Latest news with #MatthewGood
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Canadian musician calls off U.S. concerts amid pushback to Trump policies
Canadian rock musician Matthew Good has canceled a slate of upcoming shows in the United States as a pushback to policies promoted by President Donald Trump. The Burnaby, British Columbia-born musical artist, 54, opened up on his change of plans in cities such as Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh via the social media website Facebook Friday. 'To my US fans, and friends ... I've come to the personal decision, that I can't, in good conscience carry out my dates this summer in your country,' said the musician, whose signature tracks include Decades and Hello Time Bomb. Good added: 'This is not fair to you, and I'm very well aware of that, but the truth is, every week that goes by, I have a deeper disdain for what's going on there politically.' In referring to Trump's tariffs and other policies, Good said that he would not be able to perform in the U.S. again until major political changes were to happen; and that he was willing to risk his 'future U.S. career to stand up against things today.' Trump, in six months since taking office for his second term, has rankled Canada and its citizens over a number of issues - including his repeated references to it being the '51st state.' A number of X users slammed Good for the move, with one user saying that the political reasoning was 'likely an excuse due to lack of interest.' Another user joked: 'Those poor Americans. How will they ever get over this one?' with a broken heart emoji. One X user said in response that Good was 'only hurting himself and the people who work for the band financially' with the move, adding that 'Americans wont notice one way or the other.' Said one user: 'One was a 400 seat brew pub. His date was sandwiched between trivia night and a cover band. He wasn't doing a Las Vegas residency.' Good said on the social media site that he was persuaded to cancel the shows after Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney called off a digital services tax against the U.S. to 'appease' Trump. 'This was approximately 2 billion dollars in revenue that has been accumulating, and we're walking away from that,' Good said. Good added that between 'the massive increase in visa costs, the fear mongering that even after we have our visas, we may still be denied entry if we have something negative to say about the current GOP, and I end up in a situation where I'm biting my tongue, and losing what credibility I had to stand up and say something. ' Good said that the current political climate made it clear he had to do something to show where he stood. A number of X users slammed Good for the move, with one user saying that the political reasoning was 'likely an excuse due to lack of interest' 'I can't stand by and be quiet while our amazing country is bullied into walking away from billions in needed revenue, constantly left wondering if we actually have a partner or an enemy to the south.' He said that 'equally as tragic' would be 'supporting someone who has completely bastardized the institution of art and culture in the US.' Good said that it would be 'unfair' to try and recruit 'other artists to join' him in the political protest, as he planned to center his musical career out of his native Canada for the foreseeable future. 'I have built a career here in Canada that I'm proud of, and will double down here over the next 3 years, and invite my US fans to any show they want to here,' Good said. Good said that fans of his should mobilize their support for the musical group Texas King, which 'might suffer more out of this' on a business level. 'So as a favour, we encourage you to get out and support them wherever you can!' Good said. Good, who canceled dates in protest of Trump's policies, said that his 'world has always focussed on political awareness.' He added 'I know that you might not all be on the same side, so I want to be clear about this. It's MY opinion.'
CBC
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Canadian singer Matthew Good says 'big political correction' needed before he'll tour U.S. again
Social Sharing Canadian rocker Matthew Good has cut upcoming U.S. shows from his summer tour, saying he can't support government policies and political divisions south of the border and that he's unlikely to perform in the country again until political tides turn. Good, 54, announced the cancellations in a Facebook post on Friday morning, saying he's willing to "risk my future US career, to stand up against things today." Since coming to office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has made repeated comments about making Canada the "51st state," launched a trade war against Canada and dozens of other nations, implemented policies affecting the rights of transgender people and ordered mass deportations of undocumented migrants. Good was due to play in Cleveland on Tuesday, Pittsburgh on Wednesday and Buffalo on Thursday, before returning to Canada to perform in Gravenhurst, Ont., on Friday. "I'm a very proud Canadian," the Burnaby, B.C.