Is Trump offering Carney another chance at a deal?

Pete Hoekstra, US Ambassador to Canada, told the Canada-US Summit in Toronto today that if Canada puts on its sales hat it can make a very compelling case that it is the best place for America to fill its needs. He said: if you need a car, look to Ontario. If you need oil, look to Alberta. Go in aggressively. The day after Trump said he needs nothing from Canada. And the Gordie Howe Bridge did not open this week. Jim and Iain have thoughts. Topics covered: ► Pete Hoekstra speaking at the Canada-US Summit in Toronto today, June 11, 2026, saying America has a tremendous need for things outside its borders, that Canada should go in very aggressively to negotiations, and that the compelling case is Canada's similar labour standards, environmental standards, and integrated supply chains, calling out Ontario cars and Alberta oil specifically as arguments Canada should be making ► The Hoekstra message Jim reads as validation: Jim and Iain have been saying this for over a year, the same argument Jim has made every time about resources being Canada's leverage, and Hoekstra is now saying it publicly in Toronto the day after Trump said he needs nothing from Canada ► Trump's Wednesday statement and Thursday Hoekstra statement as good cop/bad cop: Trump turning the screw while the ambassador opens the door, with Jim reading Canada's position as the party that needs the deal more and therefore has to make the case, not play games ► The Gordie Howe Bridge non-opening: Carney announced it as positive news and a symbol of cooperation, the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority confirmed work is ongoing to determine an opening date, Canada and the US agreed to delay the opening to resolve outstanding issues, and Carney had to make a second walk-up-the-stairs statement calling it a minor setback ► The Doug Ford parallel: Ford went to Washington, got no Trump administration meetings, had his event cancelled by White House pressure, went on CNN, and Trump the next day said he is not looking to renew CUSMA, with Jim connecting Ford's media appearances to the exact pattern that frustrates the Trump administration ► Jim's sucker fish analogy: Canada is not a shark, not a middle power, not a European Union equivalent, but a sucker fish on a great white shark that has the best spot available, benefiting from the shark's economy, currency, military, and consumer market, and the correct strategy is to know what you are and make the case from that position ► Carney's middle power alliance failure: Jim scanning the horizon for the alliance promised in the Davos speech, finding only countries begging for access to the US market, and the Financial Times already calling Canada's trade strategy a surrender Did Canada waste a year that Hoekstra just proved was unnecessary? Let us know what you think in the comments. The Really Big Show: the thinking Canadian's daily briefing, independent and informed. 🔴 Live every weekday at 9AM PST 📍 Independent. Unapologetic. Canadian. 👉 Support the show: https://thereallybigshow.ca Subscribe | Share | Comment — help us grow independent Canadian media. #canadiannews #canadapolitics #canada #nowmedia #thereallybigshow #hoekstra #cusma #gordiehowebridge #canadatrade #markcarney