I’ve been around long enough to see how the world moves in cycles. I’ve seen boom times, recessions, and trade fights that left regular folks scratching their heads and tightening their belts. Now, here we are again—caught in another economic storm, this time thanks to tariffs slapped on Canada by the U.S.

So what does this really mean for the working man? Simple. Prices are going up. Groceries, gas, electronics—you name it. If it’s coming from the U.S., it’s about to cost us more. And if our government fights back with counter-tariffs, expect even more pain at the checkout counter.

Jobs could take a hit, too. Canadian businesses that rely on selling to the U.S. are going to struggle. Some might shut down, some might lay people off. A weaker dollar won’t help either—importing anything is going to cost more, and that’s going to ripple through every industry.

Sounds bad, right? Well, yeah, in the short term, it is. But let’s step back and look at the bigger picture. Maybe—just maybe—this is the slap in the face Canada needs.

For far too long, we’ve depended on other countries for what we should be doing ourselves. We buy American produce instead of growing more of our own. We import steel and computer chips instead of making them here. We’ve allowed entire industries to fade away because it was easier to buy cheap from somewhere else. That’s got to change.

This tariff mess could be the wake-up call we need to get serious about self-reliance. If our government plays it smart, they’ll push for more Canadian manufacturing, farming, and innovation. That means better jobs, stronger industries, and a future where we’re not at the mercy of foreign policies and trade wars.

It won’t happen overnight, and it won’t be easy. But if we start putting our money into Canadian goods and supporting businesses that keep things local, we might come out of this stronger. It’s time to stop depending on everyone else and start making and growing what we need right here at home.

So, yeah, times are about to get tougher. But maybe this is the fire Canada needs to finally stand on its own two feet. Let’s hope we don’t waste the opportunity. GW