U.S. and Canadian policy experts discussed the differences and conflicts in a two-day panel series this week that examined the state of the U.S. and Canada's "special relationship," covering topics ranging from health care, energy resources and the effects of Sept. 11, to the deteriorating relationship between the countries.
On Wednesday, journalists John Geddes of Maclean's and Barrie McKenna of The Globe and Mail joined professors William Watson of McGill University and Stephanie Golob of Baruch College, to discuss the U.S.-Canada relationship.
Golob called Sept. 11, 2001 a "window of opportunity" that had the potential to redefine North America in security terms. She pointed out two significant problems hindering U.S. and Canadian relations: power and attention asymmetry. Not only are Canada and America mismatched in power, with America as the sole global superpower, but Canada pays more attention to American affairs than America does to Canadian affairs.
This issue of Canada also was addressed throughout the panel. McKenna, the Globe and Mail's Washington correspondent, said that "Canada has had a particular problem" dealing with the United States, especially with the Bush administration. With the upcoming presidential election, McKenna said there has been a lot of Canadian speculation on which candidate would be more friendly to Canada.
"You have to think, what are Canada's interests?" he said.
A majority of the panel was spent discussing the erosion of the U.S.-Canada "special relationship" over the past 40 years.
"I think what made the relationship special has been in erosion for quite a while," said McKenna, specifically referencing Sept. 11 as a turning point in the U.S.-Canada relationship.
He argued that Sept. 11 changed how America views its relationship with the world, affecting its relationship with Canada as well as other countries. According to McKenna, Americans feel a greater sense of U.S. interests diverging from Canada's.
According to Watson, America's view is that "Canada has not been pulling its weight" since 1965. Because of Canada's differing stances on the Cold War and Iraq, "Canada is not going to be looked upon kindly," he said.
Wednesday's panel was an appropriate lead-up to Thursday's, which featured Dartmouth government professor Allan Stam, McGill University law professor Stephen Toope, U.S. ambassador to Canada Paul Celucci and Canadian ambassador to the U.S., Michael Kergin. The panel's view of the American-Canadian relationship was much more positive than Wednesday's.
Kergin recognized the power asymmetry but argued that Canada and the U.S. most often play very complimentary roles. He said the U.S. provides leadership when deemed necessary, while Canada acts as a multilateral bridge to other countries. Kergin said Canada can pose suggestions to other countries that are less threatening than if imposed by the United States.
Celucci, who became ambassador in 2001 after over four years as governor of Massachusetts, said, "There is no relationship that we have in the world that is more important than our relationship with Canada."
He pointed out that not only do the U.S. and Canada exchange $1 billion of trade each day, but the United States imports the majority of its oil and natural gas from Canada. Referring to the countries' joint efforts in environmental protection, the battle against global warming, globalization and the war on terror, Celucci said, "Canada has been on our side."
Sharing a 5,525-mile border, the United States "cannot defend our homeland without Canada's help," Celucci said. "I have respectfully suggested Canada put more money into defense."
Discussing Canadian issues of gay marriage and the possible decriminalization of marijuana, the U.S. ambassador pointed out that certain states are facing the same issues.
"Every issue Canada faces, we face," Celucci said.
