Patrick Leblond (he/il)
@prleblond.bsky.social
CN-Paul M. Tellier Chair on Business and Public Policy, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
Senior Fellow @ Centre for International Governance Innovation & Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Research Fellow @ CIRANO
Senior Fellow @ Centre for International Governance Innovation & Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Research Fellow @ CIRANO
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Too many Americans are just not seeing the world as it is. Those “unfriendly” numbers should be a lot higher.
As Rupert Murdoch TV hammers away telling its viewers that Canadians are their enemies, Republican views of Canada shift on cue. At this point, Murdoch's propaganda machine can make its viewership believe absolutely anything, no matter how absurd.
February 7, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Too many Americans are just not seeing the world as it is. Those “unfriendly” numbers should be a lot higher.
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Any decision to join U.S. critical minerals bloc will be part of USMCA talks, Canadian foreign minister says
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Any decision to join U.S. critical minerals bloc will be part of USMCA talks, Anand says
Foreign Affairs Minister says Ottawa is not eager to cut a single-sector deal with the U.S. on critical minerals
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Any decision to join U.S. critical minerals bloc will be part of USMCA talks, Canadian foreign minister says
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Canada's Standing Committee on International Trade has also been considering the bill to implement the UK's CPTPP Accession this week - www.ourcommons.ca/committees/e... - including industry and departmental evidence
February 6, 2026 at 2:46 AM
Canada's Standing Committee on International Trade has also been considering the bill to implement the UK's CPTPP Accession this week - www.ourcommons.ca/committees/e... - including industry and departmental evidence
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
NEW: Trump's plan to steal the Midterms. My latest: www.muellershewrote.com/p/trumps-pla...
Trump’s Plan to Nationalize Elections Using Fabricated Claims of Foreign Interference
A recent history of Donald's attempts to conjure up foreign election interference in an effort to seize voting machines and control elections in the name of national security.
www.muellershewrote.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:43 PM
NEW: Trump's plan to steal the Midterms. My latest: www.muellershewrote.com/p/trumps-pla...
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
‘A brilliant guide to the strange politics born from the Great Financial Crisis.’- Quinn Slobodian
Technocrats in Turmoil: The Fed, the ECB, and the Changing Politics of Money by Nicolas Jabko (@jhuartssciences.bsky.social), Coming Soon
#Economics 🗺️ #PoliSky #EconSky
https://cup.org/3ZC8bXo
Technocrats in Turmoil: The Fed, the ECB, and the Changing Politics of Money by Nicolas Jabko (@jhuartssciences.bsky.social), Coming Soon
#Economics 🗺️ #PoliSky #EconSky
https://cup.org/3ZC8bXo
February 5, 2026 at 5:08 PM
‘A brilliant guide to the strange politics born from the Great Financial Crisis.’- Quinn Slobodian
Technocrats in Turmoil: The Fed, the ECB, and the Changing Politics of Money by Nicolas Jabko (@jhuartssciences.bsky.social), Coming Soon
#Economics 🗺️ #PoliSky #EconSky
https://cup.org/3ZC8bXo
Technocrats in Turmoil: The Fed, the ECB, and the Changing Politics of Money by Nicolas Jabko (@jhuartssciences.bsky.social), Coming Soon
#Economics 🗺️ #PoliSky #EconSky
https://cup.org/3ZC8bXo
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Jeffrey Epstein’s Money Mingled With Silicon Valley Start-Ups
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:38 PM
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
I’m very happy that the CBC is on the story and published this Evan Dyer piece. Now is the time to take the Trump admin’s destabilization tactics seriously. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
ANALYSIS | U.S. interest in Alberta separatism raises red flags over what might come next | CBC News
Communications between the Trump administration and Alberta's separatist movement raised alarm at the highest levels in Canada last week. It also raised questions about Washington's possible intention...
www.cbc.ca
February 6, 2026 at 1:46 AM
I’m very happy that the CBC is on the story and published this Evan Dyer piece. Now is the time to take the Trump admin’s destabilization tactics seriously. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Please enjoy my cartoon for Friday's Toronto Star
February 5, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Please enjoy my cartoon for Friday's Toronto Star
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
The US seeks price floors with allies to build ex-China mineral supply chains.
If US allies and trading partners start pricing US political risk alongside Chinese leverage, Western minerals coordination will get much harder to sustain.
My latest at @piie.com.
www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
If US allies and trading partners start pricing US political risk alongside Chinese leverage, Western minerals coordination will get much harder to sustain.
My latest at @piie.com.
www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
Is the US posing a hidden risk in the West’s critical minerals strategy?
The Trump administration’s recent official guidance on supply chain vulnerabilities related to critical minerals reached a striking conclusion. US policymakers are acknowledging that the United States...
www.piie.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:26 PM
The US seeks price floors with allies to build ex-China mineral supply chains.
If US allies and trading partners start pricing US political risk alongside Chinese leverage, Western minerals coordination will get much harder to sustain.
My latest at @piie.com.
www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
If US allies and trading partners start pricing US political risk alongside Chinese leverage, Western minerals coordination will get much harder to sustain.
