Canada

Canada-U.S. Relations
The good, the bad and the ugly
Sukumar Periwal
Canada-US Fulbright Visiting Chair, Canadian Studies Center, University of Washington
Presentation at Western Oregon University
November 8, 2006
The ugly first
PATRICK BUCHANAN (former U.S. presidential candidate)
“For most Americans, Canada is sort of like a case of latent arthritis. We really don’t think about it unless it acts up.” (1992)
“Soviet Canuckistan.”
(2002)
The repeated canard
(not true, by the way)
“Canada is a favoured destination for terrorists and international criminals.” (Library of Congress research report 2004)
“Far more of the 9/11 terrorists came across from Canada than from Mexico.” (former U.S. Speaker Newt Gingrich, April 2005 – later retracted and apologized).
“We’ve got to remember that the people who first hit us on 9/11 entered this country through Canada.” (then U.S. Senator Conrad Burns, December 2005 – later said he ‘misspoke’).
The ugly continued…
FRANÇOISE DUCROS (former communications director to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien)
“What a moron.” (about President Bush, 2002)
PM Chrétien: The President “is a friend of mine. He’s not a moron at all.”
Ducros resigned shortly after.
More ugliness…
CAROLYN PARRISH (Liberal Member of Parliament 1993-2006)
“Damn Americans. I hate the bastards.” (overheard after invasion of Iraq, 2003)
“We are not going to join a coalition of the idiots.” (2004)
Ugliest…
Carolyn Parrish MP performing ‘voodoo’ on the head of a doll of President Bush “where it would do least damage”. (2004)
Will it ever stop?
Canada can take care of North Korea. They’re not busy.” (TV ad run by Republican U.S. Senate campaign in Tennessee, October 2006)
FACT: 45 Canadian casualties in Afghanistan since more than 2000 troops deployed in 2002; 37 deaths in 2006 alone)
Why so much misunderstanding?
Global context
Policy differences
Trade disputes
Divergent values

Global context
Concerns about U.S. approach to global security
Invasion of Iraq as distraction from war on terror’s main fronts (Afghanistan, rolling back terrorist networks, securing homeland)
Dismissive of concerns expressed by other countries about consequences of Iraq invasion
New national security doctrine permitting unilateral preemptive action


Policy differences
Canadian commitment to multilateralism in foreign policy vs. recent US unilateralism
Kyoto Protocol and international cooperation on climate change
Landmines treaty
International Criminal Court
UN reform
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
Focus on WTO vs bilateral free trade agreements
Trade disputes
Softwood lumber (2001-2006)
Largest trade dispute in the world
Huge issue in Canada but barely noticed in U.S.
Canadian resentment at U.S. not abiding by NAFTA dispute resolution panels
Restrictions on Canadian cattle exports after discovery of BSE
Challenges to Canadian wheat board and supply management bodies while increasing US agricultural subsidies
Divergent values
Same sex marriage
Abortion and contraception
Guns
Capital punishment
Public provision of health care
Decriminalization of marijuana
Levels of military spending
And yet… best friends
“The United States is our best friend and largest trading partner” – 2006 Throne Speech of Canada’s new Conservative government

What we have in common
Shared history and values
Shared geography
Economic and infrastructure interdependence
Shared institutions
Shared history and values
Historical friendship and commitment to mutual security (e.g. fighting together in World Wars I and II, Korea, Cold War deployments, Afghanistan)
Close allies on international stage (UN, NATO, WTO)
Shared values: democracy, free markets, rule of law, civil liberties
Shared geography
9,000 km long border – and shared commitment to cross-border law enforcement and intelligence cooperation
Shared environment
Airsheds (and air pollution)
Watersheds (Great Lakes, rivers, ocean)
Migratory species
Economic interdependence
Critical infrastructure interdependence (pipelines, electricity grid, roads, rail)
$680 billion in annual two way trade, growing at 6% per year; both countries are each other’s biggest trading partners
Canada is #1 market for 38 U.S. states
Integrated markets in energy and agriculture
Intra-firm trade and regional business clusters
Shared institutions
300+ treaties and many other arrangements at all levels of government and private sector
International Joint Commission
NORAD and other long-standing defense ties
Regional cooperation
Western Premiers – Western Governors Association
Atlantic Premiers – New England Governors
Bilateral cooperation: BC-Washington, Ontario-Michigan, Québec-New York
Multilateral organizations: Pacific North West Economic Region
Conclusion
Canada and the U.S. are lucky to have each other for neighbors
We have much more in common than we realize – disputes always get more attention
Huge amount of cooperation at all levels of government and private sector
Global: war on terror
North America: Security and Prosperity Partnership
Regional: bilateral and multilateral connections (e.g. PNWER)
Business: North American economic ties, alliances, mergers, cross-border intra-firm trade
Civil society: university research, non-governmental organizations and foundations
Much room for future synergy – Canadian energy, U.S. investment, need to work together in new global context to strengthen security and increase North American competitiveness