Mark Norman, Special to National Post
Published Feb 14, 2025
Standing in the schoolyard and taking a beating from the local bully might seem stoic, but it also might be foolish. Further, if the other kids watching don’t have the courage to intervene, they are complicit in the beating. As I reflect on what is happening at the moment I am reminded of the cautionary work of William Golding, The Lord of the Flies.
When the leader of our closest neighbour, ally and trading partner says that he can destroy us with the stroke of a pen — and repeats his willingness to do so — it is more than just an expression of perceived superiority or hyperbole, it’s a real threat. To dismiss it as anything less would be irresponsible and naive. The question we must ask ourselves is whether we are going to act as a serious nation or not.
Although recent comments about the potential futures of Ukraine and Gaza appear to be awakening the capitals of our other allies, we continue to endure a “special” focus and abuse from Washington. Ironically, this might enable us to convince the other kids in the schoolyard that the bully is not as invincible as he thinks. There is truth to the maxim that there is strength in numbers. What has yet to fully materialize however is the requisite catalyst to rally those “like-minded nations” into a coherent and collective response — but we could be close.
The other day, I suggested on X that Canada should consider its rights and protections under the NATO charter. Specifically, under Article 4, we can — and perhaps should — formally approach our allies for support (diplomatic or otherwise) as we are threatened by the United States. Many responded to my comments suggesting that we are getting what we deserve due in part to decades of neglect of our defence and security; that NATO is useless and the gesture would be meaningless; the U.S. would ignore our efforts or withdraw from the alliance; that this is all just an overreaction to bluster; and, other similarly dismissive comments.
Perhaps those critics might be right, but here’s the real issue: we either believe in, and live by, the principles of a rules-based system and the power of alliances and multilateralism; or, we slip into the behavioural model of Golding’s book where Jack runs amuck and the entire island is mired in chaos, conflict and savagery.
I am of the view that Canada’s ongoing transactional approach to countering the overt and repeated threats to our economy, territory and sovereignty is flawed. Trying to placate the ambiguous and chaotic demands of Jack, or responding tit for tat to arbitrary and punitive tariffs is not a winning strategy.
This crisis is not exclusively the creation of Jack himself. He is as much a character of his own fantasy as he is the product of a disturbing systemic shift. Focusing our disdain toward the “talking head” of a deeper problem distracts us from the importance of what is happening. Jack and his tribesmen are convinced of a series of perceived injustices and economic disparities levied against the United States since the end of the Second World War, and by extension they blame much of the world — including Canada — for many of their current woes. As a remedy they intend to reset the entire global system to their advantage, and they don’t care about the consequences. Recent comments to NATO’s leadership by one of Jack’s henchmen that U.S. security interests lie outside of Europe are a case in point. In this emerging reality, are we as Canadians any different than Ukraine is to Russia or Taiwan to China? We need not like, or even agree with this possibility, but we had best acknowledge and understand it.
We are at a serious inflection point in our history as a country. As our predecessors emerged from the control of our former colonial masters, we are once again pawns in a high-stakes power struggle. We must now decide if we are prepared to abandon the relative comfort and convenience of our decades-long dependence on the U.S. We don’t have the luxury of physical separation. We can, however, accept that the marriage is over and focus on “moving on,” even if that means continuing to live next door to each other.
To make matters worse, our current political circumstances and the resultant “power” vacuum are extremely unhelpful, and Jack and his minions are exploiting this vulnerability with brutal effect. Lacking the requisite confidence, we risk potentially self-destructive behaviour — not unlike an abused partner believing that the relationship can be salvaged if they only try harder.
In this growing fog of rhetoric and posturing it is difficult to decipher the fine line between threat and attack. Faced with such ambiguity, we can either continue to wait and respond incrementally or we can act decisively. I submit we are under attack and more significantly, so too is the global system upon which our security and prosperity are based. In response we need to rapidly deploy all available instruments of national power with maximal effect. This may need to include otherwise previously unthinkable actions such as shutting off our oil and gas, electrical power and critical supplies, as well as the abandonment of historic diplomatic and military relationships and commitments. We must also convince our other allies — those kids on the sidelines of the schoolyard — that they too have a responsibility to act as they are at risk as much as we are.
This is no longer just about Canada and our national pride, this is about stopping Jack before he destroys the whole island.
VAdm Mark Norman is a former vice chief of the defence staff and Commander Royal Canadian Navy.
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