faced growing pressure from Washington through tariffs, trade disputes and repeated comments questioning Canada's sovereignty and economic independence.

For many Canadians, "elbows up" became shorthand for standing your ground, protecting Canadian interests and refusing to be pushed around.

Critics on the right have tried to portray it as an aggressive political slogan. Supporters argue the exact opposite. They see it as a defensive posture rooted in a hockey culture Canadians understand instinctively. You keep your elbows up when you're protecting yourself in a tough game.

What's interesting is that this debate is happening at the same time Canada is posting stronger than expected economic numbers, adding 88,000 jobs in a single month while unemployment fell to 6.6%.

The broader political battle now seems to be about competing visions of how Canada should respond to external pressure.

One side argues Canada should fight harder.

The other argues Canada is already doing exactly that by diversifying trade, investing at home and standing firm when challenged.

Either way, the phrase clearly struck a nerve because months later people are still debating what it means.

The real question is this:

When Canadians hear "elbows up," do they hear strength, self defence and resilience, or do they hear confrontation?

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State of disaster.Not for a hurricane. Not for a flood. Not for a wildfire.A state of disaster has now been declared in ...
06/06/2026

State of disaster.

Not for a hurricane. Not for a flood. Not for a wildfire.

A state of disaster has now been declared in Texas after the first U.S. case in decades of the flesh eating New World screwworm was detected in a calf. And yes, it is exactly as disturbing as it sounds.

According to officials, the parasite's larvae feed on the living tissue of animals, causing severe wounds and potentially killing livestock if left untreated. The case was discovered in South Texas, and a second case has now also been confirmed, raising fears that the outbreak could spread further.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster and warned that all available resources would be needed to contain what he called an "extraordinarily challenging" threat to the state's cattle industry. Officials are now releasing millions of sterile flies and establishing control zones in an effort to stop the parasite from reproducing and spreading.

This is not some minor agricultural issue.

Texas is home to one of the largest cattle industries in North America. Experts warn that a widespread outbreak could cause major economic damage, disrupt livestock production and drive up already high beef prices.

Canada clearly isn't taking any chances either.

Canadian authorities have already moved to temporarily restrict livestock imports from Texas to help prevent the parasite from crossing the border and threatening Canada's own livestock sector.

What makes this story even more remarkable is that the screwworm was considered eradicated from the United States decades ago. Now, after cases spread northward through Mexico and Central America, it has reappeared on U.S. soil for the first time since the 1960s.

One thing is certain.

When a flesh eating parasite forces the second largest U.S. state to declare a disaster, this is no longer just a Texas story. It's a North American story.

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