The Trudeau legend entered the stratosphere with his budding "bromance" with US President Barak Obama in March, the first official visit by a Canadian leader since 1997, when Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien visited the last charismatic Democratic president, Bill Clinton. Both visits were friendly--Clinton gushed at the time, "We have the most comprehensive ties of any two nations on earth." Chretien was not invited by Clinton's successor, George Bush, who was furious when Chretien refused to join his "coalition of the willing" to invade Iraq. More like 'bro-hate'.
Trudeau's new-found mentor had some witty advice. Obama joked about Trudeau's previous jobs: "If things get out of hand, remember the prime minister used to work as a bouncer," referring to Trudeau's reminiscences in his memoirs Common Ground. He also laid on a lavish state dinner for Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, featuring Canadian staples poutine, Nanaimo bars and white chocolate snowballs.
Both visits had their problems. Back in the 1990s, the top item was the enduring boycott by the US of Cuba, by then almost four decades old. Despite being a fellow liberal, US President Clinton was lamely defending the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act, passed by Congress the previous year, which allowed Americans to sue foreign companies doing business in Cuba. Governments around the world condemned the act, arguing that the law ran counter to the spirit of international law and sovereignty.
This time, there was no such problem, after the US and Cuba finally reestablished diplomatic relations--thanks to Obama, though the US continues to maintain its commercial, economic, and financial embargo for US corporations. Environmental problems were the main topic.
Trudeau called environmental threats the "defining issue of our time." Ahead of the meeting, a joint statement on environmental cooperation announced that the US and Canada would cut methane emissions by 40-45% below 2012 levels, by 2025.
Arctic meltdown
Agreement was also reached on the need to regulate use of the Arctic Ocean, which could be ice-free within the next few years. It is already becoming more open to both commercial shipping and international fishing fleets, and the leaders pledged to protect the Arctic from overfishing and development, calling for "a binding international agreement". In the High Arctic, there is an agreement between the five countries that border the Arctic not to exploit that fishery until we know more, but it does nothing to prevent the Taiwanese or other roving fleets from sailing in and scooping up marine life.
The new agreement is historic, a legacy of Canadian doggedness in the face of US intimidation. During the negotiations leading up to the drafting of the UN Charter on the Law of the Sea (1994), Canada argued that the Northwest Passage was not a true strait, and that therefore the rules that guarantee the right of passage through international straits (such as the Strait of Gibraltar or the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf) do not apply. The United States responded in 1985 by sending an icebreaker, the Polar Sea, to traverse the Arctic from Greenland to Alaska, without bothering to ask Canada's permission
The Conservative Mulroney government ordered increased patrols and the construction of a new fleet of Arctic icebreakers. The US backed down, and in 1988 signed an accord in which Washington agreed to ask Canada's permission before making such a voyage in future. That incident prompted Canada to declare its sovereignty over the entire Arctic archipelago and all the waters within it. A new international agreement is long overdue, with Russia, Norway and Denmark all having their sovereignty claims.
Lumber, oil and new CubasOn both visits, there were the usual trade disputes. In 1997, it was salmon fishing; this time, lumber. The irritant is the billions the US has charged as tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, a problem which remains unresolved, despite Trudeau's predecessor, Stephen Harper, making a deal with Bush back in 2006. The US reluctantly gave up most of the $5 billion in Canadian revenues, but kept $1-billion in uncollected duties on the table, and forced Canada to agree to a tax/quota system that was "a bad deal for Ontario and for the rest of Canada," according to United Steel Workers Western Canada Director Steve Hunt.
Another trade war looms over lumber with the expiration of the deal, as Obama and Trudeau reached no solution there. Their respective trade ministers were given 100 days to come up with a solution.
Obama was one of those brave American Congressmen who voted against Bush's Iraq invasion, and took comfort from Chretien's brave defiance at the time. He was understanding of Trudeau's insistence now that Canada's bombing mission in Iraq end, which US hawks have criticized.
Trudeau is keen to promote the environment, but didn't press Obama on his equally brave nixing of the Keystone pipeline plan to bring Canadian tar sand oil to the US. It is unlikely that Trudeau likes the idea, but he has to play politics, given the momentum created for it under Harper. Abruptly canceling it would alienate his business backers. Better to stall with more "environmental impact" studies. Maybe it will just fizzle on its own 'merits'.
Another tricky issue for Trudeau is his continuation of Harper's zealous pro-Israel policy, again, despite his solemn avowals to make Canada more responsible internationally. His government just passed a Harper-like House of Commons resolution to
condemn Canadian organizations which support the "boycott of Israel", hardly a good sign for open debate about Middle East injustices.
Ironically, Chretien went to Washington in 1997 to protest the US boycott of Cuba. Now, Canada's new bill outlaws even any mention of the 'b' word against Israel. This, despite
22 boycotts by the Canadian government of other countries. Obama and even the students who Trudeau addressed in Washington, were polite enough not to question this infringement of freedom of expression.
