Ah a fair bit more detail coming out now, including basically clearing the backlog of protected persons ... www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

I suspect will need a new Minister to get a handle on this, so far, not convincing.

Ooh, I've not heard of this quietly introduced program. I do hope they'll find a way to keep these 'converts' out of the target/cap for new PRs.

Whereas one obvious shortcut is to devote resources to converting (currently employed, needed workers) here as temp residents to PR - not capping them with others (b/c not new arrivals).

I see nothing coherent in these announcements about how they get to reducing the number of temporary residents (apart from students) to the target level. They provide mostly flow amounts (new PRs/temporary permits) when their target is the stock (esp of temp residents).

A trade agreement with foreign partners is not a domestic sovereign matter - and neither is arbitrarily violating it.

There likely was no deal possible with stronger enforcement mechanisms, and wants the point of one without them? Trump wants to exercise arbitrary power to change the terms at will. That's not a trade deal.

Yes, it is a number that came straight out of Ford's mouth.

But yes, one would think hard to argue that the pres who signed the first comprehensive free trade agreement with Canada would be opposed to free trade with Canada - let alone violating an existing one arbitrarily.

I believe Turnip is very worried about the tariff legal challenges, and is trying to influence the courts, and also prepare another of his emergency powers planks. Foreign affairs powers of the pres, foreign interference, misinformation, etc.

the academic literature is pretty clear that personalist regimes are more aggressive & conflict-prone, so a world ruled by personalist great powers means more volatility, uncertainty, and great power conflict. The belligerence of personalist rule means leaders break alliances & start dumb wars...

And that you can't rely upon any deals struck being respected, reducing the utility of making any concessions in exchange for 'a deal.' And if the negotiation is about enforcement mechanisms, expect it to take longer ...

1. To opinions! Solar is the cheapest source of bulk electricity in many countries, and the quickest to deploy, and now you couldn't stop it being built if you wanted to. The limits to PV build in most places are grid access, permitting, and sometimes installation labour.

Logical in context, sure - but if that's the definition one uses, conclusion is broadly the same.

The emphasis on 'those who serve Russia' is the real message here, though. (And one can reasonably infer that 'those who [really] love Russia' is defined as those who serve the state, in the manner the state deems required).