Canada—suddenly and starkly—is a very small country.

For decades, we have coasted on the perception of being the United States’ little brother—similar, but distinct. We lectured the world on climate change, human rights and progressive ideals, confident that we could always duck behind the U.S. if there was ever real pushback. We neglected hard power, believing that soft power—our reputation as the nice nation with the ear of the United States—would be enough.

In a flash, that illusion is gone.

Today, we stand exposed: A weak country, lacking both soft and hard power, sitting next to the strongest nation on Earth. A nation that is now openly hostile to us.

Our economic narrative—once defined by stability and privileged access to the U.S. market—is in tatters. In a world tilting toward protectionism, our high taxes, excessive regulation and lackluster........

© BIV