Forging an Open and Secure Relationship

Canadian Corner
February 23, 2009

This is the first in a series of "Senator's Notes" focusing on U.S.-Canadian relations and authored by Canadian Senator Pamela Wallin, advisor to the president of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas.

From time to time I will share a few thoughts on the U.S.-Canadian relationship. Given that Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited New York on Monday to meet with business leaders and in the wake of President Barack Obama’s first international foray to Canada, I thought the time was right.

In short, the visit to Canada last week by the president was a success for both countries—and both leaders. Hard to believe but Obama is even more popular in Canada than he is at home!

More importantly, this is the largest and most integrated relationship in the world. Each year our citizens make more than 100 million cross border visits—doing business with one of the thousands of cross-border companies, vacationing in each other’s backyards, or attending one another’s universities. Canada sells and sends more than 80 percent of everything we make and create to the United States. We are the largest trading partner for 39 of the 50 states. Meanwhile, the United States sends more than a quarter of its output North. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has melded our economies and our interests.

Still, it seems proximity is no guarantee of understanding. As a Canadian diplomat once said:

“They are our best friends whether we like it or not and we are their best friends whether they know it or not!”

The president has morphed his campaign pledge to reopen NAFTA, now saying he wants to talk about some of the issues in a way that won’t disrupt trade. It is most important that the prime minister and the president find their comfort zone on this issue because in a relationship this size—some $2 billion dollars worth of trade every day—there are always going to be disagreements. In fact, most of our issues involve battles with the U.S. Congress over protectionist proposals or “Buy America” polices that actually cut off the American nose to spite its face. The only way we will get out of the recession/depression we are now experiencing is by working together—with coordinated activity, and continued open and free trade.

There is already common thinking on energy and the two leaders launched a clean energy dialogue. We are not opening talks or negotiations, but Canada is the largest energy supplier to the United States. If we are to help America move away from energy dependence on the countries that hate it, then we need to have folks south of the border stop focussing on “dirty” oil. We all have environmental concerns but our oil has no spilled blood on it.

And it's not just on economics or the environment where our futures are linked. Obama has now made the war in Afghanistan his war and there we work together very well. The troop surge will save lives.

Perhaps the most important statement that the Canadian Prime Minister made was on security: “Threats to the United States are threats to Canada,” he stated.

In other words, Harper wanted to reiterate for the new president his view that we recognize that our shared border, if it is to remain open to trade, must be a secure border as well. It all harkens back to the words of a former U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci, who bluntly told Canadians that in the post 9/11 world, security will always trump trade.

But, in an important reciprocal gesture, the president also signalled that he realized more attention must be paid to unclogging the borders, often choked by cumbersome and ineffective security measures. If we can just concentrate on getting the goods through and keeping the bad guys at bay, then we will really be able to have open and secure borders—and an open and secure relationship!

Senator Pamela Wallin, Senate of Canada
Advisor to the President
Americas Society/Council of the Americas


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