National Post - September 30, 2026 - COMMENT - If You're Going to Posture as Captain Canada or Captain B.C., You'd Better Look the Part

Sep 30, 2026

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Wednesday, September 30, 2026 commentary examines political branding and campaign tactics through Adam Pankratz’s critique of B.C. NDP leader David Eby. It argues that using American symbols and an American-made Patagonia sweater to sell anti-U.S. and anti-Trump messaging undermines authenticity. The text also highlights the public audience’s likely cynicism and frames Eby’s snap-election strategy as contingent on whether voters accept the performance. Additional sections discuss U.S.-Canada trade escalation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time37 min

AccessFree to download

COMMENT

If You're Going to Posture as Captain Canada or Captain B.C.—You'd Better Look the Part

HOW AI COULD WIPE OUT HUMANITY

By survival of the smartest or as a tool of bad human actors

WEDNESDAY,SEPTEMBER 30,2026 COMMENT Pence's publicpolicy groupbreaks down tollon each state B.C.NDPLeader David Eby wears a sweater made by American manufacturer Patagoniain a campaign video promising to bring in Buy Canadian rules. # IFYOU’REGOINGTO POSTUREASCAPTAIN CANADA-OR CAPTAIN B.C.—YOU'D BETTER LOOKTHE PART ADAM PANKRATZ The problem with any politician there is most assuredly good reason towho wraps themselves in the flag,stand up to Trump:we aren't going to beas B.C.NDP Leader David Eby is the 51st state and his trade attacks are un-doing,is that such acts must come off aswarranted.But if you're going to postureauthentic,or voters will see the move as aas Captain Canada(or Captain B.C.),youcynical electoral prop.Thus,being found had best look the part,something Ebywearing an American clothing brand,as simply doesn't.Eby was,while delivering anti-American In an embarrassing moment on Sun- day,as he tried once again toscare British Columbians intothinking that B.C.Conserva-tive Leader Lorne Doerksonis a secret MAGA enthusiast,Eby delivered his anti-Amer-ican and anti-Trump messagewearing a Patagonia sweater.I harbour no specific ill-willtoward Patagonia,but it is awell-known fact that it is anAmerican company.Given thetaint Eby believes all things will decide whether Eby's snap-election gambit is a winner. Cosh,A10 mostly characterized by his apparent be-American have,one might assume that lief that he is running against U.S.Presi-Patagonia is not the appropriate outer- dent Donald Trump.From his opening wear for delivering a campaign promise press conference to nearly every cam-to bring in“Built in B.C.and Canada” paign stop since,Eby has been doing his rules for public procurement.best to invoke the spectre of Trump.Now,See PANKRATZ on A10 tion of education is an instru-acy rather than engage in de-stitutions?The answer is easy: It's 2040 and after years ofstunning advances,artificialintelligence is not only smart-er than humans,AI agents seepeople as an obstacle.And pro-ceed to eliminate everyone onEarth. It sounds like the stuff ofscience fiction,or once did.But the idea that AI could wipeout humanity has suddenly be-come impossible to ignore,aseven the industry behind thetechnology warns of a possibleapocalypse. mental tool for maintaining bate about whether these lived school choice.In B.C.,Alberta,and furthering the ideology ofrealities exist.”Manitoba,Saskatchewan andwhite supremacy.It is not theFor the sake of argument,Quebec-but not Ontario—responsibility of people withsuppose that statement is truethe provincial governmentsintersecting marginalizedand educational institutions inpartially fund independentidentities to prove this.I willOntario really are tools for "fur-schools,making them moreengage in dialogue about how thering the ideology of whiteaffordable to more families.we dismantle the structuressupremacy.”How best couldOntario should follow suit.and systems of white suprem-we dismantle these racist in- See FUNDING on A4 See LAU on Al1 VOL.28 NO.275 GOP-founded # group detailsUS.casualtiesEbys Americanof Trumpsfashion statement Canada tariffswhile selling Buy B.C. ELLIE HuTCHINGS The trade war between theUnited States and Canadaescalated again on Tuesday,as the Trump administration'simport ban on certain Can-adian goods took effect.Andsome U.S.states are being hitharder by the dispute thanothers. Canada is the U.S.'ssecond-largest trading part-ner,after Mexico,and accord-ing to a memo from the Ad-vancing American FreedomFoundation(AAF),a conserv-ative public policy organiz-ation founded by Trump'sformer vice-president,MikePence,the annual volume ofU.S.-Canada goods trade isUS$674 billion. But just five states accountfor $284 billion,or 42 per cent,of the total:Illinois,Texas,Michigan,New York and Ohio.Illinois leads at $76 billion,fol-lowed by Texas($70 billion)and Michigan($67 billion).New York's annual volume oftrade with Canada equatesto $

FAQs

What is the central criticism of David Eby’s campaign messaging?

The commentary argues that Eby’s anti-American, anti-Trump posture is undermined by his visible use of an American-made Patagonia sweater, making the message seem inauthentic to voters.

Why does the article question the effectiveness of Eby’s “Captain Canada” style branding?

It suggests voters may view the performance as cynical electoral strategy rather than a genuine reflection of provincial priorities, especially given the mismatch between words and appearance.

What broader theme does the document raise beyond politics?

It also introduces a separate piece discussing the feasibility and risks of AI causing large-scale harm, alongside the question of how such systems could be used against humanity.

Sep 30, 2026

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