My latest at @piie.com.
www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Want to know what's in all of Trump's trade deals? We combed through all of them, so you don't have to. Our tracker will be updated as more texts are released.
Check it out here on @cfr.org:
www.cfr.org/articles/tra...
Check it out here on @cfr.org:
www.cfr.org/articles/tra...
Tracking Trump's Trade Deals | Council on Foreign Relations
The president has set out to rewrite the rules of trade, one deal at a time.
www.cfr.org
February 5, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Want to know what's in all of Trump's trade deals? We combed through all of them, so you don't have to. Our tracker will be updated as more texts are released.
Check it out here on @cfr.org:
www.cfr.org/articles/tra...
Check it out here on @cfr.org:
www.cfr.org/articles/tra...
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
As we unpack some of the details of the of yesterdays mineral ministerial, who wasnt there is as interesting as who was. Notable non participants are Chile, Indonesia and South Africa, latter of which was likely not invited but all are important mineral producers.
February 5, 2026 at 10:52 PM
As we unpack some of the details of the of yesterdays mineral ministerial, who wasnt there is as interesting as who was. Notable non participants are Chile, Indonesia and South Africa, latter of which was likely not invited but all are important mineral producers.
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
There are better and still easy-to-use alternatives to Substack. No excuse not to change platforms.
I use @buttondown.com and love it. I think these three are great, and then folks forget that Medium and WordPress are both still around, and free, and very reliable, and also (importantly!) cashflow-positive and not in need of raising VC funds!
February 5, 2026 at 10:38 PM
There are better and still easy-to-use alternatives to Substack. No excuse not to change platforms.
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
A year later. Are we prepared?
A counterfactual:
After the April federal election, PM Carney announced the creation of a Royal Commission on Securing Canada’s Future, commencing on Canada Day 2025, to
➡️facilitate a broad public dialogue
➡️mobilize existing expertise
🧵
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
A counterfactual:
After the April federal election, PM Carney announced the creation of a Royal Commission on Securing Canada’s Future, commencing on Canada Day 2025, to
➡️facilitate a broad public dialogue
➡️mobilize existing expertise
🧵
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Trump's threat to annex Canada 'real' and motivated by access to critical minerals, Trudeau tells crowd | CBC News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told business leaders at the Canada-U.S. Economic Summit in Toronto that U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to annex Canada "is a real thing."
www.cbc.ca
February 4, 2026 at 10:29 PM
A year later. Are we prepared?
A counterfactual:
After the April federal election, PM Carney announced the creation of a Royal Commission on Securing Canada’s Future, commencing on Canada Day 2025, to
➡️facilitate a broad public dialogue
➡️mobilize existing expertise
🧵
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
A counterfactual:
After the April federal election, PM Carney announced the creation of a Royal Commission on Securing Canada’s Future, commencing on Canada Day 2025, to
➡️facilitate a broad public dialogue
➡️mobilize existing expertise
🧵
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
🇪🇺 Tensions over Greenland and US President Trump’s now-rescinded threats to impose additional tariffs on European goods have revived discussion in Brussels on the EU’s Anti‑Coercion Instrument (ACI) to bolster the bloc’s trade and economic security.
February 4, 2026 at 7:48 PM
🇪🇺 Tensions over Greenland and US President Trump’s now-rescinded threats to impose additional tariffs on European goods have revived discussion in Brussels on the EU’s Anti‑Coercion Instrument (ACI) to bolster the bloc’s trade and economic security.
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
And the thing about taking a transactional approach to Canada's foreign policy is that there are other countries, other people on the other side of these transactions. And they will remember exactly how they were treated by a self-interested Canada.
Not exactly a smart way to build alliances.
Not exactly a smart way to build alliances.
*Deep breath*
You cannot use Official Development Assistance to subsidize your domestic corporations. Then it is not ODA. It is domestic economic support, corporate subsidies, whatever
www.canadianaffairs.news/2026/02/02/d...
You cannot use Official Development Assistance to subsidize your domestic corporations. Then it is not ODA. It is domestic economic support, corporate subsidies, whatever
www.canadianaffairs.news/2026/02/02/d...
Development aid to be tied to trade goals: secretary of state
In an exclusive interview, the secretary of state for international development talks department funding cuts, trade goals and AI
www.canadianaffairs.news
February 4, 2026 at 2:05 AM
And the thing about taking a transactional approach to Canada's foreign policy is that there are other countries, other people on the other side of these transactions. And they will remember exactly how they were treated by a self-interested Canada.
Not exactly a smart way to build alliances.
Not exactly a smart way to build alliances.
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Every development minister comes to their portfolio with ideas. Then gets told there's no money. And in fact, there's actually cuts, sorry about that
To cheer up the sad minister, officials then dangle 'private sector' in front of the minister
www.canadianaffairs.news/2026/02/02/d...
To cheer up the sad minister, officials then dangle 'private sector' in front of the minister
www.canadianaffairs.news/2026/02/02/d...
