US/Canada relations

Derek Burney, former ambassador to the United States spoke about US/Canada relations. Again I try to reproduce his remarks without comment.

Canada and the United States are inextricably linked. And yet Canadians often look for small differences with the United States to make us distinct from America. That is foolish -- we are, and must be, partners with America.

Yet we come from the same values and share geography and history. Canada needs a strong and vigorous United States.

Canada must speak with a single voice.

Canada must have a solid partnership with the United States -- disagreement with the United States is possible and proper when appropriate.

Anti-Americanism is a pointless waste. Influence comes from being a credible partner. America needs (and deserves) more than fair weather friends; Canada needs to be a true friend.

Specifics:

Canada has to recognise American concern over Canadian immigration and security policies are valid.

A new bi-national border commission should be created to create smooth border crossing.

Standards need to be coordinated to allow easier cross border trade.

We should coordinate refugee and immigration policy. We need a common tariff policy. We need coordinated police action so that drug and other matters be jointly dealt with.

NORAD must be extended to include land based forces and Arctic lands -- joint military forces. We need to ensure cyber security is joint. Energy security and climate change must be jointly considered -- Canada is the largest supplier of all forms of energy to the United States and policy is essential here. Green energy is sometimes used as a hidden tariff to exclude Canadian products.

We need to work with, and lead, the United States to coordinate our increasing integration.

Note the term referenced is "bi" and not "tri". Mexico and Canada are very different and increasing integration between Canada and the United States is not, and should not be, tied to US/Mexican relations.
James Morton
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