Ben Rowswell
@benrowswell.bsky.social
Convenor, Circle for Democratic Solidarity https://www.democraticsolidarity.net/get-involved
"Soft power," "hard power" - it doesn't matter as long as Canada gets more power. soundcloud.com/user-6094853... My take on debates at the recent Ditchley Canada conference, alongside former Amb to China Guy St-Jacques, Prof Anne Fitz-Gerald, and organizers Tom Timmins and Don McCutchan
Takeaways from the Ditchley Conference
On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Ann Fitz-Gerald, Ben Rowswell, Guy St. Jacques, Thomas J. Timmins and Don McCutchan to discuss their takeaways from the 2025 Ditch
soundcloud.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:58 PM
"Soft power," "hard power" - it doesn't matter as long as Canada gets more power. soundcloud.com/user-6094853... My take on debates at the recent Ditchley Canada conference, alongside former Amb to China Guy St-Jacques, Prof Anne Fitz-Gerald, and organizers Tom Timmins and Don McCutchan
Canada's political leaders don't speak publicly about this, but we voters know very well what's happening in the U.S. - and seek leadership to steer us away from an authoritarian hellhouse in the making
relaywithkyla.substack.com/p/canadians-...
relaywithkyla.substack.com/p/canadians-...
Canadians’ clear view of what’s happening to American democracy
Alt title: If not fascism, why fascism shaped?
relaywithkyla.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Canada's political leaders don't speak publicly about this, but we voters know very well what's happening in the U.S. - and seek leadership to steer us away from an authoritarian hellhouse in the making
relaywithkyla.substack.com/p/canadians-...
relaywithkyla.substack.com/p/canadians-...
Remembrance Day brings some hard memories. Canada has fought to make the world a better place - and we have the scars to prove it. benrowswell.substack.com/p/what-canad...
What Canadian Power Felt Like in Kandahar
Canada knows how to shape geopolitical outcomes - and what price that can entail
benrowswell.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Remembrance Day brings some hard memories. Canada has fought to make the world a better place - and we have the scars to prove it. benrowswell.substack.com/p/what-canad...
We will remember them
November 11, 2025 at 4:26 PM
We will remember them
Thrilled to join a team of nation-builders at Catalyze4, to help firms ready to seize the opportunities in Canada's new role in the global economy. The government has set out a plan spending to catalyze $1T in private investment. I'll lend my help on defence, tech and innovation
November 8, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Thrilled to join a team of nation-builders at Catalyze4, to help firms ready to seize the opportunities in Canada's new role in the global economy. The government has set out a plan spending to catalyze $1T in private investment. I'll lend my help on defence, tech and innovation
Polling shows that for Americans, Canada is vastly more popular than their own president. Keep sewaring at our elected leaders, attacking our economy and threatening our sovereignty. You're going to regret it.
www.nj.com/politics/202...
www.nj.com/politics/202...
CNN analyst: Why Trump made a huge mistake picking a fight with Canada
CNN analyst says President Trump is feuding with a country Americans "adore" as tariff rates reach 18%, the highest since 1934.
www.nj.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Polling shows that for Americans, Canada is vastly more popular than their own president. Keep sewaring at our elected leaders, attacking our economy and threatening our sovereignty. You're going to regret it.
www.nj.com/politics/202...
www.nj.com/politics/202...
The New York Times has laid out the case authoritatively, over and over again: the U.S. is no longer a democracy. Why bother with the question mark? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy?
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The New York Times has laid out the case authoritatively, over and over again: the U.S. is no longer a democracy. Why bother with the question mark? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
President Trump's "Peace after 5000 years" didn't even last until the end of the month
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Israel strikes Gaza again after overnight bombardment that killed at least 104
Attacks shatter Palestinians’ short-lived relief since start of ceasefire that now looks increasingly fragile
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:58 PM
President Trump's "Peace after 5000 years" didn't even last until the end of the month
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Great timing that PM Carney is travelling to Asia just as President Trump attempts to cow Canadians into silence with a new 10% tariff. This is where we find our true like-minded today on.ft.com/4nYKFi1 Singapore’s prime minister warns of ‘messy’ transition to post-American order
Singapore’s prime minister warns of ‘messy’ transition to post-American order
Lawrence Wong says no other country can fill the vacuum left by the US
on.ft.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Great timing that PM Carney is travelling to Asia just as President Trump attempts to cow Canadians into silence with a new 10% tariff. This is where we find our true like-minded today on.ft.com/4nYKFi1 Singapore’s prime minister warns of ‘messy’ transition to post-American order
All of Canada should thank the Ontario government for practicing modern diplomacy - taking the message straight to the voters of the United States
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
See the anti-tariff ad Doug Ford has been airing in the U.S.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government paid around $75 million to air this ad, featuring remarks from former president Ronald Reagan, on U.S. television stations — a move that has angered President Do...