-born singer and songwriter told Radio West guest host Brady Strachan of CBC Kelowna on Friday, hours after posting the announcement. "I think, really, the divisionism that I'm seeing in the United States is something that has really gotten to me." He said he understands that people are entitled to different political views, but that "right now, that nation doesn't reflect the commonality that this one has." "I think there are several things going on down there that ... I don't feel that I can economically support," said Good, who rose to fame in the 1990s with the Matthew Good Band and hits like Apparition and Hello Time Bomb. He has performed as a solo artist since the band broke up in 2002. Upset by trade war, tax attack Among the sticking points for Good was Trump's tariff threats and the attack on Canada's now-scuttled digital services tax (DST), which was due to go into effect last month. "[Canada is] backing down from that, to appease Mr. Trump's government. This was approximately two billion dollars in revenue that has been accumulating, and we're walking away from that," Good wrote in his Facebook post. The DST was set to affect large companies that offer digital services — like online advertising or shopping — and earn more than $20 million in revenue from Canadian sources. The three per cent levy had been in place since last year, but the first payments were due June 30. Since it was retroactive to 2022, U.S. companies were looking at a $2-billion US tax bill. Prime Minister Mark Carney turfed the tax in a bid to continue trade talks and bring an end to the months-long tariff war that Trump initiated. But the U.S. president continued to throw the talks into turmoil. His latest volley, on Thursday, was to threaten 35 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods on Aug. 1 — and even higher levies if Canada retaliates. Trump threatens 35% tariff on all Canadian goods 4 days ago Duration 3:54 Other musicians skip U.S. over anti-trans policies Good isn't the first Canadian artist to back away from performing in the U.S. this year. Toronto musician Bells Larsen told followers in April he would not tour U.S. cities due to safety concerns and visa policies that discriminate against transgender people. "I received an email on Tuesday [April 8] from the American Federation of Musicians stating that I am no longer able to apply for a visa because U.S. Immigration now only recognizes identification that corresponds with one's assigned sex at birth," Larsen posted on Instagram. "To put it super plainly, because I'm trans (and have an M on my passport), I can't tour in the States." Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office stating the U.S. government will only recognize two genders, male and female, and that they cannot be changed. He directed the State Department to identify U.S. passport holders by their assigned sex at birth, denying transgender and non-binary people the ability to select their gender marker. Foreign travellers have also been warned they could be denied visas if their gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth. Halifax musician T. Thomason cancelled his May performance at a music festival in Maine, saying he doesn't feel safe crossing the border "as a Canadian trans guy," despite having a valid visa issued prior to Trump's inauguration in January. Good says he also has concerns about his ability to travel to the U.S. after sharing his political stances. He told Strachan that it's entirely possible he and his band could run into trouble crossing the border should customs agents search his phone, see his social media comments and deny him entry — something the Canadian government even warned travellers about earlier this year. "That's one of the highest forms of censorship," he said. "It's tyrannical. There's not really another word to use." WATCH | Why some transgender people are leery of crossing Canada-U.S. border: B.C. transgender activist says border crossing risky amid U.S. crackdown 3 months ago Duration 5:55 Fans support Good's principled stance Good said he's not afraid of any backlash, but that most of the reaction had been supportive, which was largely evident in the comments below his Facebook post. "Buffalo, NY resident/US citizen here, who has a deep disdain for what is going here politically as well, and I totally understand and support your decision. Hope to see you back here in 3-ish years," read a comment from Mallory Czum. "I have nothing but respect for you as an artist, but even more as a man of principle. I am an American, but I hate what this administration is doing to our relationships with our closest friends," wrote Jeff Gallagher, a fan in Portland, Ore. Commenter Martin Prokopinski, however, criticized Good for taking a political stance. "Absolutely the wrong thing to do. Your fans are your fans — not your political messages. Lame," Prokopinski wrote. But Good says it would take a "pretty big political correction" for him to go back to performing in the U.S. "I'm not sure whether it's a change in the presidency or, you know, see what happens with the mid-terms," he told CBC Radio. "There's a lot of things that are going on down there right now that simply have to change." WATCH | How much has Canadian travel to the U.S. declined: Canadians are avoiding the U.S. Will its economy suffer? 10 days ago Duration 25:46 Andrew Chang explains how much Canadian travel to the U.S. has declined — and who might feel it most. Then, why despite cooling inflation and a falling interest rate, more Canadians are missing payments on their loans and mortgages.
