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A chastened United States is looking to Canada to help it carry the weight of the world.
The question for the people of this increasingly confident and internationally engaged nation is how much of that weight we should bear, and what it means for Canada-U.S. relations.
The debate will dominate public discourse in Canada over the coming months as the two countries unveil plans for closer economic and security ties.
While the United States floundered in its Middle Eastern quagmire, alienated almost every friend it had and then sent its economy plunging into the abyss, Liberal and Conservative governments in this country balanced the budget, rebuilt the military, fought in Afghanistan and, when recession came, discovered the blessings of sound and conservative banking rules.
As a result, Mr. Jacobson observes, Canadians feel “more confidence in the Canadian economy, in the ability to create jobs, in the banking system, all those things,” while in the United States “we’re having our troubles, both politically and economically.”
But the Obama administration has repaired at least some of the damage to his country’s reputation. Witness the close co-operation of U.S., Canadian and other NATO nations in supporting the rebels who overthrew the Gadhafi regime in Libya.
Canadians and Americans must now decide whether to bind themselves more closely in continental security and cross-border trade when the Beyond the Border action plan is released later this month.
Mr. Jacobson is hoping that both countries will embrace most or all of its recommendations because it is in their mutual interest and because, “fundamentally, I believe the Canadian people like the American people.”
On Friday, Mr. Jacobson unveiled an exhibit of photographs taken on Sept. 11 of cards, candles, flowers and such that Canadians left at the U.S. embassy after the attacks.
It reminds us of the remarkable solidarity between Canadians and Americans in those days, when Mr. Chrétien promised another U.S. ambassador, Paul Cellucci, before a throng on Parliament Hill: “We will be with the United States every step of the way: as friends, as neighbours, as family.”
A chastened United States is looking to Canada to help it carry the weight of the world.
The question for the people of this increasingly confident and internationally engaged nation is how much of that weight we should bear, and what it means for Canada-U.S. relations.
The debate will dominate public discourse in Canada over the coming months as the two countries unveil plans for closer economic and security ties.
While the United States floundered in its Middle Eastern quagmire, alienated almost every friend it had and then sent its economy plunging into the abyss, Liberal and Conservative governments in this country balanced the budget, rebuilt the military, fought in Afghanistan and, when recession came, discovered the blessings of sound and conservative banking rules.
As a result, Mr. Jacobson observes, Canadians feel “more confidence in the Canadian economy, in the ability to create jobs, in the banking system, all those things,” while in the United States “we’re having our troubles, both politically and economically.”
But the Obama administration has repaired at least some of the damage to his country’s reputation. Witness the close co-operation of U.S., Canadian and other NATO nations in supporting the rebels who overthrew the Gadhafi regime in Libya.
Canadians and Americans must now decide whether to bind themselves more closely in continental security and cross-border trade when the Beyond the Border action plan is released later this month.
Mr. Jacobson is hoping that both countries will embrace most or all of its recommendations because it is in their mutual interest and because, “fundamentally, I believe the Canadian people like the American people.”
On Friday, Mr. Jacobson unveiled an exhibit of photographs taken on Sept. 11 of cards, candles, flowers and such that Canadians left at the U.S. embassy after the attacks.
It reminds us of the remarkable solidarity between Canadians and Americans in those days, when Mr. Chrétien promised another U.S. ambassador, Paul Cellucci, before a throng on Parliament Hill: “We will be with the United States every step of the way: as friends, as neighbours, as family.”
This couldn't POSSIBLY have anything to do with the US thinking that the Canadian Oil Sands are our next best bet when we can no longer afford to wage war against Middle Eastern countries for their oil.
wow I like americans and america but U.S. ambassador Mr. Jacobson sounds like a car salesman but what is in this Beyond the Border action plan?.
I don't know, but it sounds like a euphemism for the North American Union. As you probably know, I appreciate that Canada is our next-door neighbor and trusted friend, but to be one country I don't think anyone on either side of the border would appreciate that. Especially since most Canadians like the fact that the queen is their head of state
Canada has always been underrated and under appreciated by the U.S. They (along with the UK) are probably the best friends we have.
we would be with you but just like anyone else in the world wants to know how bad are things going to get?
Should we be doing something now?
Is he wanting the Amero to have a standard currency for trade
As for the oil sands we are the country pushing for the keystone XL pipeline to increase flow to the gulf coast to be refined..Obama votes on it all we need is a yes or no and we could begin work on it now if it was for more oil.
We have been through two world wars, korean war, a cold war and the war on terror together so what ever it is we can deal with it.
A union with Canada would not be so bad but Mexico not so much. Canada is pretty nice. I don't support the Council on Foreign Relations on going efforts to consolidate power and bring in a corporate run one world government though.
I don't know, but it sounds like a euphemism for the North American Union. As you probably know, I appreciate that Canada is our next-door neighbor and trusted friend, but to be one country I don't think anyone on either side of the border would appreciate that. Especially since most Canadians like the fact that the queen is their head of state
Excellent progress has been made in aligning vehicle safety requirements within North America.
Although Canadian vehicle safety standards are largely consistent with the United States, Canadian and U.S. stakeholders expressed concern that there are still significant differences where greater regulatory cooperation would be beneficial. Regulatory differences in this area impact vehicle availability in Canada, increase the cost of vehicles for Canadians, and the cost of doing business for manufacturers. Although Transport Canada is already working with Canadian industry to bring greater alignment of standards between the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards, industry has indicated the need for greater cooperation with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Authority to ensure that ongoing vehicle safety standard amendments, as well as new standards, address the automotive safety needs of both countries. Recent rulemaking projects such as passenger ejection mitigation and power window auto-reversal systems are examples where enhanced cooperation could be beneficial.
what is the benift in power window auto-reversal systems unless you stick your head out the window and then do up the window and choke
number 15
Canada is the largest supplier of energy to the United States and both countries have made important commitments, bilaterally and multilaterally, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years. Canadian and U.S. industry expect that regulatory agencies will take a more active role in regulating a wide variety of emerging energy technologies, including Smart Meters from photovoltaic panels to wind turbines and SmartGrid. The harmonization of regulations to support alternative energy vehicles, and the infrastructure to support their introduction, is important to creating a North American industry and ensuring a similar approach to safety and efficiency. Ensuring transparent engagement and coordination in the development of related policies, where possible, would avoid potential barriers in the future.
Similarly, energy efficiency regulation is an area of increasing activity within North America that could benefit from ongoing dialogue and cooperation. As Canada and the United States seek to address harmful greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and air pollutants through regulation, it was recommended that the Government of Canada coordinate, or harmonize, proposed measures to the extent possible in order to leverage greater economies of scale in North America. The Energy Star Program is an example of an international success that is used in Asia, Europe, and North America. Agreements and partnerships among trade partners that result in a single set of energy efficiency standards, instead of patchwork, country-specific requirements, result in greater economies of scale and global competiveness.
Well not sure about building tons of wind turbines since they don't generate much power and they would not do much to power major cities and both american and Canadian have mixed views on smartmeters..
I hope they know that Canada has the worlds largest uranium deposits and newer updated nuclear power plants is a better way to go IMO We should be like India and build 17 new multicore 15,000MW power plants at one time all over the country
Last edited by GTOlover; 09-03-2011 at 11:18 PM..
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