The quotable Canadian Prime Minister Carney seen after his Davos speech.

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STRASBOURG, FRANCE — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday she wants Canada to become the first “associate member” of the European Union.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney listened in the front row as von der Leyen laid out key pillars for stronger co-operation between Europe and Canada in her state of the union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

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She said the two countries must “urgently reimagine” their partnership and move beyond a free-trade agreement to bring the relationship to the “highest level possible.”

In her state of the union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe wants to open the door for Canada to become an “associate member” of the European Union. (Sept. 19, 2026)

“I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” von der Leyen said, drawing a standing ovation from most members in the chamber.

Carney nodded, rose from his seat, approached von der Leyen and embraced her. He briefly waved to the chamber before returning to his seat.

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Carney is set to deliver an address to the European Parliament on Thursday, at the invitation of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

“We share one ocean, one set of values, one way of seeing the world,” von der Leyen said. “And we will now build our shared future as well.”

Source :CP Sept 16/26

Meanwhile back in the Great Dominion, Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre in a burst of defiant enthusiasm blurted out…

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“We will NEVER be the 51st U.S. state. And we will NEVER be the 28th EU state.”

And in the spirit of misunderstanding and fear mongering he went on the say..

The Observer Status Studio has the good fortune of being able to call upon resident scribes to pen , in Shakesperian sonnet form, the various meanings of to catalyze.

Why, you might ask, is there interest in this word at this time and in this place. Well, it seems Prime Minister Carney and his Invest in Canada Chair Dominic Barton , are enamoured with the word and use it and its various declensions at every opportunity ,especially at the current Canada Investment Summit ,as a lure in their fishing expedition for a trillion dollars in investment funds.

Prime Minister Carney & Invest in Canada Chair Dominic Barton

Come for the pitch, stay for the investment!

The scribe team included D.Eep Seek , Chatterley Grandiose Petty Thunderstruck and E.U. Ria

To Catalyze

When slumbering things await the trumpet’s cry,
We wake the spark that quickens thought and deed;
We stir the still, and bid the dormant fly,
And hasten what had lingered in its seed.

We are the hand that sets the change in motion,
The sudden wind that fills the waiting sail;
We rouse the heart, provoke the deep emotion,
And turn the tide when timid efforts fail.

Yet though we urge the elements to meet,
We need not perish in the work doth start;
To speed the union, make the process fleet,
And leave unchanged our own catalytic heart.

Thus may we kindle conflict, cure, or art—
To catalyze is change: We strike the spark.

When dull’d the world doth lie in slumb’rous trance,
We strike the flint and bid the embers rise;
We quicken that which tarrieth by chance,
And wake the buried fire where languor lies.

We are the breath that swelleth Fortune’s sail,
The secret wind that turns the changèd tide;
We stir the fainting heart when courage fail,
And set the wheels of tardy Time astride.

We summon elements to strange embrace,
And make them swift that erst were slow to meet;
Yet spend us not our substance in the race,
But urge their union onward, strong and fleet.

Thus we are the spark, provoker, spur, and art—

We move the world, yet perish not: we start. To stir the blood that sleeps within the vein, To spark the flame that winter’s chill hath hid; To hasten time, to break the iron chain, And turn the heavy stone to golden rid.To speed the seed before the frost arrives, To wake the dormant heart from deep repose; To make the slowest cause with lightning thrives,And lift the weight that gravity does close.To bring the end before the time is due, To accelerate the fall of kings and crowns; To make the old world bow to new and true, And turn the silence to a roaring sounds.To act the ghost within the clockwork’s heart,And make the stillness start, and start anew.

Prime Minister Carney, in his wisdom, has appointed “The Little Guy from Shawinigan” as Canada’s trade enforcer.

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Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

Now known by the initials TLGFS, the former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien took on this role with enthusiasm and diplomatic zeal, introducing the “Shawinigan Handshake” to all the notables he met in Washington.

TLGFS’s message on behalf of the Canadian people was understated yet firm: “We bow to no one.”

When asked if the Shawinigan Handshake would replace Elbows Up!, TLGFS replied that although Elbows Up was effective, an icy hand grip to the throat would quicken negotiations.

The Observer Status Studio undertook a series of portraits to document this new trade strategy of the Canadian Government. TLGFS did the rounds of meeting numerous US administration officials to spread the message.

“We bow to no one.”

The paintings were reportedly installed temporarily in the National Gallery of Canada as a goodwill gesture.

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Former prime minister Jean Chretien, during a speech commemorating the 25-year anniversary of Sept. 11, delivered what he called “a message for our American friends.” 

“Never mistake our generosity for weakness,” he said. 

“We embrace our friends, and we help them in their moment of need. But we bow to no one. And the more we are insulted and threatened and abused, the more we will stand up for ourselves and stand united,” he later added to applause in the room.

“I say that not in anger, but as one friend to another.”

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The former Prime Minister is also remembered for his Shawinigan Handshake which he is seen demonstrating to US Ambassador Hoekstra as a reminder to never mistake generosity as weakness!

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Kushner Asked to His Face Why Anyone Should ‘Have Any Confidence’ In His Negotiations

Excerpted from MEDIAite article Alex Griffing Sep 7th, 2026

Two roving US foreign envoys as seen by the Observer Status studio

NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel grilled President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and foreign policy envoy, Jared Kushner, during a press conference in Ukraine over the weekend, asking why anyone should have confidence in him, given his track record.

“This is for Mr. Witkoff and Jared Kushner. You have been involved in numerous negotiations around the world. Why should people have any confidence in your capacity to succeed here?” Engel began, adding:

You were involved in the Gaza negotiations, but Gaza remains a wasteland. There’s been really no progress there. Iran, you were involved in those negotiations. The war is still going on. You’ve been involved in several rounds of negotiations in this conflict. It’s only getting more intense. So you’re relaunching negotiations now. What’s the likelihood they will succeed, when other negotiations you’ve been involved in have not?

