Selling Our Airports to the Oligarchs CHARLIE ANGUS / THE RESISTANCE MAY 4   READ IN APP   Bridges, highways, ports, and airports are vital and strategic infrastructure. This is why it was shocking to learn that Prime Minister Carney has floated the idea of selling off national airports to the private sector. Who is going to buy these valuable pieces of Canadian infrastructure? The Americans? The Saudis? The Chinese? A tech billionaire? We’ve seen this before. In Ontario, Premier Mike Harris had the bright idea of selling off a major public highway to a private company. He promised it would be a great deal. It looked good on the books — for about a year. And then the bill started coming due. Now Ontarians will be paying through the nose for a century to benefit a Spanish consortium that has been given control of a massive highway asset in Canada’s most populous province. Or what about the Ambassador Bridge — owned by an American oligarch? There was a reason the Canadian taxpayer spent a fortune to not only build a publicly owned bridge but also paid millions to put in the road infrastructure on the Michigan side. It was a better deal than being beholden to an oligarch. The argument that consumers will benefit from lower costs once you privatize something is ridiculous. When have we ever benefited from the fire sale of public assets into private hands? There are 26 large airports in Canada owned by the federal government but administered by local authorities. Their mandate is to return profit by expanding infrastructure. Under Carney’s plan, that money would go to shareholders. So how would we benefit? At a time when Canada needs to be firmly in control of its infrastructure, this is a seriously flawed scheme. Contact your MP. Contact the Prime Minister. There is still time to dial this back. If any photos or images on this site are under copyright, please let us know and we will provide appropriate credit. This content is used in accordance with applicable copyright laws, including “fair dealing” under Canadian law and “fair use” under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act, for purposes such as criticism, comment, and news reporting. Charlie Angus / The Resistance is a reader-supported publication — please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Upgrade to paid This post is public — feel free to share it. Share Thank you for reading Charlie Angus / The Resistance. If you’d like to upgrade to a paid subscription your support will help keep this project independent and sustainable. I’m grateful to have you here - thank you for your support. Upgrade to paid   LIKE COMMENT RESTACK   © 2026 Charlie Angus PO Box 74173, Ottawa RPO Beechwood, Ontario K1M 2H9  Unsubscribe

Canucks firm on boycotting Yankee goods: Abigail Bimman/CTV News

 Trade War

’I’m not going back’: Canadians stand firm on boycotts of U.S. travel and liquor as trade talks continue

By

Abigail Bimman

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Published: May 08, 2026 at 5:00AM EDT

A vast majority of Canadians, eight out of 10, still believe boycotting American goods and travel to the U.S. is helpful in strengthening Canada’s bargaining position, according to a new survey by Nanos for CTV News. 

Fifty-three per cent of respondents believe a boycott is helpful, while 29 per cent believe it’s somewhat helpful. 

That’s largely unchanged from six months ago when Nanos asked respondents the same question – 54 per cent found it “helpful” and 26 per cent “somewhat helpful.” Just 10.5 per cent of respondents think avoiding U.S. goods and travel is “not helpful” to Canada’s bargaining position. 

Opinions on boycott in strengthening Cananda's bargaining position with the U.S. (Nanos/CTV News) 

“Canadians remain firm in their boycott of American goods,” Nik Nanos told CTV News. “And I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that there hasn’t really been significant progress in the trade discussions with the U.S.. So I think for average Canadians, it’s like, ‘why should we stop boycotting American goods?’” 

Nanos Research found a generational difference, with older Canadians more likely to believe a boycott is helpful to strengthening Canada’s position. Among those aged 55 and older, 60.7 per cent of respondents believe a boycott would be “helpful,” compared to 39.5 per cent of those 18 to 34, and 53.5 per cent of those 35 to 54. 

Opinions on boycott in strengthening Canada's bargaining position with the U.S. - By demographic (Nanos/CTV News) 

U.S. liquor called ‘innocent bystander in trade war’

Most provinces have stopped buying American alcohol, which the U.S. administration has made clear is an irritant in trade talks. 

This week, the head of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States testified at an Office of the United States Trade Representative committee that liquor exports to Canada dropped by 63 per cent in 2025, with distilleries losing almost 1,000 jobs between September 2024 to September 2025. 

“Small craft distilleries in the United States are feeling that pressure. Some of them are starting to shut down, where they looked at the Canadian market as a huge opportunity,” Chris Swonger told CTV News Channel on Thursday following the testimony. 

He called his industry an “innocent bystander” in the trade war. 

Most people CTV News stopped outside an Ottawa liquor store were in favour of a continued boycott. 

“It gives us leverage. We can’t give that up,” Pierre Emond said, adding that even if they brought back American liquor, he wouldn’t buy it. 

A sign is placed in front of the American whiskey section at a B.C. liquor store after top selling American made products have been removed from shelves in Vancouver, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns 

Sporting a hat that said “Memphis,” he acknowledged the situation the countries is complicated. Emond’s own brother was born in the United States and is a dual citizen. He spoke fondly of two trips to Memphis, with a hope he can return one day to visit other tourist sites like the Grand Canyon.

 

“There’s lots of places I’d like to see in the States, but I’m not going back until this thing is over,” Emond said. 

Don Osborne told us he continues to avoid American products at the grocery store, even if it costs a little more. 

“They’re losing an awful lot of money and it’s hurting them, and one of these days they’ll wake up and pay attention,” Osborne said, urging provinces to keep up the liquor boycotts. 

Nanos Research conducted the survey of 1,003 Canadians between May 3, to May 6. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Abigail Bimman

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Correspondent, CTV National News