Canusa Street - Intersecting the Canada U.S. Relationship: Recent Episodes
Wilson Center
A podcast partnership between the Canadian American Business Council and the Wilson Center, Canusa Street examines the issues of the Canada/US relationship in a thoughtful and entertaining way. Understanding our long history, connections, friendship, and disagreements, hosts Chris Sands and Scotty Greenwood discuss the special relationship that exists among these giant neighbors, and how they can both be prosperous moving forward.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford takes a walk down Canusa Street with Chris and Beth, discussing progress on tariffs and the interest in finding a way through the issue.
Following a challenging couple of weeks in the bi-lateral relationship, Chris and Beth check in with an old friend, both to them and to the United States. A discussion with Ambassador Raymond Chretien, who served as Ambassador to the US, France, Mexico and others.
Beth and Chris take in the view from British Columbia, and a look at how Canada's economy and resources have it poised to thrive in the 21st Century. And that there is further opportunities to grow with the world and with the United States.
In this timely episode of Canusa Street, Beth and Chris take a walk down the street with former MP and Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt, taking a look at the US Canada relationship at this juncture.
During an interesting time for the Canada/US relationship, Chris and Beth have a conversation with former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Listen in as we discuss the long friendly relationship between the two nations, trade, borders and how things look going forward.
Back from hiatus, Beth and Chris begin 2025 talking about the very special commitment that President Carter had to the US/Canada relationship. The CANUSA team remembers Carter's extraordinary life, decades in politics, and global impact on the world stage.
In this episode of Canusa Street hosts Beth and Chris sit down with Congressman Buddy Carter, the US Representative for Georgia's 1st District. Together, they delve into the critical importance of the Canada-US relationship. Congressman Carter shares his insights on opportunities for continued collaboration, including USMCA, energy trade and coordination, healthcare, and more. Join us for a discussion that underscores the significance of cross-border cooperation and explores opportunities to strengthen the bilateral partnership.
General Glen VanHerck, USAF, joins Beth and Chris to discuss his time as the 26th Commander of NORAD and the 9th Commander of the US Northern Command. He also talks about how the relationship between the US and Canada is vital for defense and security, his response to the Chinese spy balloon incident, and the importance of collaboration and coordination across different commands and agencies.
General Glen VanHerck, USAF, joins Beth and Chris to discuss his time as the 26th Commander of NORAD and the 9th Commander of the US Northern Command. He also talks about how the relationship between the US and Canada is vital for defense and security, his response to the Chinese spy balloon incident, and the importance of collaboration and coordination across different commands and agencies.
It may be hard to believe, but this is the 100th episode of Canusa Street! Today, Beth and Chris share some of their favorite moments as Canusa Street doubles as Memory Lane. Thank you to all of our listeners who have made this show a success.
Who better to talk to on Canusa Street than Canadian ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman? In this very special episode, Beth and Chris take a few moments to discuss how important this relationship is to each country and the whole world.
With thousands of businesses engaging in cross-border trade, how do Ottawa and Washington work together to reduce costs and red tape? On this episode, Minister Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada, joins Beth and Chris to discuss her work on regulatory cooperation, approach to cyber defense and security, and Asian-Canadian upbringing.
On a solo mission today, host Beth Burke talks with Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli, along with Ontario's newly minted representative in Washington, David Paterson. These two friends of Canusa Street truly understand the bilateral relationship and they take a deep look at the many connections between Ontario and the US, from energy, to trade, to critical minerals and more.
In this episode, Beth and Chris chat with Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, who was in Washington to talk up the energy, critical minerals, tourism experiences, and love for the United States that his province have to offer to the United States. Along the way, we talked about Premier Furey's volunteer work as a trauma surgeon in places like Haiti and Bangladesh, and his time on Fellowship in orthopedic trauma at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at University of Maryland in Baltimore, just one of his personal connections to the American side of Canusa Street.