CTV News
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Canadian musician Matthew Good cancels U.S. shows due to Trump administration
Canadian musician Matthew Good says he's cancelling his U.S. tour dates because of President Donald Trump's government. The 'Load Me Up' rocker is pointing to Canada's cancellation of the digital services tax as a main factor in the decision. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced late last month that Canada would cancel the planned tax as a condition of resuming trade talks with the U.S. In a social media post, Good says Canada is 'backing down' from the tax to 'appease' the Trump administration. The tax was to apply to all big tech companies that operate online marketplaces or advertising services and social media platforms, and those that earn revenue from the sale of user data. Good says he was worried that if he spoke negatively about Trump, he might be stopped at the border or have his visa rejected, so he bit his tongue even though he wanted to speak up. 'I can't stand by and be quiet while our amazing country is bullied into walking away from billions in needed revenue, constantly left wondering if we actually have a partner or an enemy to the south,' he wrote in the post. Good was scheduled to perform in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo in the coming days. He's encouraging fans to show their support for the band Texas King, which would have joined him at the shows. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Canadian musician boycott: Matthew Good cancels shows over digital services tax; slams govt for US appeasement
Canadian Musician Matthew Good (Image: Instagram/officialmattgood) Canadian musician Matthew Good has cancelled his upcoming US tour dates in protest against President Donald Trump 's pressure on Canada to drop its planned digital services tax. Good announced the decision on social media, criticising the Canadian government's choice to cancel the taxes as a precondition to resume trade talks with the United States. Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed last month that Canada would cancel the tax as part of the negotiations, news agency Canadian Press reported. The tax was to apply to all big tech companies that operate online marketplaces or advertising services and social media platforms, and those that earn revenue from the sale of user data. In his post on Facebook, Good accused Canada of 'backing down' to 'appease' the Trump administration and said he could no longer stay silent about what he sees as his country being "bullied" out of billions in needed revenue. "I can't stand by and be quiet while our amazing country is bullied into walking away from billions in needed revenue, constantly left wondering if we actually have a partner or an enemy to the south," he wrote in the post. He also revealed that he had previously avoided speaking out of fear of being stopped at the border or having his visa rejected. Good was scheduled to perform in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo in the coming days.
Global News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Global News
Canadian musician Matthew Good cancels U.S. shows to protest Trump tariffs
Canadian musician Matthew Good has announced that he's cancelling his U.S. tour dates in protest of U.S. President Donald Trump's government and its ongoing tariffs policy. Good, 54, made the announcement Saturday on Facebook, telling his U.S. fans that he cannot 'in good conscience carry out my dates this summer in your country.' 'This is not fair to you, and I'm very well aware of that, but the truth is, every week that goes by, I have a deeper disdain for what's going on there politically,' the four-time Juno winner wrote. 'My world has always focussed [sic] on political awareness, and I know that you might not all be on the same side, so I want to be clear about this,' he continued. 'It's MY opinion, and I'm willing to risk my future US career, to stand up against things today, and god willing, for ONLY another 3 years.' Story continues below advertisement The Load Me Up rocker pointed to Canada's cancellation of the digital services tax on Canadian revenue of companies such as Amazon, Google and Meta as a main factor in the decision. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced late last month that Canada would cancel the planned tax as a condition of resuming trade talks with the U.S. 'Recently, it was announced that after a year of an imposed digital services tax, we (Canada) are backing down from that, to appease Mr. Trump's government,' Good wrote. 'This was approximately 2 billion dollars in revenue that has been accumulating, and we're walking away from that,' Good wrote. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Add to that, the massive increase in visa costs, the fear mongering that even after we have our visas, we may still be denied entry if we have something negative to say about the current GOP, and I end up in a situation where I'm biting my tongue, and losing what credibility I had to stand up and say something.' Story continues below advertisement Good went on to say he will lose a week's worth of work but 'giving up 30% of our earnings to a withholding tax, walking on eggshells at the border, and actively participating in the silencing of opinions, is a bigger cost to me personally.' 'I realize that I have approximately .00001% impact on things overall, as this was just a few thousand tickets, but I can't stand by and be quiet while our amazing country is bullied into walking away from billions in needed revenue, constantly left wondering if we actually have a partner or an enemy to the south, and equally as tragic, supporting someone who has completely bastardized the institution of art and culture in the US.' Good also said he would 'invite other artists to join me' but knows that is 'unfair.' Good was scheduled to perform in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo in the coming days. He's still encouraging fans to show their support for the band Texas King, which would have joined him at the shows. The Hello Time Bomb singer also took to Instagram after Trump first made his comments early in the new year about wanting Canada to join the United States as the 51st state. Story continues below advertisement 'I did not ever think that something of this troubling significance would ever occur in my lifetime,' he began. 'Yesterday the Prime Minister resigned. Today, the incoming President of the United States clearly admitted at a press conference that one of his goals is to annex Canada through the use of what can only be termed as economic warfare.' Good said that his family fought in the Second World War 'for the freedoms and sovereignty of this nation, Canada.' 'I have travelled this nation more times coast to coast than most ever will. And I can tell you without hesitation that despite those petty divisions some attempt to promote, the majority of us hold this land dear,' he wrote. 'From Haida Gwaii to Halifax, we're Canadians that have the ability to share the best of ourselves with others. And we do.' 'In all of this, there will come a time to stand up and refuse to abandon this nation and what it means to truly be Canadian. I hope when that time comes, you will join me in doing so,' Good concluded his post. Story continues below advertisement — With files from The Canadian Press
