Behind closed doors, the Canada-U.S. relationship seems like it's far friendlier than the Oval Office soundbites would lead us to believe.
Driving the news: Politicians, diplomats, and business leaders from both sides of the border gathered yesterday at the Eurasia Group’s U.S.-Canada Summit, an event that struck a surprisingly ‘business as usual’ tone.
What they’re saying: The shared sentiment from officials was that, despite the tariffs, 51st state jabs, and a testy CUSMA review, Canada and the U.S. are still on solid ground (the U.S. ambassador even offered to bootleg some Kentucky bourbon to Canada for willing buyers).
Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Mark Wiseman: “We share a 9,000-kilometre border. We're not moving out of the neighbourhood, nor is the United States. We need to be thinking not just about today or next week, but in terms of decades and generations. In spite of what you may think… the relationship between Canada and the United States continues to work exceptionally well."
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra: “The president [has said] we don't need this from Canada, or there's nothing we need. America has a tremendous amount of things where we have a need… You maybe don't like the way the president says it, but what he's saying is, we're open to offers. Make your case.”
Minister of Internal Trade Dominic LeBlanc: “Canada should not be emotionally vested in how American politicians speak to American voters. Our job is to ensure that the long-term economic interest of Canada — which is inevitably tied to a successful trading relationship with the United States — is in the best possible position… When you're going through turbulence, you don't take off your seatbelt, run up and down the aisle, and kick in the cockpit door, and start pulling the levers."
Bottom line: If officials are to be believed, a lot of the recent headline-grabbing comments have more to do with trade negotiations than a genuine rupture in the two countries' relationship.—LA
