Quote:
Originally Posted by Truenorth00
In some ways we're worse positioned because we're the backdoor to the US homeland.
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You are massively underestimating the growing protectionist instinct in the US. And their frustration with Canada. Including the growing drumbeat of complaints about the northern border. You're also overestimating our relative importance to the US as Mexico grows more and more dominant in their trade relationships. I will concede that you represent the median Canadian POV and I do think it's outdated and naive.
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During the last presidential visit it sounds like a lot of the frustration was over Haiti. The Americans have the military capacity to deploy almost anywhere in the world, except there. They wanted Canada to take the lead in trying to solve that problem. We simply were not able, prepared or willing.
I think that is a good example of how Canada and the US could have a symbiotic relationship. Over time there will continue to be shared "problems" that pop up where for political reasons we are able to do things the Americans simply can't due to geo-politics.
The problem is our capacity is limited. Our will to get involved is even more limited.
The year before JT came into power defence spending was what 0.99% of GDP. The Liberals have made progress, but it is been slow progress. I have little confidence in a PP government outspending Liberals.
As for industrial involvement, that is how the game is played in Canada, Europe or the US. Defence is the one sacred cow where government can actively push a buy-Canada agenda. In virtually every other are of government spending it is a free open global market. We need a balanced stratagy that gets the forces the stuff they need it and where practical ensures its made in Canada or their are secondary spin-offs. A good example is the P-8. It is a proven platform and Boeing is investing in a center of excellence in Montreal as a result.