Canada and the United States produce a lot of energy but getting it to customers can be a challenge. In this episode, Beth and Chris talk to Gitane De Silva, former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator and a diplomat who has represented Alberta in Washington and Canada in Chicago. The conversation runs from Canadian federalism to energy infrastructure, the role indigenous communities in Canada and the changing but still challenging experiences of women in business and government. Then there was something about racing pigs at the Wisconsin State Fair – tune in to find out why!
Brian Mulroney, who served as Canada's Prime Minister from 1984 until 1993, passed away on February 29, 2024. Tributes from world leaders have been numerous and heartfelt, especially from Americans who hailed Mulroney for his bold efforts to improve Canada's relations with the United States. In this episode, Beth and Chris speak with former Quebec Premier Jean Charest who was elected to Parliament in 1984 along with Mulroney, and named to Cabinet in 1984, Canada's youngest cabinet minister at 28, and became a lifelong friend. In this very special episode, Charest shares stories and speaks to the continued relevance of the shared values that Mulroney made the foundation of Canada's relationship with the United States.
This is a very special episode where we welcome back original cohost Scotty Greenwood and talk with former Canadian Cabinet Minister Peter McKay. Chris and Scotty go around the world with Peter looking at how Canada fits into many of the global challenges we are seeing today.
It's an anniversary bash along Canusa Street. In this episode, Beth and Chris chat with Wilson Center Mexico Institute director Andrew Rudman about the celebration of eighty years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Canada.
We've been hearing a lot about India and Canada lately. With so much going on in South Asia in 2024, Beth and Chris talk to Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center to get a bird's eye view of what is going on and what to expect.
Though it insists upon its status as a pacific power, Canada has found itself on the outside looking in on a network of military and economic alliances being formed in the Indo-Pacific. This week, Chris and Beth are joined by Deanna Horton, Canada Institute Global Fellow and Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, to discuss Canada’s regional aspirations and woes.
Assassinations, election interference, and geopolitical shifts: Canada’s 2023 was fraught with emerging security threats at home and abroad. This week, former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister Vincent Rigby joins Beth and Chris for a look ahead at Canada’s security landscape in 2024.
From election speculation to foreign leader visits and everything in between, POLITICO’s Ottawa Playbook gives readers a daily look into stories big and small across Canadian politics. As 2023 draws to a close, Beth and Chris reflect on the biggest Canada-US stories of the year with Nick Taylor-Vaisey: Toronto Maple Leafs fan, trivia master, and mastermind behind the Ottawa Playbook.
Conflicts an ocean away reverberate in Canada and the United States through economic links, immigrant communities, and shared commitments to human rights and freedom. In this episode from 2022, Chris and Scotty talk to Peter van Praagh, president of the Halifax International Security Forum about the ties that link Canusa Street to a troubled world.
As strategic thinkers from around the world meet at the 2023 Halifax International Security Forum, this classic Canusa Street episode from 2022 featured HISF President Peter van Praagh in conversation with Chris and Scotty on the global tensions that Canada and the United States must confront as allies.
It’s a new era on Canusa Street, as newly anointed co-host Beth Burke takes the reigns from Scotty Greenwood to join Chris for a conversation with Canadian Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng. Tune in for a wide-ranging discussion on inclusive trade, female representation in government, and people-oriented policy.
No, this isn’t a Freaky Friday situation – we’re talking about the places the U.S. trades! National Foreign Trade Council President Jake Colvin sits down with Christer Sands Christopher Sands for a lively discussion about explore the prolific and diverse trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada, global considerations for the U.S., and the careful balance of domestic regulation vs. global cooperation. Whether you're an avid trade enthusiast or just curious about what and why things cross Canusa Street, this episode promises a deep dive into the world of cross-border commerce.
Get ready for a population party as we celebrate Canada’s recent milestone of hitting 40 million people. Chief Statistician of Canada Anil Arora joins the show to shed light on the factors that led to Canada’s rapid population growth, how we can compare it to U.S. demographic data and the fascinating vantage point that Anil’s position and expertise offers him on cross-border policy, cultural issues, and quality of life.
Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Everything in-between. Natural resources are as central to the history of Canada-US relations as the world’s longest land border or hockey rivalries. This week, Scotty and Chris welcome Daniel Macfarlane, associate professor of environment and sustainability at the University of Western Michigan, to discuss bilateral resource management, balancing politics and science, and the concept of natural security.
Purchase his book, “Natural Allies: Environment, Energy, and the History of Canada-US Relations”, here: https://www.mqup.ca/natural-allies-products-9780228017592.php
Canada is famous for its participation in United Nations peacekeeping, but the US rule in UN missions has been an untold story until now. On this episode Scotty and Chris talk to retired US Army Colonel L. Scott Lingamfelter, a former UN Peacekeeper and author of a new book, Yanks in Blue Berets: American UN Peacekeepers in the Midde East (University Press of Kentucky, 2023). Col. Lingamfelter discusses the qualities that make a good peacekeeper, the conditions on the ground necessary for a UN peacekeeping mission to succeed , and the prospects for UN peacekeeping missions in Ukraine and Haiti. We also learn about Scotty's personal connection to peacekeeping, a story that appears in Lingamfelter's book.
When Al Mussell isn’t leading research for the Agri-Food Economic Systems, or counting his cows, he likes to unravel the complexities of food security, innovation, and policy regulations. Scotty and Chris sat down with him to harvest his insights on the intricate world of agriculture, supply chains, and where Canada and the U.S. compare and differ.
No one man should have all that PNWER? Don’t tell that to Canusa Street, as Scotty is joined by former U.S. ambassadors David Wilkins, David Jacobson and Gary Doer for a wide-ranging discussion on trade, NATO, diplomacy and more. Recorded live at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region summit in July.
Is Canada utilizing its expats effectively? Will Canada be a clean technology superpower? How did Canadians contribute to box office headliners Barbie and Oppenheimer? John Stackhouse, senior vice president at RBC, joins Chris and Scotty for a double-headed deep dive into Canada’s expat community and the challenges and opportunities of Canadian energy transition.
What is soft power? Is it exclusive to the United States or is it something Canada has too? Scotty and Chris converse with author and Center for Strategic and International Studies expert Daniel Runde about his new book "The American Imperative" and talk diplomacy, foreign aid, great power competition and even movies! You can check out the book here: https://www.porchlightbooks.com/product/american-imperative-reclaiming-global-leadership-through-soft-power--daniel-f-runde/isbn/9781637582008
How can a simulation contribute to a sustainable future? That's the question as Scotty and Chris talk to Hélène Gagnon, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of CAE, a Montreal-headquartered multinational firm known worldwide for its flight simulators. Logging more time on a simulator saves fuel, but that is only the beginning of a great story of Canadian and American innovation to sustain values shared on both sides of Canusa Street.
Washington state is home to 427 miles of the US-Canada land border, thriving aviation and technology hubs, and a stadium that will host matches for the 2026 Men’s World Cup. This week, Scotty and Chris welcome Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) to Canusa Street for a conversation on cross-border industries, democratic institutions, and sports diplomacy.
As Canada continues to struggle with its worst wildfire season in recent history, brave volunteers with Team Rubicon Canada are helping affected communities on the frontlines of the blazes. This week, Scotty and Chris welcome Paul McCarthy, Vice Chair of Team Rubicon Canada, to discuss the organization’s history, mission, and pivotal role in disaster response.
NYT on Quebec fires: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/world/americas/canada-wildfires-season.html?smid=url-share
Support Team Rubicon Canada: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E341708QE&id=1
In the wake of forest fires in Canada impacting a large swath of the United States, Chris and Scotty talk with Jean François Samray, the President and CEO of the Quebec Forest Industry Council. Not only does the latest smoke filled atmosphere get an airing, but they also talk about forest management on government owned land and the long standing softwood lumber trade dispute between the US and Canada.
