It’s 2025. Donald Trump is back in the White House, his buddy Vladimir Putin is still pulling strings in the shadows, and Canada is left standing at the border, wondering how the hell we got here.

The warning signs? They’ve been there for years. Trump has openly flirted with ditching NATO and praised authoritarian regimes. He’s (probably) been laundering money for Russia and the Russian mob for 30 years, and he’s always been on team Authoritarian. Now, he’s aligning US policies with Putin’s interests. If Canada doesn’t wake up and act now, we WILL be collateral damage in the collapse of American democracy.

It’s time to stop watching and start doing.

What we can do now

Step 1: Invoke Article 4 of NATO – Before Trump Blows It Up

Trump has made it clear: NATO is an inconvenience to his Putin-loving agenda. If (or when) he pulls the US out, Canada is left exposed. We must call on our allies under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty to discuss the grave threat this poses to global security. We need a Plan B for collective defense because if Trump follows through, Russia will be knocking at Europe’s door—and ours.

Step 2: Close the Border to Unvaccinated Americans

Do you think COVID-19 was bad? Imagine a US where vaccines are banned or restricted because Trump’s cronies decide they don’t like science anymore. Canada cannot afford to import that risk. If unvaccinated travelers could cause outbreaks, we have to shut them out. Public health is non-negotiable in Canada, and Trump announced that the US might go full RFK and ban vaccines (COVID specifically) for US citizens. Bird flu vaccines, too. When the anti-science party led by the world’s dumbest leader says, “I know more than science,” this is what you get, and THAT needs to be bottled up so dirty MAGATS don’t bring their diabetes-ridden diseases north to infect people who give a shit about our neighbors.

Step 3: Keep Unsafe US Food Out of Canada

Remember the “pink slime” scandal? Get ready for worse. Trump has already promised to gut the FDA, meaning US food regulations could plummet. If we don’t act, we’ll import listeria-filled apples, bacteria-ridden beef, and who knows what else. We need immediate bans on US food products that don’t meet Canada’s health and safety standards.

MMM. I’ll miss Jack Links beef jerky, but I’ll manage.

Step 4: Strengthen Trade Ties Beyond the US.

If Trump’s America is going to embrace protectionism, Canada needs to look elsewhere. It’s time to double down on trade partnerships with Europe, Asia, and Latin America. We can’t afford to depend on a country on the verge of an economic temper tantrum that’s threatening to hurt Canadian workers because he doesn’t understand trade, taxes, or any economic reality whatsoever.

We can replace many US imports with new trade deals with EU countries, AUS, NZ, and a handful of South American countries in 12 months or less. Starting that process now 1) gives Canada leverage over American trade partners and 2) puts a thumb in the eye of the US economy Canadians are fisting with a self-imposed US travel ban.

Trade agreements are better than trade tariffs.

The EU and #Canada have been a force for good in the world. We are close friends, partners, and allies.

We will build on our strong partnership to advance cooperation, promote global economic security and stability, drive climate… pic.twitter.com/BHQTuiXveC

— António Costa (@eucopresident) February 12, 2025

Step 5: Defend Against Cyber & Election Interference

Putin’s fingerprints were all over the 2016, 2020, and 2024 US elections, and with Trump’s return, it’ll only get worse. Canada must bolster its cyber defenses, intelligence operations, and disinformation countermeasures to protect our democracy. Because if you think we’re safe from foreign meddling, you haven’t been paying attention. American media hedge fund Chatham Asset Management owns most of Canada’s daily news outlets, and Russia spent bazillions on anti-Canadian disinfo campaigns in Canada over the past 7 years.

We’d been wise to take back foreign media outlets and make election interference “disinformation” funding a crime, too.

Step 6: Become Self-Sufficient—Fast

Canada relies on the US for energy, manufacturing, and tech. That needs to end yesterday. If Trump cuts supply chains, we’ll be left scrambling. It’s time to invest in domestic industries and ensure Canada is self-sufficient in essentials like energy, food, and national defense.

Step 7: NORAD is Great, But We Need a Backup Plan

NORAD is a key pillar of our defense. But what happens if the US decides that “Canada First” isn’t a priority? We need alternative air and missile defense strategies that don’t rely on an increasingly unpredictable White House currently threatening our independence.

While we’re at it, cancel Canada’s f-35 order and go on an EU military rearming buying spree.

Step 8: Open Canada’s Doors to American Refugees

No, this isn’t a joke. Political refugees from the US are already coming to Canada—journalists, scientists, and activists who fear a second Trump term. Canada needs to prepare asylum pathways for those who an authoritarian US regime could target. Canada needs healthcare pros, and the exodus can be sped up by draining the US of their best with the promise of allowing America’s brightest to ply their trade for a country that gives a shit about body autonomy, women’s rights, and free speech. The tech industry, too.

It’s already becoming a natural consequence for MAGAmerica, so let’s speed this up by incentivizing the Brain Drain.

US MDs welcome in Canada. Less guns, hate and imperialism. Abortion and contraception is a woman’s choice. Beautiful snow, publicly funded healthcare, I’ve never bankrupted a patient. I can’t think of one reason an MD would prefer the US. @Avis_Favaro https://t.co/smbbzZw7V6 pic.twitter.com/KdIFsw2X1j

— Raghu Venugopal MD (@raghu_venugopal) February 18, 2025

Step 9: Conduct a Full Security Review of U.S.-Canada Relations

It’s time to rethink everything—our military ties, intelligence-sharing agreements, and economic dependencies. The US is not the country we partnered with decades ago. If it’s aligning with Russia, Canada needs to reevaluate its position.

Step 10: Not Elect Pierre Poilievre

Musk/Trump’s choice can’t be ours. They want him to be PM because he’ll give them everything they want through weakness and self-interest. He’s their stooge in Canada, so let’s relegate him to the trash pile of embarrassing Canadians with guys like Kevin O’Leary and Conrad Black.

This isn’t a drill. Trump, Musk, and Putin are openly cozying up to each other, and if we think Canada is off the radar, we’re delusional. Every move they make directly threatens Canadian democracy, security, and sovereignty.

We have time—but not much. Every one of these steps needs to happen now before it’s too late.

With Trump back in the White House, the question will not be “if” we suffer the consequences but “when.”

And that “when” is “right now.”