www.cbc.ca
October 24, 2025 at 2:03 PM
All of Canada should thank the Ontario government for practicing modern diplomacy - taking the message straight to the voters of the United States
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
“It is time to swing for the fences again.” The PM announces that this is a time for the country to take risks. But the Public Service has one overriding priority, deeply encoded in its DNA: Avoid risk at all costs. So who will deliver his agenda?
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Carney meets with opposition leaders ahead of budget address | CBC News
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with leaders of the opposition parties ahead of a speech to university students in which he's expected to discuss his government's impending budget.
www.cbc.ca
October 22, 2025 at 11:43 PM
“It is time to swing for the fences again.” The PM announces that this is a time for the country to take risks. But the Public Service has one overriding priority, deeply encoded in its DNA: Avoid risk at all costs. So who will deliver his agenda?
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
So emblematic of what Donald Trump is doing to American democracy www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
‘It’s your house. And he’s destroying it’: Trump demolishes White House East Wing
President Donald Trump is tearing down the East Wing to build a $250 million ballroom.
www.politico.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
So emblematic of what Donald Trump is doing to American democracy www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
In today’s Globe and Mail by co- authors and I outline an effort by democracy movements from around the world to ally with one another in defending our countries from the authoritarian wave coming from Moscow and Washington www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: To defend Canadian democracy, reach beyond Canada
Amid a rising tide of authoritarianism, Canada can learn from – and help – civic movements around the world
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
In today’s Globe and Mail by co- authors and I outline an effort by democracy movements from around the world to ally with one another in defending our countries from the authoritarian wave coming from Moscow and Washington www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Another round of extrajudicial killings by a lawless government undermining security in our hemisphere www.cbc.ca/news/world/u...
6 dead after fresh U.S. strike off Venezuela, Trump says | CBC News
The United States struck another small boat accused of carrying drugs in the waters off Venezuela, killing six people, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.
www.cbc.ca
October 14, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Another round of extrajudicial killings by a lawless government undermining security in our hemisphere www.cbc.ca/news/world/u...
An intellectual tour de force by U of at Law prof Douglas Sanderson today on the nation-to-nation relations that dominated Indigeous/settler relations prior to Confederation. Since then, “the problem is not colonialism, it is nationalism”
October 14, 2025 at 11:51 PM
An intellectual tour de force by U of at Law prof Douglas Sanderson today on the nation-to-nation relations that dominated Indigeous/settler relations prior to Confederation. Since then, “the problem is not colonialism, it is nationalism”
One hour to go! Join Douglas Sanderson at Trinity College Toronto for a masterclass on how diplomacy was practiced for centuries here in this land www.eventbrite.com/e/douglas-sa...
Eventbrite
None
www.eventbrite.com
October 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
One hour to go! Join Douglas Sanderson at Trinity College Toronto for a masterclass on how diplomacy was practiced for centuries here in this land www.eventbrite.com/e/douglas-sa...
So proud of Maria Corina and the entire Venezuelan democracy movement for the recognition the world has given them today with the Nobel Peace Prize.
And proud of the stand Canada has always taken for solidarity with the people of Venezuela in their pursuit of freedom.
And proud of the stand Canada has always taken for solidarity with the people of Venezuela in their pursuit of freedom.
October 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
So proud of Maria Corina and the entire Venezuelan democracy movement for the recognition the world has given them today with the Nobel Peace Prize.
And proud of the stand Canada has always taken for solidarity with the people of Venezuela in their pursuit of freedom.
And proud of the stand Canada has always taken for solidarity with the people of Venezuela in their pursuit of freedom.
The era of Canada-U.S. is well and fully dead.
PM Carney is, at best, limiting the damage by refusing to sign bad deals with the U.S. We would do better to focus our energy on reorienting our economy to the emerging EU-Trans Pacific Partnership economic bloc
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
PM Carney is, at best, limiting the damage by refusing to sign bad deals with the U.S. We would do better to focus our energy on reorienting our economy to the emerging EU-Trans Pacific Partnership economic bloc
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
CBC News Network's Andrew Nichols speaks with Former Canadian Diplomat, Ben Rowswell
Get the latest on CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App, and CBC News Network for breaking news and analysis.
www.cbc.ca
October 9, 2025 at 1:21 AM
The era of Canada-U.S. is well and fully dead.