It’s a carbon capture congregation on Canusa Street as Chris and Scotty are joined by Lisa Jacobson of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Jonathan Sohn of Capital Power for a discussion on energy transition, incentives and regulations, and the push to net zero on both sides of the border.
Today we hear from a program held by the Canadian American Business Council in their Corporate Action on Social Justice series, discussing how businesses in the US and Canada navigate the political seas of "Woke" vs. "Anti Woke." On the panel we hear from our own Scotty Greenwood as well as Clint Odom, the Vice President of Strategic Alliances and External Affairs for T-Mobile, Kevin Madden, senior partner at the Penta Group, Reg Manhas of Lapis Energy, and Estuardo Rodriguez of the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino and founding principal of the Raben Group.
Last week, U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen took Canusa Street from Ottawa to Washington for an event at the Wilson Center, where he pushed back on claims of American protectionism and highlighted opportunities for Canadian-U.S. prosperity. Tune in as Chris and Scotty discuss the event, the Ambassador’s remarks, and perceptions of protectionism on both sides of the border.
Dive into the latest episode of our podcast as Chris and Scotty make a splash with special guest, the Hon. Catherine McKenna! From champion swimmer to Canada's former Minister of Environment and Climate, she shares her insights on Canada's carbon pricing, Indigenous engagement, and how we can all work together to tackle climate change.
For a look at the report mentioned in the episode go to: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/high-level_expert_group_n7b.pdf
What do Ontario, Nevada, China and Washington DC have in common? What do Ian Bremmer, Doug Ford and Robbie Diamond have in common? LITHIUM! Jonathan Evans, CEO of Lithium Americas, visits Canusa Street to talk about one of the most important critical minerals for EV batteries, found in Canada and the United States, and what we must do to meet demand.
This week we are treated to a live program in Atlanta where Scotty Greenwood talks to Flavio Volpe, the head of Project Arrow, Canada's first zero-emissions concept vehicle. It is a fascinating discussion about where North America is positioned for the future, and what direction we are headed.
It’s a cross-podcast extravaganza on Canusa Street as Chris and Scotty welcome CSIS’ Trade Guys for a discussion on open markets, USMCA, supply chains, and perennial trade disputes.
Canusa Street is back on the road, recording on the sidelines of the US-Canada Summit in Toronto! This week, Chris and Scotty interview Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez on climate policy, critical minerals partnerships, and the global challenges that keep him up at night.
With President Joe Biden’s visit to Ottawa in the rear-view mirror, Chris sits down with CBC’s Washington-based correspondent Alexander Panetta to discuss Canadians’ reaction to the two-day summit and reflect on policy developments affecting migration, foreign engagement, and cross-border supply chains.
This week, President Biden is flying north for the first visit to Canada of his presidency. As Ottawa prepares to welcome the President, Scotty chats with the man at the helm of President Obama’s and then-Vice President Biden’s visits to Canada in 2016: former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman. Tune in for a dynamic discussion on expectations for the upcoming visit, wider geopolitical context, and stories from visits past.
Scotty and Chris take a walk on the west side of Canusa Street to talk to Member of Parliament Taleeb Noormohamed who represents Vancouver Granville in the Canadian House of Commons. In a wide ranging conversation, the trio discuss the role of volunteerism in society, Taleeb’s famous thesis advisor, and the unique power of the US and Canada as a beacon for freedom and success in the world and how we should approach migration in North America.
Chris and Scotty look south of our borders to Haiti with Benjamin Gedan, Wilson Center Latin American Program Director and former National Security Council South America Director. Things have been on a downward trajectory in Haiti, with intractable poverty, brain drain, natural disasters, crime and political strife. How do the US and Canada figure in helping to turn things around?
With President Joe Biden’s promised trip to Canada around the corner, Chris and Scotty welcome Jennifer Savage, Director of the State Department’s Office of Canadian Affairs, for a conversation on life in the foreign service and US perspective on the bilateral relationship.
