RADIO FREE KASLO, March 14, 2025

No Canadian doubts the country's prowess when it comes to hockey.But for decades most of us haven't considered the True North a particularly "big" power.Oh, sure, we know we're physically enormous, second only to Russia in terms of landmass. Ah, but now that the Trump regime has arbitrarily decided to take us into the economic and geopolitical corners, we're quickly coming to the realization that we have some sharp elbows — and are starting to use them.The USA may have the world's largest economy (Number Two China isn't even close). But make no mistake, Canada is no economic slouch. Our US$2 trillion + GDP is nothing to smirk at. We are awash in the natural resources the world is clamouring for. We have a largely healthy, well-educated population, bolstered — not threatened — by a sensible immigration policy. And while the Canadian military has suffered from generational neglect, that can change on a dime — or a loonie. Over 1.1 million Canadians fought in World War II. That's from a country with a 1945 population of 12 million! We are over 40 million today. And to give all this a bit of perspective, Canada's GDP is nearly identical with that of... Russia. Then there's culture. When it comes to literature, film, theatre, art, dance — and music — Canada is a global heavyweight. The general point is there are few — if any — other nations on earth with as much pent-up power and potential as Canada. While we haven't always behaved as if we understood this, the times, they are a' changing. Today's show, with its emphasis on music (with a little political commentary thrown in) celebrates this fact.