Fighting for Canada Means More Than Just Saying No

This week, I responded to someone on social media explaining why Canada should be part of a proposed U.S.-led missile defence program, sometimes referred to as the "Golden Dome." I wasn’t cheerleading for Trump or blindly siding with the U.S. — I was making a sober, strategic case for why Canadian involvement is necessary. Not popular. Not comfortable. But necessary.

In response, someone accused me of collaborating with a "Nazi state," and claimed that “most Canadians” would agree. The implication? That I’m betraying my country by advocating for involvement in any U.S. defence strategy.

That stings.

Not because I can’t handle criticism — I’ve been pushing back against harmful policies and authoritarianism for decades. It hurt because I care so deeply about this country that I’ve built an entire platform around it. I write, I speak up, and I fight — often at personal cost — because I believe in protecting what we have, even when it means making tough decisions.

Strategy Isn’t Surrender

The hard truth is this:

Some decisions must be made with strategy, not just sentiment.  Some choices require realism over rhetoric.

Yes, the U.S. is far from a model of moral leadership right now. I don’t trust Trump, and I don’t want him anywhere near Canadian interests. But we don’t get to opt out of geography. We live next door to a superpower with a history of acting in its own interests — whether or not we’re consulted.

 If a missile is launched from or by the U.S., or through Canadian airspace, it affects us. Sitting out doesn’t shield us — it silences us.

Canada said no to missile defence in 2005, under then-Prime Minister Paul Martin; and I don’t criticize his decision. At the time, it was framed as a defence of sovereignty and a rejection of American militarism. I supported it then and stand by that but I also learned from it because of the result of that choice; Canada has no influence over the very systems that could determine the fate of our cities.

We observe. We do not participate. We are not consulted. That isn’t sovereignty — that’s sidelining ourselves.

A Seat at the Table or Silence?

Being involved in defence strategy — even when it’s with governments we distrust — doesn’t mean we endorse their values. It means we retain a seat at the table when it matters most. It gives us the power to demand the right to know what’s happening over our heads; to ask questions, raise objections, and defend Canadian airspace intelligently, not just ideally.

We can’t mistake disengagement for neutrality. If we are not part of the planning, then we’re part of the fallout.

Sovereignty is not just about saying no. It’s about ensuring we’re heard.

Sovereignty: Myth vs. Reality

In Canada, we love the idea of being separate — morally, politically, even geographically — from our southern neighbour. And there’s value in that distance. But let’s not kid ourselves: when NORAD tracks unidentified aerial threats, they don’t stop to ask which country’s political values are more virtuous. They act.

Historically, Canada has worked with the U.S. on defence for decades. From NORAD’s founding in 1958 to the North Warning System in the Arctic, our military infrastructure and strategy have long been intertwined. And while cooperation isn’t always easy, it has helped protect both countries — especially Canada.

Our refusal to join missile defence in 2005 didn’t create peace. It created a blind spot.

We gave up influence in a program that still watches over us — just without our input.

Eyes Open, Ears Open, Mouth Open

To the person who dismissed me as a collaborator:

I hear your anger. I share your fear. But I won’t apologize for urging thoughtful engagement instead of reactive isolation.

You may not see it, but this is what fighting for Canada looks like, too.

It means showing up — even when we don’t like the players at the table. It means knowing our history, confronting hard truths, and choosing action over illusion.

And I’ll keep doing it — fiercely, furiously, and with both eyes open.

Because that’s how you protect what matters.