There has been no shortage of political theatre surrounding the latest Canada–U.S. trade discussions.

Premier Wab Kinew has called U.S. President Donald Trump a “bad person” who is “not to be trusted.” We have heard tough talk about fighting back, catchy slogans and plenty of commentary designed to generate headlines.

But after all the press conferences and political posturing, I keep coming back to a much simpler question: What are we actually doing to make Manitoba and Canada stronger?

There is one part of this situation we cannot control and another part we absolutely can.

It would be easy to assume, by just watching the daily news, that there are no longer places where elected officials of different political parties co-operate. And while it is certainly true that partisan politics has become much more divided, and some would say toxic over the past several years, there are still some parts of the political system that function on a relatively bipartisan basis.

This past week I was in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to participate as a presenter and panellist in a conference related to public accounts in Canada. For the past year I have served as the chair of Manitoba’s public accounts committee. Most people who have not been involved in the political process are likely unfamiliar with the public accounts committee. It is the only committee in the legislature that is chaired by a member of the opposition, not the government, and it is made up of members of all political parties.

The purpose of the committee is to review financial statements and the audit reports that are produced by the provincial auditor general. The auditor general is an independent officer of the legislature who is empowered to review programs in government and to produce the public accounts. These reports then come to the public accounts committee whose members are able to question both the auditor and the officials of the departments which the reports are the subject of.

While not every public accounts committee in Canada manages to operate in a collegial manner, Manitoba has, especially over the past decade or so, set a co-operative tone. Together with the NDP co-chair of the committee, longtime MLA Jim Maloway, we work together on meeting schedules and ensure that reports are reviewed on a timely basis. Questions at the committee come from all members and are a mix of suggestions from the auditor general and those which members generate individually. At its best, it is a committee where members not only learn about the operations of many parts of government, but suggestions are put forward on how to improve programs in departments with the goal of continuous improvement.

Last week, mainstream news reassured us that a deal between Canada and the United States was almost sealed. Canadians could start breathing easier as negotiators worked collaboratively to finalize the remaining terms. Then, when Canadians woke up Saturday morning and read the news, they learned that Prime Minister Mark Carney had recalled Canada’s negotiators from the U.S. trade talks, just minutes before midnight. The prime minister suspended all ongoing trade discussions with the United States, citing last-minute changes that compromised Canada’s sovereignty, the French language and Canadian culture.

Commentators from the U.S. offered a very different account. U.S. trade representatives suggested that withdrawing from negotiations was potentially related to Mr. Carney’s upcoming by-elections.

Given the conflicting accounts, Canadians deserve to hear the full story.

The prime minister’s recent handling of President Donald Trump and the Gordie Howe International Bridge should raise alarm bells to every Canadian. Canadians were assured by Prime Minister Carney that toll revenues would not be shared until all construction costs were recovered. Without clear explanation, the prime minister changed his story. When a sitting prime minister’s story changes after the fact, Canadians are entitled to ask: What else is Prime Minister Mark Carney misleading us about?

The Steinbach Arts Council is opening its doors to young families with the return of its free parent and tot art workshop series. Designed for children ages one to four and a parent or guardian, this interactive program explores creative movement, music, visual arts, theatre, and culinary arts in a fun, supportive setting.

Led by experienced local instructors, each workshop includes a healthy snack to promote wellness and early creative development. Sessions run on select Fridays throughout the 2026–2027 season, including dance on Oct. 30, music on Nov. 6, and visual arts on Dec. 4. Advance registration is required.

This workshop series is made possible with support from Healthy Child Coalition – South East and Southern Health Santé Sud.

Immersive theatre of The Crucible comes to Mennonite Heritage Village

Current local debates regarding sex and gender could benefit from some social scientific clarity. Definitions matter, and there’s no point in speaking the same language if you’re using different dictionaries. Furthermore, a good definition of something is halfway to understanding it.

Sex is based on anatomy and biology, by which persons are described as male or female. It includes sexual organs, chromosomes, and hormones, and is given by nature (ascribed). Gender is social norms assigned to sex, by which persons are described as masculine or feminine. It is nurtured by and learned from socially constructed culture (achieved), including ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Sexual identity is a person’s subjective sense of being male or female, while gender identity is a person’s subjective sense and personal enactment of being masculine or feminine. Various types of sexual identity are included in the 2SLGBTQIA+ acronym.

Types of gender identity include cisgender–a person who identifies with their sex based on visible anatomy; transgender–a person who does not identify with their sex based on visible anatomy; gender fluid–a person whose gender identity is not fixed and shifts over time, or depending on the situation; and gender dysphoria–a person who is deeply troubled, confused, and conflicted about their gender.

Calling all sports fans! Desperate times call for desperate measures and now that Canada has been hit with punishing 50% tariffs by the excited states, it’s time to initiate a complete and total boycott of all things relating to American sports.

In the world of geopolitics, specifically on a continent where Canada is embroiled in a bitter tariff war with a corrupt, untrustworthy American president, it would seem like there is little any of us can do individually to fight back.

That is the wrong way to look at the situation. Trump has declared a trade war against us. He has blatantly attacked our sovereignty as an independent nation.

In war, you either fight back, or you get crushed. It’s time for sports fans to join the fight of Manitobans and Canadians boycotting American goods and travel destinations.