One balloon in the sky over Canada and the United States has focused attention on the challenge that China poses in North America. Chris and Scotty discuss the balloon and global geopolitics with one of the US leading experts on China, Robert Daly.
This week, Congressman Brian Higgins is back on Canusa Street to talk about NEXUS, pandemic-era restrictions, and other roadblocks affecting bilateral traffic and trade along the Canada-U.S. Border.
Check out the text of Congressman Higgins’ “Make NEXUS Work Act” here: https://higgins.house.gov/sites/higgins.house.gov/files/NEXUS%20BILL%20-%20MAKE%20NEXUS%20WORK%20ACT.pdf
Scotty and Chris discuss a true Canusa Street issue, the two way street between Canada and the United States when it comes to electricity transmission. Joining them is Francis Bradley, the CEO of Electricity Canada, a trade association of suppliers focused on sustainable electricity. You will probably be shocked at the amount of interesting cross border connections that are made here!
A record number of people are dying from overdoses of synthetic drugs like illicitly manufactured fentanyl. At the recent North American Leaders Summit, Presidents Biden and Lopez Obrador and Prime Minister Trudeau discussed cooperative ways to address the flow of these substances across our common borders. Chris and Scotty discuss policy approaches to the drug crisis with one of the leading thinkers and advocates on the topic, Regina LaBelle, Distinguished Scholar and Director of the Addiction and Public Policy Initiative at the O'Neill Institute at Georgetown University Law Center.
You may know that minerals are vital for 21st century life. So much so that some are even called "critical minerals." Fortunately, the US and Canada are abundant in these mineral resources, and Scotty and Chris have a conversation with Abigail Wulf of SAFE on how we can align policy to meet a "critical" need.
Continuing our integrated North America theme we've been on recently, we talk to Jennifer Pierce. She is the CEO of TC Energy, and a Canadian who lives in Mexico, while running a Canadian company that brings US LNG to Mexico. Scotty and Chris discuss trade, pipelines, government cooperation and friction, new energy transitions and more.
With the Tenth North American Leaders’ Summit around the corner, Chris and Scotty discuss priorities for the three leaders and what to expect from their meetings in Mexico City. Then, we listen in on a special event with Chris and Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols co-hosted by the Wilson Center Canada Institute and Mexico Institute.
In this final episode of 2022, Scotty and Chris take their final interview from their pop-up studio in Mexico City, talking to the Director of the Business Transformation & Innovation Division at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Vincent Annunziato. There is so much to learn in this episode about trade, counterfeit products coming into North America, and Scotty's long held secret desire to be an avocado farmer.
Another guest in our Mexico City pop-up studio is Ambassador Louise Blais, whose 25-year career as a Canadian diplomat brought her everywhere from INTERPOL and the United Nations to the Canada’s Consulate in Atlanta and its Embassy in Paris. She joins Chris and Scotty to discuss the importance of people-to-people connections in diplomacy, prospects for growth in North America, and other lessons from her storied career.
The media landscape has been tough for the last few years. But in Mexico it has been brutal, literally. In this "On The Road"episode, recorded in Mexico City, Chris and Scotty sit down with CBS News Correspondent Enrique Acevedo to talk about the challenges faced by journalists covering politics and crime in Mexico and take a step back to look at the media in North America from Ottawa, to DC, to Mexico City.
50 years ago, Canada and the Soviet Union faced off in an historic hockey summit series at the height of the Cold War. The impact of the series on both countries, hockey itself, and the cross-cutting field of sports diplomacy are felt to this day.
This week, Chris and Scotty are joined by Ambassador Gary Smith, author of Ice War Diplomat, and Andrew Holman, Professor of History and Director of Canadian Studies at Bridgewater University.
Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Ice-War-Diplomat-Hockey-Politics/dp/1771623179
Documentary link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18395166/
With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in the US, huge shifts in critical mineral and battery production could flow south, sparking concern in Canada. That sounds familiar doesn't it? Scotty and Chris chat with Brian Kingston, President and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association and Kristin Dziczek, Automotive Policy Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, to find out what this means.