Development aid to be tied to trade goals: secretary of state
In an exclusive interview, the secretary of state for international development talks department funding cuts, trade goals and AI
www.canadianaffairs.news
February 3, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Every development minister comes to their portfolio with ideas. Then gets told there's no money. And in fact, there's actually cuts, sorry about that
To cheer up the sad minister, officials then dangle 'private sector' in front of the minister
www.canadianaffairs.news/2026/02/02/d...
To cheer up the sad minister, officials then dangle 'private sector' in front of the minister
www.canadianaffairs.news/2026/02/02/d...
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
The Illinois Department of Public Health sidestepped the federal government this week by independently joining the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). It is the second state to do so, after California joined the network last month. trib.al/0ecIsxF
Individual States Join World Health Organization After Trump Drops It
Illinois is the latest state to take this step.
trib.al
February 3, 2026 at 10:08 PM
The Illinois Department of Public Health sidestepped the federal government this week by independently joining the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). It is the second state to do so, after California joined the network last month. trib.al/0ecIsxF
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Your periodic reminder that U.S. tariffs are approximately four times higher now than pre-Trump. What has that done for you?
The Average Effective Tariff Rate - Apollo Academy
Data from the Yale Budget Lab shows that the US average effective tariff rate is currently roughly half of the...
www.apolloacademy.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Your periodic reminder that U.S. tariffs are approximately four times higher now than pre-Trump. What has that done for you?
Isn’t it comparing an entire menu with one dish?
Here's who analysts expect to gain from India’s U.S. and EU trade deals
Here's who analysts expect to gain from India’s U.S. and EU trade deals
Analysts said back-to-back trade deals with the U.S. and EU could lift pharma, manufacturing and IT stocks.
cnb.cx
February 4, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Isn’t it comparing an entire menu with one dish?
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
ICYMI: senior economist @marclee.bsky.social said the numbers reported by the IMF and Tombe are based on a “flawed methodology.”
“Those numbers don’t make any sense based on what we know about internal trade,” said Lee. “It’s vastly overestimated.”
www.timescolonist.com/economy-law-...
“Those numbers don’t make any sense based on what we know about internal trade,” said Lee. “It’s vastly overestimated.”
www.timescolonist.com/economy-law-...
Eliminating Canada's trade barriers could generate $210 billion, says IMF
International Monetary Fund report finds smallest jurisdictions would see largest gains, though B.C. would still see a 5.7 per cent boost in real GDP per worker over time
www.timescolonist.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:52 AM
ICYMI: senior economist @marclee.bsky.social said the numbers reported by the IMF and Tombe are based on a “flawed methodology.”
“Those numbers don’t make any sense based on what we know about internal trade,” said Lee. “It’s vastly overestimated.”
www.timescolonist.com/economy-law-...
“Those numbers don’t make any sense based on what we know about internal trade,” said Lee. “It’s vastly overestimated.”
www.timescolonist.com/economy-law-...
Making aid conditional on doing business with Canada is not much different than Trump’s transactional approach.
Canada cutting int’l development + partially privatizing trade diplomacy for the sake of efficiency (a return to Harper policy). We are one of the richest countries in a world of deep and worsening inequality. www.canadianaffairs.news/2026/02/02/d...
Development aid to be tied to trade goals: secretary of state
In an exclusive interview, the secretary of state for international development talks department funding cuts, trade goals and AI
www.canadianaffairs.news
February 3, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Making aid conditional on doing business with Canada is not much different than Trump’s transactional approach.
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Asked a friend who is a top ag researcher if these historic research stations still have value: he says the ROI at these sites is estimated at 35:1 and they’re highly responsive to farmer needs. This seems like a mistake www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/02/n...
Feds slashed farm research. An internal email suggests they don't know what Canada's losing
Senior officials at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) did not know how their decision to close three research stations on the Prairies would impact the department's research program when they an...
www.nationalobserver.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Asked a friend who is a top ag researcher if these historic research stations still have value: he says the ROI at these sites is estimated at 35:1 and they’re highly responsive to farmer needs. This seems like a mistake www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/02/n...
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
"’Backwards’ was my first thought," said Cathy Holtslander, director of research and policy at the National Farmers Union. "Obviously, they made these cuts without knowing what they were doing."
Feds slashed farm research. An internal email suggests they don't know what Canada's losing
Senior officials at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) did not know how their decision to close three research stations on the Prairies would impact the department's research program when they an...
www.nationalobserver.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:31 PM
"’Backwards’ was my first thought," said Cathy Holtslander, director of research and policy at the National Farmers Union. "Obviously, they made these cuts without knowing what they were doing."
Reposted by Patrick Leblond (he/il)
Liam is home now and we are grateful to @joaquincastrotx.bsky.social for traveling to Minneapolis with him and his dad.
Welcome home Liam ❤️❤️
Welcome home Liam ❤️❤️
February 1, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Liam is home now and we are grateful to @joaquincastrotx.bsky.social for traveling to Minneapolis with him and his dad.
Welcome home Liam ❤️❤️
Welcome home Liam ❤️❤️