Trudeau dynasty
The visit was treated like a fairy tale in the media, reminiscent of the days of JFK. The 'royal' visit by the new Canadian dynasty, Trudeau father to Trudeau son, created a collective sigh of nostalgia and envy among Americans, whose political life looks bleak in comparison. Pierre Trudeau dominated Canadian politics from the late 1960s till the 1980s, and the stage is set for the princely reign of his son in the 2010s and 2020s.
What kind of relationship is in store for the two countries as the equally legendary US president retires this year? Trudeau made no comment about the current primary battles of the Republicans and Democrats, but had much to say of interest to Americans during the crucial primary season. He explained how in his own campaign last summer, he refused to indulge in negative ads, scare tactics or personal attacks, despite the Conservative dirty tricks. Canadians were growing tired of being cynical about politics, he told a student audience.
"That is a perfect narrative for the politics of fear and aggression, and yet it's me sitting here as prime minister of Canada and not Stephen Harper," he said, a subtle warning against Republican scare mongering. "The answer is not to tell people who are angry that they are wrong, but rather to understand the reasons underlying their fears, anger and anxiety and then work together to face challenges." Princely wisdom.
Obama as mentorAt their joint news conference, Obama recalled that Trudeau--like Obama seven years before--had come to power on a message of hope and change. Obama, who was only 47 years old when he was elected, has emerged as a role model for the 45-year-old Trudeau, just as Justin is starting his own rule.
Trudeau likes the family analogy, toasting the two nations as "siblings" at the White House dinner. “To be able to count on a friend who has lived through many of the things I am about to encounter on the political stage, on the international stage, is a great comfort to me. I'm always pleased to hear from President Obama about how he's dealt with difficult issues of the past because he is a man of both tremendous heart and tremendous intellect."
Trudeau's honeymoon with the US could be coming to an end, but not with his political soul mate. In the few short months before Obama retires, there is still time to advance an agenda which the next US president will at least have to contend with. This will include an address to Canada's parliament later this spring. That would make him the first US president to do so since Clinton was invited by Chretien in 1995. Trudeau is hopeful about this historic moment for both leaders--and both countries: "On our own, we make progress. But together, we make history."
Trudeaumania
charms Washington
Eric
Walberg
Trudeau’s
budding "bromance" with US President Barak Obama in March
marks the first official visit by a Canadian leader since 1997, when
Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien visited the last charismatic
Democratic president, Bill Clinton. Both visits were
friendly--Clinton gushed at the time, "We have the most
comprehensive ties of any two nations on earth." Chretien was
not invited by Clinton's successor, George Bush, who was furious when
Chretien refused to join his "coalition of the willing" to
invade Iraq. More like 'bro-hate'.
Trudeau's
new-found mentor had some witty advice. Obama joked about Trudeau's
previous jobs: "If things get out of hand, remember the prime
minister used to work as a bouncer," referring to Trudeau's
reminiscences in his memoirs Common Ground.
He also laid on a lavish state dinner for Trudeau and his wife Sophie
Gregoire-Trudeau, featuring Canadian staples poutine, Nanaimo bars
and white chocolate snowballs.
Both
visits had their problems. Back in the 1990s, the top item was the
enduring boycott by the US of Cuba, by then almost four decades old.
Despite being a fellow liberal, US President Clinton was lamely
defending the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act,
passed by Congress the previous year, which allowed Americans to sue
foreign companies doing business in Cuba. Governments around the
world condemned the act, arguing that the law ran counter to the
spirit of international law and sovereignty.
This
time, there was no such problem, after the US and Cuba finally
reestablished diplomatic relations--thanks to Obama, though the US
continues to maintain its commercial, economic,
and financial embargo for US corporations.
Environmental problems were the main topic.
Trudeau
called environmental threats the "defining issue of our time."
Ahead of the meeting, a joint statement on environmental cooperation
announced that the US and Canada would cut methane emissions by
40-45% below 2012 levels, by 2025.
Arctic
meltdown
Agreement
was also reached on the need to regulate use of the Arctic Ocean,
which could be ice-free within the next few years. It is already
becoming more open to both commercial shipping and international
fishing fleets, and the leaders pledged to protect the Arctic from
overfishing and development, calling for "a binding
international agreement". In the High Arctic, there is an
agreement between the five countries that border the Arctic not to
exploit that fishery until we know more, but it does nothing to
prevent the Taiwanese or other roving fleets from sailing in and
scooping up marine life.
