Canadian/American Relations since W]WII
Militarv
. NATO and NORAD
Economic
. The Saint Lawrence Seaway - joint project to allow bigger ships to reach furlher into
Canada and USA.
. The Auto Pact - (1965)free trade on automobiles, plants could be set up anywhere,
for every car that is sold in Canada, one must be built in Canada
. Branch Plant Economy - American investors had the money and took the risks to
build up many Canadian Industries, the down side is that control over industries, the
best jobs and all the big profits are gobbled up by the USA.
The Trudeau vears
. During the 70's US/CAN relation were strained (Vietnam War, Race Riots and new
found Canadian Nationalism promoted a general feeling that Canada should not
accept US leadership so readilY)
. Trudeau broke US rules when he visisted China and Cuba and formed relationships
with Mao Zedong and Fidel Castro
. Trudeau was pressured into letting the US stage cruise Missile tests in Canada
sparking huge public outcry
Mulronev and Reagan
. Both were lrish and shared political beliefs, became friends
. A time of Close relations with the US - Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Signed
. FTA was a huge issue that angered many Canadian (American Competition may kill
jobs and Canadian Industry)
. However, Mulroney refused to back the SDI (Star Wars) missile defense system
Jean Chretien
. FTA expanded to NAFTA (Norlh American Free Trade Agreement)
. This made many Canadians nervous because large industries would have access to
cheap Mexican labor and therefore many jobs would move south.
Current lssues
. Negotiations on Environment - US has been hesitant to adopt many environmentally
friendly policies - i.e. the Kyoto accords, reduction of Green House Gasses and
reducing emissions that cause Acid Rain - major frustration for many Canadians
. Not Really Free Trade - Because of the power of the USA, they often sidestep the
Free Trade agreements (for example - the US has put Tariffs on Fish products from
the East Coast and Canadian Softwood lumber from BC)
. In reality Canada lacks the power and influence to dictate to the US, most times th.e
US gets everything it wants and we have to take it.
Appendix 9:2
Ihe Bed \/gl'
dt|
"Living next door to the
Un
ite
Pri
me
d
Sta tes
lr{ i n
i'
sa id
ister Tru deau,
"is like sleeping in the
same bed as an elephant. No matter hovv
f riendll' and even-tempered is the beast, one
ls alleCted b),ev'erv
twitch and grunt!" lf the
elephant rolls over in its
sleep. the Canadian
"beaver must be ready
to jurnplMost of the time, the elephant and
beaver get along r,ery lvell. Once in a rvhile,
hou'ei'er, the elephant gets a little grump.rl or
the beaver feels threatened. When this happens, these oddly' matched neighbours
sit
down and talk about their problems.
In many ways, the conrparison made by
Trudeau was a good one.The United States is
l.
2.
d
the tlephn
Ilt
certainll' a giant-one
of the richest and mosr
porverful nations in the
world. lts population
and economic production are l0 times that of
Canada. The Unired
States also greatly overshadorvs Canada as a
military power.
Throughout the tvventieth century, Canadians have been alarmed
over the amount of control the American "ele.
phant" has on our Iives. In the I g70s, the
issue caused particular concern. Canadians
became acutely aware of how our economy
culture, and foreign policy could all be
affected by the twitches and grunts of the
elephant.
Do you agree that the image of the bea'er and
erephant is a good one
to describe canadian-American rerations? why
or why notl provide
specific examples to support your answer.
What other images lvould you suggest?
Justify your choices,
How Does the Elephant Affect You?
CIA
1. Favourite movie of the
ear.
2. Favourite actor (male
3. Favourite actor (female
4. Favourite TV Show #1.
Favourite TV Show #2
5. Favourite Musical Gro
6. Favourite female sinser.
7. Favourite male singer.
8. Favourite masazine.
9. Favourite professional
sports team.
10. Favourite hockev team.
1 1. Favourite female
athlete.
12. Favourite male athlete.
13. TV channel watched
most often.
14. City in North American
you would most like to
visit.
15. Place you spent your
last vaction.
16. Make of familv car.
I 7. Favourite breakfast
cereal
18. Favourite brand of
19. Favourite brand
ciothes
20. Favourite car.
of
How does the United States affect your daily life?
Do you resent this influence, or do you welcome it?
1.
Go through your answers and sort out which are American, which are Canadian. and which
pertain to other countries.
2.
How "American" is your lifestyle? How do you feel about this? Why?
3.
What answers reveal you to be Canadian? Why?
4.
How "Americanized" do you think canadian life is? Support your answer.
5.
Do you think the results of your questionnaires will be different 10 years from now? Why
or Why not?
6.
How does Canadian culture influence American life? Brainstorm
can.
as many examples as
you