Canada Just Sent a Message...

0:00Ben Meiselas:A powerful speech was just delivered by former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in Newfoundland in Gander. It was something that touched my heart. I want to share it with you right now. Chrétien is 92 years old. He's been around Canadian politics for a very long time, as he says. Here's the message that he delivered. Let's play the clip. But never mistake our generosity for weakness.

0:35Ben Meiselas:Now, if you'll indulge me, I think it's very important for you to watch the last five minutes of his speech. It is incredible. It is moving. It is elbows up. It is unifying. Let's play it. So I would like to conclude with this personal message. The people here today, people across Canada, they know me. I've been around a while.

1:18They know that I like to speak up my mind. Today, I'm not representing here any government. I am just a former prime minister, 92 years old, and a very proud Canadian.

1:48But I have seen a few things in my lifetime. And I know this country and the people from coast to coast to coast. I have a message for American friends. Yes, Canada is generous, open country, and Canadians are tolerant and kind. but never mistake our generosity for weakness. Thank you.

2:54of determination and never, never mistake our kindness for softness. We know who we are and we are proud of it. Building a country like this with this climate and this geography is a sign of toughness, not of weakness.

3:32Welcome to the National Council. Welcoming people from all over the world caring for each other, including the weakest in society, is a sign of strength.

3:52We embrace our friends and we help them in their moment of need, but we bow to no one.

4:07And the more we are insulted or threatened and abused, the more we will stand up for ourselves and stand united.

4:22And I say that not in anger, but as one friend to another. Friends need to be honest with each other. Just as the people in Gander and anywhere else in Newfoundland and Labrador, they will give you the shirt of their backs like they did 25 years ago.

4:57but he will always show you the respect of telling you the truth. So, my friends, here is to truth, to respect, to friendship, and to good neighbors. Vive les Etats-Unis and Vive Canada!

6:04Ben Meiselas:Now, I want to also share with you the speech of the current Prime Minister of Canada, Prime Minister Carney. Here are the lessons that he draws as he reflects on the darkness of September 11th, where we are today, the relationship between Canada and the United States as the Trump regime continues to attack Canada and invade Canadian sovereignty. Here play this clip.

6:34the lesson i think of these events or suggest of these events is that the response to darkness uh is to reach out uh is to support to stand in solidarity uh with as canadians did uh with our neighbors our this case our american neighbors to reach out to strangers that you don't know.

7:04Ben Meiselas:More from Prime Minister Carney right here about how Canada's response on September 11th did not just end there. When NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time in history, Canada stood up in a very big way. Here play this clip. I remember a few years ago, I visited Gander and spent time with Beulah Cooper, who one of the heroes, she wouldn't describe herself as a hero of that time. And she had cards from a school trip, kids who'd visited. And one of them said, your kindness makes me want to use my kindness. And that's how generosity spreads. Now, Canada's response did not end there. when nato invoked article 5 for the first time in its history only time in its history an attack on one is an attack on all of us uh 40 000 canadians served in afghanistan 158 members of our armed forces were killed there we lost a diplomat we lost eight workers lost seven others and canadians welcomed them home or honored them rather on the highways of heroes.

8:26Ben Meiselas:More from Prime Minister Carney here talking about September 11th. And I just contrast this speech by Carney to what Donald Trump was doing. Remember I showed you the clips earlier today of Trump in the Pentagon. Trump refused to go to Manhattan. And while he was in the Pentagon, he was somehow saying that 9-11 is related to his catastrophic war in Iran, and that's why he needs victory in Iran. It was awful. But here is Prime Minister Carney showing what true class looks like, what a true leader looks like, what the new leader of the free world looks like over here. Here, play this clip. I'd just like to take a few moments, say a few words to commemorate what is a solemn anniversary.

9:0925 years ago, clear September morning, those of us old enough, I think I'll remember where we were. An otherwise ordinary day became one of history's darkest. Nearly 3 ,000 people, among some 24 Canadians lost their lives, were killed in the worst terrorist attack in American history. Thousands more injured, countless more forever affected by what happened.

9:42Ben Meiselas:And Prime Minister Carney explains, Canada is about so much more than just being next to the United States. And if there has been any good that has come from this dark Trump regime era, it's that Canada has asserted itself with its love and compassion, with its diversity, with its inclusion, with its trade, with its incredible culture in the international community. in ways that really hadn't taken place before. And Canada is leading the way amongst midpowers that share similar values and principles. Here, play this clip right here. Canada is about so much more than being next to the United States.

10:29Okay. We have what the world wants. We're an energy superpower and we're putting that into place. We have one of the largest resources, undeveloped resources of critical metals and minerals. We have the most educated, most educated population in the world. We are the most connected economy in the world, one and a half billion consumers. We're on track to double that. I think you see by revealed preference, the individuals and the organizations that are coming to that investment summit, they are coming because of Canada. If they wanted to go to the United States, they go to the United States, of course, go to the United States as well.

11:05It's what we have. And what they're going to see as well when they come here, and some of them are already here, but when they come here, is a country that is uniting, a country that is positive, a country that is building and wants to move forward. And for an investor, wherever they're from, and a country that respects rule of law, and a country that is reliable. And that's exactly, that combination is pretty rare in the world. And it's an attractive combination. We'll see over time. And this is an engagement. There'll be a series of things that come from the summit in the coming months and years.

11:43Ben Meiselas:Now, on the other hand, you have the US ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, who is a very vile human being. He continues to attack Canada. And now he's saying, We need to, let's take the tenor down. Let's just take this. Let's relax a little bit. The gaslighting from these predators is so damn out of control in the Trump regime. Y 'all have been saying 51st state, you have launched massive attacks on Canada. And Canada's defending itself. And now you're like, chill out, chill out, okay? Here, play this clip. It's time to take the tenor down. There have been things that have been said by Canadian politicians that, at least I've heard, they regret that they've ever said them.

12:33Let's talk about the issue here. Let's get resolved and let's move it forward. Would you say that same thing to the president, that bring down the temperature?

12:44We're here to talk about 9-11. I'm not going to get into the trade stuff here.

12:50Ben Meiselas:One of my favorite premiers in Canada, Wob Canoe, the premier of Manitoba. Here's what he had to say. Play this clip. Tomorrow will be the 25th anniversary of 9-11. And this is an anniversary that is a milestone of an event that changed our society. For young people, it's difficult to explain how much things changed on September 11, 2001. But as Canadians, we know that we were there in the immediate aftermath to keep people safe. Gander, Newfoundland comes to mind. We know that our first responders helped to join the rescue efforts in New York, as well as other locations. And importantly, Canadians in uniform laid down their lives in huge numbers in Afghanistan as part of the global war on terror in response to 9-11.

13:43So given everything that's going on right now between the United States of America and Canada on the trade front, I think this anniversary has a poignant timing because it does remind us that the maple leaf and the stars and stripes will always be neighbors, will always be allies. And while we may have our differences from time to time, those are probably more like the differences that you see between siblings than between foes. And so tomorrow, let's gather together on 9-11 to honour what took place on that terrible tragedy. Let's honour the Canadian men and women and people in uniform who laid down their lives in the aftermath to fight in the name of freedom and to fight against terrorism.

14:33But, you know, while we may have those trade disputes revive in the days following, Let's just remember that the ties that bind are so much stronger than any force that would try to divide.

14:48Ben Meiselas:Powerful indeed. Thank you so much for watching. Such an honor to be able to share this with you and such an honor to be able to stand in solidarity with the Maple Midas, Midas Canada, with all the Canadian people and people across the world who love freedom, who love peace, who love empathy, who care about these things, and who want to fight back against these tyrants that are out there.