The new
agreement is historic, a legacy of Canadian doggedness in the face of
US intimidation. During the negotiations leading up to the drafting
of the UN Charter on the Law of the Sea (1994), Canada argued that
the Northwest Passage was not a true strait, and that therefore the
rules that guarantee the right of passage through international
straits (such as the Strait of Gibraltar or the Strait of Hormuz at
the mouth of the Persian Gulf) do not apply. The United States
responded in 1985 by sending an icebreaker, the Polar Sea, to
traverse the Arctic from Greenland to Alaska, without bothering to
ask Canada's permission
The
Conservative Mulroney government ordered increased patrols and the
construction of a new fleet of Arctic icebreakers. The US backed
down, and in 1988 signed an accord in which Washington agreed to ask
Canada's permission before making such a voyage in future. That
incident prompted Canada to declare its sovereignty over the entire
Arctic archipelago and all the waters within it. A new international
agreement is long overdue, with Russia, Norway and Denmark all having
their sovereignty claims.
Lumber,
oil and new Cubas
On both
visits, there were the usual trade disputes. In 1997, it was salmon
fishing; this time, lumber. The irritant is the billions the US has
charged as tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, a problem which
remains unresolved, despite Trudeau's predecessor, Stephen Harper,
making a deal with Bush back in 2006. The US reluctantly gave up most
of the $5 billion in Canadian revenues, but kept $1-billion in
uncollected duties on the table, and forced Canada to agree to a
tax/quota system that was "a bad deal for Ontario and for the
rest of Canada," according to United Steel Workers Western
Canada Director Steve Hunt.
Another
trade war looms over lumber with the expiration of the deal, as Obama
and Trudeau reached no solution there. Their respective trade
ministers were given 100 days to come up with a solution.
Obama
was one of those brave American Congressmen who voted against Bush's
Iraq invasion, and took comfort from Chretien's brave defiance at the
time. He was understanding of Trudeau's insistence now that Canada's
bombing mission in Iraq end, which US hawks have criticized.
Trudeau
is keen to promote the environment, but didn't press Obama on his
equally brave nixing of the Keystone pipeline plan to bring Canadian
tar sand oil to the US. It is unlikely that Trudeau likes the idea,
but he has to play politics, given the momentum created for it under
Harper. Abruptly canceling it would alienate his business backers.
Better to stall with more "environmental impact" studies.
Maybe it will just fizzle on its own 'merits'.
Another
tricky issue for Trudeau is his continuation
of Harper's zealous pro-Israel policy, again, despite his solemn
avowals to make Canada more responsible internationally. His
government just passed a Harper-like House of Commons resolution to
condemn Canadian organizations which support the "boycott of
Israel", hardly a good sign for open debate about Middle East
injustices.
Ironically,
Chretien went to Washington in 1997 to protest the US boycott of
Cuba. Now, Canada's new bill outlaws even any mention of the 'b' word
against Israel. This, despite 22
boycotts by the Canadian government of
other countries. Obama and even the students who Trudeau addressed in
Washington, were polite enough not to question this infringement of
freedom of expression.
Trudeau
dynasty
The
visit was treated like a fairy tale in the media, reminiscent of the
days of JFK. The 'royal' visit by the new Canadian dynasty, Trudeau
father to Trudeau son, created a collective sigh of nostalgia and
envy among Americans, whose political life looks bleak in comparison.
Pierre Trudeau dominated Canadian politics from the late 1960s till
the 1980s, and the stage is set for the princely reign of his son in
the 2010s and 2020s.
What
kind of relationship is in store for the two countries as the equally
legendary US president retires this year? Trudeau made no comment
about the current primary battles of the Republicans and Democrats,
but had much to say of interest to Americans during the crucial
primary season. He explained how in his own campaign last summer, he
refused to indulge in negative ads, scare tactics or personal
attacks, despite the Conservative dirty tricks. Canadians were
growing tired of being cynical about politics, he told a student
audience.
"That
is a perfect narrative for the politics of fear and aggression, and
yet it's me sitting here as prime minister of Canada and not Stephen
Harper," he said, a subtle warning against Republican scare
mongering. "The answer is not to tell people who are angry that
they are wrong, but rather to understand the reasons underlying their
fears, anger and anxiety and then work together to face challenges."
Princely wisdom.
Obama
as mentor
At
their joint news conference, Obama recalled that Trudeau--like Obama
seven years before--had come to power on a message of hope and
change. Obama, who was only 47 years old when he was elected, has
emerged as a role model for the 45-year-old Trudeau, just as Justin
is starting his own rule.
Trudeau
likes the family analogy, toasting the two nations as "siblings"
at the White House dinner. “To be able to count on a friend who has
lived through many of the things I am about to encounter on the
political stage, on the international stage, is a great comfort to
me. I'm always pleased to hear from President Obama about how he's
dealt with difficult issues of the past because he is a man of both
tremendous heart and tremendous intellect."
Trudeau's
honeymoon with the US could be coming to an end, but not with his
political soul mate. In the few short months before Obama retires,
there is still time to advance an agenda which the next US president
will at least have to contend with. This
will include an address to Canada's parliament
later this spring. That would make him the first US president to do
so since Clinton was invited by Chretien in 1995. Trudeau is hopeful
about this historic moment for both leaders--and both countries: "On
our own, we make progress. But together, we make history."