Harper: Canada Should Accept 'any level of damage'

Harper spoke to the value and cost of our sovereignity.

"And if I was still prime minister, I would be prepared to impoverish the country and not be annexed, if that was the option we're facing," Harper said to an invitation-only audience.

Originating article here, and paywall removed version here.

Harper is specifically talking about Canada's independence and the threat of annexation. Politicians trying to get elected will speak in actions and avoid entertaining hypotheticals, especially of negative scenarios they do not want to be associated with.

Here, you can sense a glimpse of the level of trouble Canada is facing.