Re: A family of free nations... why Canada should embrace CANZUKLet me begin by saying that this is the first time I have ever written to any news outlet — a fact that speaks volumes about the respect I have long held for the Western Standard. As a committed reader and subscriber, I have consistently trusted the WS to offer honest, grounded reporting and thoughtful analysis that stands apart from the distortions of the mainstream media.That trust was shaken with your recent publication of Jamie Weir’s opinion piece advocating for a CANZUK alliance over closer integration with the United States. While I recognize that the piece falls under your opinion section, I was genuinely surprised that such a romanticized and ahistorical proposal — steeped in Commonwealth nostalgia and driven by what can only be described as Trump Derangement Syndrome — was deemed worthy of publication by a media outlet that usually champions realism and Western Canadian common sense..Weir’s argument attempts to promote a dramatic geopolitical shift based on ceremonial kinship and colonial sentiment, rather than economic logic, strategic necessity, or geographic reality. His suggestion that Canada should pivot away from the United States — our largest trading partner, closest military ally, and most important neighbour — in favour of a long-distance alliance with three former colonies, is not only misguided, it borders on willful ignorance.The very premise of this argument ignores everything that has made Canada stable and prosperous: the daily $2 billion in cross-border trade with the U.S., integrated supply chains, joint defence through NORAD, and the unmatched benefits of continental cooperation. Meanwhile, the article downplays the dangers of drifting into unrealistic foreign policy driven by emotion, not national interest.More troubling is that the article relies heavily on caricaturing President Trump to justify its position — a tired and politically loaded tactic that should have no place in serious policy discussion. .Trump is not the issue here; Canadian foreign policy should not be built on whether or not we like the personality in the White House. The reality is that successive American administrations — Democrat or Republican — will always pursue U.S. interests first (Biden-Harris obviously excluded). The smart response is to ensure Canada is at the table as a respected partner, not to flee into Commonwealth nostalgia.I’ve come to expect higher editorial standards from the Western Standard — especially in the quality of guest contributions. Weir’s academic background as a UK-based evolutionary biologist hardly lends itself to credible geopolitical forecasting, and the piece lacked the intellectual weight typically found in your pages.I apologize if this letter comes across harshly, but I write it with sincerity. I remain a strong supporter of your publication and hope that future submissions will better reflect the grounded, fact-based, and pro-Canadian approach that has set the Western Standard apart.Dave Chodat, CD, MMM, PMP, LCdr (Retd)Cole Harbour, NS
