What is this guy trying to accomplish? I honestly don't get it, I am completely flummoxed. Does he actually believe he's doing the right things?
It's baffling. I think you really need to read between the lines to find the bigger issue. Strangely, enough it has something to do with OCD's "potato-potato".
The dictator's grip on power has been waning. Mostly because he seems more like a frat-boy interested in dress-up (including black-face) than an actual leader.
Things are coming to a head during the Biden administration.
Trudeau was deeply fascinated with a "bromance" that seemed inevitable once Biden took office. With covid fatigue just around the corner, anything was a welcome reprieve from the "Trump fatigue" much of the planet was fed up with.
Trudeau was the first world leader to talk to President-Elect Biden after the election, they discussed the importance of the unique Canada-U.S. partnership and continuing to fight the COVID-19 pandemic together. Reports were they talked about climate change, trade, softwood lumber, energy, and of course, the controversial Keystone pipeline.
They seemed like best buds... for a few months.
Then the executive order for blocking the Keystone pipeline went down. Canadian citizens and energy officials, naturally, placed part of the blame on Trudeau. He bowed under the guise and policies to work on "climate change".
Since then, Trudeau has become Biden's red-headed step-child, at every turn. Vaccines?
America First was held over from the Trump administration and dictated that Trudeau get his shipped in from Belgium... even though Pfizer had a plant in Michigan.
Buy American saw Biden make very few exceptions for our "friends" north of the border.
Build Back Better contains a number of protectionist measures that will hurt Canada.
Things really came to a head late November.
Trudeau traveled to the US to speak with Biden about lumber... and
potatoes.
P.E.I. (Prince Edward Island) potatoes were discovered to have "warts" (a type of potato mold) entering the US. No big deal as both countries had longstanding procedures for quarantine and mitigation science that prevented problems. And the issues of pests, molds, etc were always present for both PEI potatoes entering the US and Idaho potatoes entering Canada.
Trudeau came back from the US hopeful... The next day Biden banned import of the potatoes.
Two days later, the duty charged on Canadian softwood lumber entering the United States was hiked from 8.99% to 17.9%
Trudeau has been under intense fire and characterized as a "very weak leader" by Canadians ever since.
As this whole story (and failed bromance) chugs along, so did the impending vaccine mandates. The trucker mandates were set to arrive for both countries at just about the same time.
Biden and OSHA wavered... The American Trucking Association sought clarification for months on end and got nothing but "maybe, maybe not". Trudeau wavered, reports were that the mandate would not take effect just days before the start date (January 15th), Trudeau clarified the next day and stated reports were due to a "misunderstanding", and mandates would in fact be enforced.
Two days before Canada's mandate took effect, OSHA clarified our own stance. After months of "no clarification for exemptions for truck drivers", they released the following: "The rule provides that, even where the [mandate] applies to a particular employer, its requirements do not apply to employees ‘who do not report to a workplace where other individuals such as coworkers or customers are present’ or employees ‘who work exclusively outdoors.’ Therefore, the requirements of the [mandate] do not apply to truck drivers who do not occupy vehicles with other individuals as part of their work duties.”
So then the only ones affected are drivers that work in teams. I think Trudeau saw it as a "bait and switch". Keep in mind though, this was all under the umbrella of forced vaccination for large companies, which the Supreme Court struck down.
Biden has still maintained the mandate for truckers crossing the border... with one big difference...
it only applies to foreign drivers. So, while Canadian drivers are forced into Draconian measures, US drivers can come back into the US unimpeded.
Trudeau is once again left holding the bag, tail between his legs. Papa Joe? "This is one of the easiest relationships you can have as an American President." I guess so lol.
Somewhere along this journey over the last few weeks, this enraged lunatic just simply decided he will die on this hill. Tired as being seen as a weak leader, he was going to "flex" at any and all costs... culminating in the actions over the past few days that has much of the world, and many Canadians, seeing him for what he is... a tyrannical dictator.
So alas, truckers have become pawns in a political game on both sides. Essential workers, who are paid by the mile, held up at borders, quarantined for not getting a vaccine that does nothing to mitigate spread at this stage. Empty shelves, inflation at an all time high; supply chains in shambles exacerbating both problems. But as long as
leaders can "look strong" and "be right", all is well.
Covid... much, much more than a pandemic.
