United States Ambassador to Canada David Jacobson stands in front of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Ont., Aug. 30, 2011
OTTAWA — The American ambassador to Canada has issued a reassuring statement about the state of relations between the two countries — insisting that while there have been “bumps in the road” and “strains,” the relationship has never been better.
David Jacobson’s written message was issued this week to commemorate the national birthdays of both countries. Notably, it came just days after a controversial article by two Canadians who declared the bilateral relationship has sunk to its worst level in decades.
The document, entitled “How Obama Lost Canada” appears in the online edition of Foreign Affairs and makes a detailed case for how U.S. President Barack Obama is “botching relations with the United States’ biggest trade partner.”
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But Jacobson, while not referring to that article directly, cited a long list of examples — from security co-operation and increased trade, to the Americans’ heavy reliance on Canadian energy exports — to conclude that things aren’t so bad.
“I believe the relationship between the United States and Canada has never been stronger,” wrote Jacobson in the message posted on the embassy’s website.
“On so many fronts we are working together to achieve our shared goals: managing our border for greater efficiency and greater security; expanding trade for greater prosperity; and enhancing peace and security around the world.”
Jacobson wrote he is extending a clear message on behalf of Obama and the American people: “We are very lucky to have Canada as our neighbor.”
“None of this is to say that everything is perfect or that we do not — on occasion — have some bumps in the road. The economic challenges we face, particularly in my country, have, at times, caused strains.
“And it’s inconceivable that two sovereign nations with the largest economic relationship between two countries in the history of the world, two countries with the longest shared border in the world, would not have issues from time-to-time. But like the friends we are, we address those issues and we try to resolve them forthrightly.”
That assessment is far rosier than the picture painted in the Foreign Affairs essay written by Derek Burney, Canada’s former ambassador to the U.S., and Fen Hampson, a foreign policy expert at Carleton University.
“Whether on trade, the environment, or Canada’s shared contribution in places such as Afghanistan, time and again the United States has jilted its northern neighbour,” they write.
“If the pattern of neglect continues, Ottawa will get less interested in co-operating with Washington. Already, Canada has reacted by turning elsewhere — namely, toward Asia — for more reliable economic partners.”
The authors note that only 68 per cent of Canadian exports were destined for the United States in 2010, down from 85 per cent in 2000.
The biting essay points to a litany of problems, such as:
- The Obama administration ”caved to environmental activists” by postponing a decision to allow the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast;
- The White House “jeopardized” the important Canadian-American economic relationship by failing to combat the Buy American provision in a stimulus bill in Congress;
- The U.S. has “violated the substance and spirit” of NAFTA and meetings between the prime minister and president have “mostly fallen by the wayside”;
- Canada’s military involvement in operations such as Afghanistan were significant, and yet there have been few “tangible benefits” in return from the U.S.
- While last year’s “Beyond the Border” deal aimed at improving security and cross-border traffic was initially “good news”, it has yet to deliver much of substance;
But Jacobson is much more positive.
He noted that Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised the recent agreement for the Detroit-Windsor bridge as a visionary project that will increase trade. As well, the Canadian Parliament adopted a “long-awaited” copyright reform bill.
Also in June, Obama and Harper announced Canada has been invited to join negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed free-trade agreement.
Jacobson cast a positive light on trade — saying that from 2009 to 2011, trade between the U.S.and Canada increased by 37.8 per cent, or $188.7 billion.
In the wake of the Keystone XL decision, Harper declared Canada will look to other markets, such as Asia, to sell its oil. But Jacobson pointed to the close energy ties as an example of a strong bilateral relationship.
“Canada remains the overwhelmingly largest foreign supplier of every form of energy to the United States,” he wrote.
“You send us virtually 100 per cent of the electricity we import; 85 per cent of the natural gas; and stunningly 27 per cent of our foreign oil. The next highest foreign source of oil is Saudi Arabia at 12 per cent!!!”
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U.S.-Canada relationship ‘never been stronger?’ | BlogsCanada.ca
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