“These are some of the hardest problem sets in the world, and I think that you have to try and you have to bring to it. Obviously, Steve and I bring different approaches to these things, but we work very well together as partners. But we’re not bringing our approaches. We’re really representing President Trump, and we’re doing it the way that he wants to see these things done,” Kushner replied after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday and Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

The Russian State Museum of Honorary Art home to the finest collection of friends of Russia; immediately commissioned a grand painting of two roving US foreign envoys. The work was officially unveiled by President Putin.

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Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon supervising installation of government commissioned Swarm Storm variations.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/why-federal-guidelines-for-ai-data-centres-are-facing-pushback

Excerpted from CTV News Sept 7/26

OTTAWA — Ottawa’s new framework for guiding the development of artificial intelligence data centres is failing to win over critics.

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Variation on Swarm Storm

The federal government unveiled five principles Thursday aimed at addressing growing concerns about the centres, including a duty to minimize water use and environmental harm, a pledge to ensure electricity costs aren’t passed on to Canadians, and a commitment to be transparent about projects.

But the framework has no legal force, and critics say there is little to stop companies from ignoring the principles.

Variation on Swarm Storm

“With most of these items, if the data centre companies decide to renege on any of these commitments, what will be the consequences? As far as I can tell, there’ll be no consequences at all from the federal government,” said Dru Jay, executive director of the Council of Canadians.

“I think we need to be clear that this is the federal government passing the buck and saying we’re not going to do anything to enforce standards. We’re not going to enforce any standards of transparency. We’re not going to enforce any standards of environmental impact.”

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Variation on Swarm Storm

Swarm Storm variation in preparation for installation.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon supervising installation of government commissioned Swarm Storm variations.

This artist agrees to standing in the back of the room of world events, with no seat at the table other than casting an eye, pointing a finger and painting a picture.

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/03/opinion/donald-trumps-trade-war-accelerating-canadas-retreat-climate-policy

Excerpted from National Observer: Linda Solomon Wood  Opinion 26/09/03

Donald Trump’s trade war is accelerating Canada’s retreat from climate policy.

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When trade talks between Canada and the United States broke down on August 22 and Trump imposed tariffs of 50 per cent on almost $30 billion of Canadian goods, Canada had to respond.

And it is responding. Prime Minister Mark Carney is standing up to Trump. I admire him for that. Canada cannot allow an American president to threaten our economy every time he doesn’t get what he wants. We need new markets, new trading partners and far less dependence on the United States.

But something else is happening in the rush to protect ourselves.

Climate policy is getting trounced.

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When building more fossil-fuel infrastructure is framed as standing up for Canada, opposing it becomes politically harder. When weakening climate rules is framed as protecting Canadian jobs and sovereignty, climate policy starts to look like something we can no longer afford.

Economic sovereignty and climate policy must not be presented as opposing choices. Just as we need to tackle housing costs and public health, we need to keep both climate action and economic independence on our list of priorities. Otherwise, we are solving one massive challenge by making another harder.

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Digital collages from Boreal Smouldering Series/2026 ,Allan Harding MacKay

OBSERVER STATUS…the newly minted series

Compiler of this new series of posts , AHM has been granted observer status by a well-placed, anonymous source. Future posts will be published under the “Observer Status” designation. Please note that all artwork and illustrations are created using digital tools & techniques however are not AI prompted and generated. Text sources are acknowledged where appropriate. Archives of the Court Painter series will remain available on the site.

With the observer status designation, this artist agrees to standing in the back of the room of world events, with no seat at the table other than casting an eye, pointing a finger and painting a picture.

WATCH FOR UPCOMING POSTS

Premier Smith explaining Alberta sovereignty to a dazed prairie dog

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In spite of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s recent weak sauce remarks on the Fox Business Network :

Canadians are currently not confused and disappointed by the actions of the Orange Toddler Menace to the South, rebranding Lake Ontario as Lake America!

Canadians are currently not confounded by the actions of the Orange Toddler Menace to the South!

Canadians currently perfectly understand why Americans following the Orange Toddler Menace to the South would want Canada to be weaker!

It’s currently time for Premier Smith to reboot her assumptions!

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Prime Minister Carney in recent call to Premier Smith

Princess Smith seen with a winged Prince Manning in cosplay display.

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is pushing her message for an end to the fierce U.S.-Canada trade war directly to Americans. Smith, appearing on the Fox Business Network, says Canadians are confused and disappointed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent effort to rebrand Lake Ontario as Lake America.

She says it’s particularly confounding given the two countries’ long-standing economic and military relationship. Smith says Canadian troops stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans in Afghanistan, and the upcoming 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the U.S. is a reminder of the close relationship.

The premier says Canadians don’t understand why Americans would want Canada to be weaker. She says the trade war will topple small businesses and decimate jobs on both sides of the border.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2026.

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It is with much shock and sadness that word was received of the passing of John Will, who died peacefully on Wednesday, July 15 after many months of declining health. As many of you know, John willingly and with good humour and stylish grace accepted and played the performative digital role of Court Painter for the past 14 years.

His loss is felt not only by me personally AHM, his long time friend and artistic partner on the CP project, but also by the many family members, friends, and art world colleagues who had the good fortune to know such a generous creative spirit, influential artist and teacher.

Future Court Painter postings will be put on hold out of respect for John. However, knowing him as I do, I am confident that even in his absence, he would encourage future posts to continue in the digital studio he so artistically and fashionably occupied.

AHM

John A Will 1939-2026