The New - 20/20 Magazine

TRADE, INVESTIMENT AND THE PURSUIT OF PROSPERITY
The Canadian way:
helping to redefine the New America
Building a dome over our national
igloo, legalizing staplers, creating a
five-dollar coin called the Woody and
congratulating Canada on joining
North America.
Those are just a few of the satirical
ploys witty Canadian icon Rick Mercer
engaged many of our neighbours south
of the border during his Talking to
Americans segment of his popular television
show This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
A charismatic Newfoundlander
traipsing across the continental US and
exploiting Americans’ seemingly ubiquitous
ignorance about Canadians had all
the makings of a television hit.
Due to the sheer economic importance
of the relationship to Canada; we have
been forced to understand the unique
characteristics of the world superpower
to our south. In many ways, we have
been the submissive partner in the relationship
and while we understand — or
think we do — the US, it’s not been a
prerequisite for Americans to wear the
proverbial shoe on the other foot.
That’s not to say that we are not alike,
nor that we cannot be friends. It’s simply
that being Canadian means that you inherently
learn about the culture; the geography,
the social aspects and to some
degree, the politics of the US. It’s part of
the Canadian psyche and an element of
being Canadian.
However, the events of 9/11 forever
changed America. The tragedy in New
York City was the first blow to the
American psyche and pride on American
soil in generations.
52 | www.2020MAgAzINE.CA
September 11, 2001, demonstrated
that America was vulnerable. As the nation
and its people healed; we were there
to help. That’s the Canadian way.
And the onus was on us to better
understand in essence, the New America
that was unfolding before our eyes. And
the manner in which the US viewed its
major trading partner took on a new
form. While we will continue to look at
America through an economic lens, the
US focused on Canada through a new,
security lens.
We worked with our neighbour to
ensure that we found some common
ground in terms of security. It was in
both our nations’ best interests.
As the US was still healing from 9/11,
the financial meltdown south of the border
and the subsequent Great Recession
only exacerbated the American fall
from world superpower. Once again,
America demonstrated to the world that
it was vulnerable.
The impact that this crisis had on our
home and native land only reinforced to
Canadians that we still share a unique,
extremely intertwined relationship. We
may have survived the first economic
hit better than our friends, but the
effects are still lingering and as we move
forward, trying to escape a double-dip,
by JeFF brownlee
we undoubtedly will be impacted.
As Canadians, the events the past
nine years should reinforce the fact that
while we live in an era of globalization
with new customers and new competition
from every corner of the world;
the Canada-US relationship cannot be
overlooked nor taken for granted.
We need each other.
Our histories have been intertwined,
our economies are interdependent and
our cultures are interconnected. Yes, this
bilateral relationship continues to evolve
and yes, we are now in a defining era of
new Canada-US relations, but we collectively
have to find our way in the new
world order.
The onus will be on Canada to try and best
understand the needs of our largest trading partner,
our friend, our neighbour and our customer as well
as offer solutions that will restore her to greatness.
As America continues to define or redefine
herself into the New America, she
will need Canada. It is our job to help
and assist her in that endeavour.
The onus will be on Canada to try
and best understand the needs of our
largest trading partner, our friend, our
neighbour and our customer as well
as offer solutions that will restore her
to greatness.
We will be there.
As a friend, that’s our duty.
As a neighbour, that’s our helping hand.
As a business partner, that’s in
our best interest.