Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Canada's Strength - Qualified, Strong Leader

I began this week writing about how sorry I am as a US citizen, a Michigander, and a Lost Canadian - and just as a human - for the despicable, shameful words and actions coming from the toddler-in-chief in the White House with his likely illegal, and certainly uncalled for tariffs on our dear neighbors, friends, and family in Canada. I grew up in, and continue to live in Michigan, so all my life I've viewed Canada as a wonderful neighbor and friend. Now I know I'm a "Lost Canadian", I also see Canada as my family.

Clearly, the past week is showing no matter how many "tantrums" are thrown by the massively corrupt toddler in the White House, the evidence shows Canada has taken action to protect their people and is a strong and united country. As I've been saying, of course, even if I were not a "Lost Canadian", as a Michigander I find the things trump and his minions are saying are especially beyond insulting to Canada and shameful for the supposed "leader" of the US, but I am SO impressed by the strength and unity we continue to see from Canada and their leader, Mark Carney. I'm sure the world is impressed as well - they certainly should be in my opinion.

Those of us who do not live in Canada have become more familiar with the Canadian Prime Minister - Mark Carney throughout this tariff war and trump's attempt to rename Lake Ontario (which he can not do as it is, and always will be, Lake Ontario.) I thought it would be interesting to share information I learned online about the differences between these two men - and they are significant.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump differ fundamentally in their political backgrounds, economic philosophies, and approaches to international trade. 

Background and Style

Mark Carney: He is a measured, intellectual establishment figure. He previously served as the Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England before entering politics. 
Donald Trump: He is an emotional, populist political disruptor and former businessman who filed six bankruptcies, and entered politics from outside the traditional government establishment. 

College for Mark Carney

Undergraduate Education: Carney earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Harvard University in 1988. 
Postgraduate Education: He continued his studies in the United Kingdom at the University of Oxford, where he earned a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in 1993 and a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in economics in 1995. 
Career Path: His extensive background in academic economics led to a career in central banking, including serving as the Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Governor of the Bank of England.

College for Donald Trump

Undergraduate Education: Trump began his college education at Fordham University before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Donald Trump has stated for decades he graduated first in his class from Wharton in 1968. 
The Dean's List: Archival reviews by The Daily Pennsylvanian showed Trump's name was not on the 1968 Dean's List, which included the top 56 students (roughly the top 15%) of the 366-person graduating class. 
Commencement Honors: The official 1968 graduation program does not list Trump as receiving any Latin honors, such as cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. Donald Trump’s exact grades and grade point average (GPA) are not public, because he has not released his academic transcripts and schools are bound by privacy laws. Viral social media claims and unverified internet reports have suggested he ranked 364th out of 366 students, but there is no official school data to confirm or deny this specific number

Degrees: He graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in economics, with a focus in finance. He did not pursue master's or doctoral degrees. 

Career Path: He used his undergraduate business foundation to enter commercial real estate development and corporate branding before moving into media and politics.

Economic and Trade Approach

Mark Carney: He supports multilateral institutions, rules-based international trade, and strengthening ties with allies like the European Union. He recently walked away from trade talks with the U.S. and implemented retaliatory tariffs to protect Canadian sovereignty. 
Donald Trump: He champions an "America First" nationalist approach, utilizing aggressive bilateral leverage and widespread tariffs to pressure trading partners into more favorable terms for the United States.

The whole world is watching as Canada stands up and shows its strength as it deals with the massively corrupt convicted felon/sexual abuser, likely pedophile "toddler-in-chief" currently occupying the White House. The whole worlds is impressed and Canada's strength - and their standing in the world is growing even stronger as they model to the world what it looks like to come together and stand up to a bully - they clearly have a strength which at this time those of us in the US can only hope will happen here one day.

Canada is a strong leader in the world, partly, apparently, because Canada has a leader who is qualified, educated, and has real experience to pull on, along with a strong commitment to his country and people. Canada and Mark Carney are clearly showing everyone how to respond to a bully - and the entire world knows it!