PM Carney is, at best, limiting the damage by refusing to sign bad deals with the U.S. We would do better to focus our energy on reorienting our economy to the emerging EU-Trans Pacific Partnership economic bloc
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
PM Carney is, at best, limiting the damage by refusing to sign bad deals with the U.S. We would do better to focus our energy on reorienting our economy to the emerging EU-Trans Pacific Partnership economic bloc
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
This argument strikes me as profoundly true. The U.S. is actively attempting to establish dominance over countries that remain democratic. It's not just Europe either ecfr.eu/publication/...
Reality show: Why Europe must not cave in Trump’s culture war
In today’s transatlantic relationship, Europe’s every concession on policy plays into Trump’s culture war—feeding an image of European weakness…
ecfr.eu
September 28, 2025 at 7:27 PM
This argument strikes me as profoundly true. The U.S. is actively attempting to establish dominance over countries that remain democratic. It's not just Europe either ecfr.eu/publication/...
U.S. authoritarianism has arrived at the logical next step: organized violence against an innocent but marginalized group scapegoated by the government.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre....
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre....
Transgender Americans are seeing a wave of hate unleashed by Charlie Kirk’s killing | Erin Reed
In the aftermath of Kirk’s death, the far-right and Trump administration have turned up attacks on transgender people
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:47 AM
U.S. authoritarianism has arrived at the logical next step: organized violence against an innocent but marginalized group scapegoated by the government.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre....
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre....
The New York Times rightly calls the U.S. Navy’s murder of 17 Venezuelan nationals on the high seas a “moral stain on our country.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Opinion | No President Should Have This Kind of Power
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The New York Times rightly calls the U.S. Navy’s murder of 17 Venezuelan nationals on the high seas a “moral stain on our country.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Alaa Abdel-Fattah is free at last. His writings inspired millions in the brief experiment with democracy in 2011. The punishment he received since then was aimed at intimidating all Egyptians. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/w.... Let us hope the thousands of other political prisoners will also be freed
Egypt Pardons Most Prominent Political Prisoner
www.nytimes.com
September 23, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Alaa Abdel-Fattah is free at last. His writings inspired millions in the brief experiment with democracy in 2011. The punishment he received since then was aimed at intimidating all Egyptians. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/w.... Let us hope the thousands of other political prisoners will also be freed
In a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations today, PM Carney pointed to a new grouping in international relations - a "bridge" between the EU and the CPTPP. A zone of market democracies that spans Asia, Europe and the Americas which stands by the rule of law www.youtube.com/watch?v=neuZ...
LIVE: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at Council of Foreign Relations
YouTube video by Reuters
www.youtube.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:29 AM
In a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations today, PM Carney pointed to a new grouping in international relations - a "bridge" between the EU and the CPTPP. A zone of market democracies that spans Asia, Europe and the Americas which stands by the rule of law www.youtube.com/watch?v=neuZ...
Join us tomorrow for a discussion of the difference alliances make for upholding Canadian interests in world affairs. I'll draw on examples of my time leading Canadian missions in Afghanistan and Venezuela www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-import...
The Importance of International Institutions in the Modern Day
Let's dive into why international organizations are crucial in today's world, join us for a thought-provoking discussion!
www.eventbrite.ca
September 22, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Join us tomorrow for a discussion of the difference alliances make for upholding Canadian interests in world affairs. I'll draw on examples of my time leading Canadian missions in Afghanistan and Venezuela www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-import...
An eye-opening new history of Toronto hits the shelves Tuesday - one that combines Indigenous and colonial histories in a single book. I can't wait to attend the book launch Sept 23 - join us to hear Victoria Freeman introduce "Where Histories Meet" www.eventbrite.ca/e/where-hist...
Where Histories Meet Toronto Launch
Join us for the launch of Where Histories Meet: Indigenous and Settler Encounters in the Toronto Area
www.eventbrite.ca
September 22, 2025 at 2:52 AM
An eye-opening new history of Toronto hits the shelves Tuesday - one that combines Indigenous and colonial histories in a single book. I can't wait to attend the book launch Sept 23 - join us to hear Victoria Freeman introduce "Where Histories Meet" www.eventbrite.ca/e/where-hist...