History doesn’t repeat itself exactly. But it often rhymes!
Then and now – Issac Brock and @isaacbrocksociety.bsky.social have been supporters of a free and independent Canada.More about Sir Isaac Brock below …www.cbc.ca/news/politic…
— Isaac Brock Society (@isaacbrocksociety.bsky.social) 2026-04-24T18:49:03.474Z
In the article linked above and featured in the Bluesky post above, CBC reporter John Paul Tasker writes:
Prime Minister Mark Carney stunned some Canadian historians over the weekend when he released a pointed video message about the U.S. featuring a War of 1812 general who led the charge against the American invaders of that era.
For the first time Sunday, Carney publicly disclosed that he takes daily inspiration from Sir Isaac Brock, a foundational figure in Canadian history who expertly prepared Upper Canada for a possible U.S. invasion and then defended the territory against the marauding American forces when they eventually marched north.
A spokesperson for Carney said comedian Mike Myers gifted him a figurine of the general during the last election — the day they filmed that now infamous “elbows up” campaign commercial — and Carney, a history buff, has since given it a prominent place on his desk at 80 Wellington St.
This is an excerpt from a really great article that is absolutely worth the read in its entirety.
Towards the end he writes:
Arthur Milnes, a political historian and an ex-speechwriter to former prime minister Stephen Harper, said so many Canadians know little of the country’s history.
While a giant in that context, Brock remains an obscure figure for many Canadians, and that’s an indictment of the school system and the curriculum that’s taught, Milnes said in an interview.
Milnes said Carney’s invocation of Brock, the Plains of Abraham and the country’s royal ties is an effort to inject the past into the present and revive a part of Canadian identity that had gone dormant before this trade war.
https://web.archive.org/web/20260424014557/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/sir-isaac-brock-mark-carney-9.7170975
In 2011 the Isaac Brock Society was founded as a blog to educate Canadians about the impact U.S tax overreach. Specifically, United States reaching into Canada and claiming Canadian residents as U.S. tax residents. Not only was (and is) FATCA an attack on individual Canadians, it was also an attack on Canada’s status as a sovereign country. The “realization of the attack” was often referred to by impacted individuals – as the “Oh My God” moment.
In 2025 Canada as a country had it’s “Oh My God” moment when it realized that when President Trump suggested that Canada should become the 51st state. The President’s threats to annex Greenland gave the threats against Canada more credibility. In 2025 and 2026 the world had its collective where it recognized the need to deleverage from and minimize dependence on the United States.
It was in this political and historical context that Mark Carney became the Prime Minister of Canada and has become a champion in the cause of keeping Canada independent from the United States. Note that this is NOT “Anti Americanism”. Rather, it’s a simple recognition that Canada (like other countries) must take steps to create economic independence and to diversity its interests as much as possible.
One of the founders of the Isaac Brock Society sent me the following video clip giving more information about Sir Isaac Brock.
— Isaac Brock Society (@isaacbrocksociety.bsky.social) 2026-04-20T22:21:27.987Z
It’s 2026. Canada must deleverage from the United States to preserve its independence and protect is sovereignty.
History doesn’t repeat itself exactly. But, it does often rhyme!
It will be more difficult this time to stave-off the invaders. We have an integrated economy. E.g., TD Bank owns nearly 400 billion dollars in USA holdings. Our oil pipeline that goes to Sarnia, Ontario, passes through Michigan. We are defeated already, and all the USA has to do is the same confiscation of US $$ assets that it did to Russia. Carney talks tough, meanwhile he owns most of his personal assets in USA companies (90%!!!; https://nationalpost.com/opinion/no-canadian-p-m-has-ever-been-more-personally-enmeshed-with-u-s ). The weaponization of the US dollar is no joke.
As a Canadian, I am extremely grateful for PM Carney. He stepped up at exactly the right moment in time. And Canada has never been more respected on the world stage than it is today.
I am grateful too to hear that the world respected PM Mark Carney has saved us. Does that mean we don’t have to fill out that paperwork from the bank regarding FATCA regulations? I’ll ask Google AI:
Do banks in Canada still have to comply with USA FATCA laws now that Mark Carney has stood up to Trump on the world stage?
AI Overview
Yes, banks in Canada are still legally required to comply with the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) as of May 2026.
Despite reports of intense trade negotiations and political stand-offs between Canadian leadership and the U.S. administration in early 2026, the legislative framework requiring Canadian financial institutions to report on U.S. persons remains in place under the Canada-U.S. Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA).
Key Details on FATCA Compliance in 2026:
Active Compliance: Canadian financial institutions must identify and report to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on accounts held by U.S. persons, including dual citizens, as part of Canadian tax law.
The IGA Framework: Compliance is handled through an IGA, meaning Canadian banks report to the CRA, which then shares the data with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), rather than reporting directly to the IRS.
http://www.rbc.com
No Changes to FATCA: Although Mark Carney, in his role as Canadian leadership, has challenged U.S. tariffs and negotiated on various trade issues in 2026, the specific tax treaty obligations regarding FATCA have not been removed or suspended.
Consequences: Failure to comply with Canadian regulations regarding FATCA can lead to severe penalties, including 30% withholding taxes on U.S. source income for the bank or customer.
While 2026 has seen tense discussions between the U.S. and Canada regarding tariffs and digital service taxes, FATCA compliance remains a separate, long-standing regulatory requirement that banks continue to follow.
It is highly doubtful that any Canadian PM, no matter how amazing they are at their job, will ever get rid of FATCA. No need to ask AI.