Also, for those in the Chris Sands book club, check out the book mentioned in the show: https://www.amazon.com/Really-Restructuring-Geographic-Change-Industry/dp/0880993332
Join us on Canusa Street to explore the unique relationship between the US and Canada with fun hosts and fabulous guests!
Autos are back on the agenda as Chris and Scotty welcome Rob Wildeboer, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Martinrea International Inc., for a private sector perspective on supply chain near-shoring, electric vehicles, and North American opportunity in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
This week, we drive down Canusa Street and into Los Angeles, California with special guest Antonio Villaraigosa. The former Mayor and current California Infrastructure Advisor joins Chris and Scotty from the Mexico City pop-up studio to discuss infrastructure investments, sports diplomacy, and solutions to poverty in urban communities.
The US and Canada have long been known for their vibrant democratic traditions. But recently, we have seen those traditions tested on both sides of the border. On the eve of Election Day in the US, Scotty and Chris bring back constitutional scholar Susan Lagon to discuss what's going wrong and whether the guardrails will hold on Canusa Street.
Also check out Chris's book reference: Trust by Francis Fukuyama.
Chris and Scotty sit with constitutional expert Susan Lagon from the Georgetown Government Affairs Institute. Professor Lagon not only knows the US Congress but she knows Canada and parliamentary systems too! She gives us great insights into the differences between the governments on both sides of Canusa Street.
On this special episode, Chris and Scotty are joined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) representatives in Canada (Rema Jamous Imseis), the United States (Matthew Reynolds), and Mexico (Giovanni Lepri) for a conversation on refugees in North America and how immigrants improve society in all three countries.
For more information on the report on refugees in Canada that is mentioned in this episode, please visit: https://bit.ly/3EJdTxA
Hola from the Canusa Street pop-up studio in Mexico City! This episode, Dr. Dany Bahar, Senior Fellow at the Harvard Center for International Development, joins Chris and Scotty on the podcast to discuss North American migration policy, refugee crises abroad, and his research on the economic impact of immigration.
Dr. Bahar’s paper on birthplace diversity: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048733320300718
Dr. Bahar’s paper on migration and post-conflict reconstruction:
https://www.jointdatacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BHOR_YugoslavianRefugees-002.pdf
Canusa Street is hitting the road again for the North Capital Forum in Mexico City, where the leaders of Canada, Mexico, and the United States will convene in November for the 2022 North American Leaders’ Summit. On this episode, Andrew Rudman, Director of the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute, joins Chris and Scotty for a preview of the conference, an overview of how Mexico compares to its North American neighbors, and an in-depth discussion on trilateral relations.
Check out the Mexico Institute’s latest publication, “Mexico, a Challenging Assignment”: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/media/uploads/documents/MEX_220506-MexChallengingAssignment%20BOOK-WEB.pdf
Border restrictions, COVID-19, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine: global trade linkages have faced unprecedented strain over the past two years, prompting questions of how Canadian-U.S. cooperation could protect both countries from major disruptions. This week, we tune into Chris’ panel on supply chains with Amazon’s Allison Gifford, Western Washington University’s Edward Alden, and High Peak Strategy LLC’s Spencer Cohen at the PNWER annual summit in Calgary.
Border restrictions, COVID-19, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine: global trade linkages have faced unprecedented strain over the past two years, prompting questions of how Canadian-U.S. cooperation could protect both countries from major disruptions. This week, we tune into Chris’ panel on supply chains with Amazon’s Allison Gifford, Western Washington University’s Edward Alden, and High Peak Strategy LLC’s Spencer Cohen at the PNWER annual summit in Calgary.
This week, Denny Heck, 17th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Washington, joins Chris and Scotty in their Calgary pop up studio to talk about border restrictions, the Columbia River Treaty, trade with China, and the concept of “Northwest Nice.”
As Alaskans prepare for the state’s first primary election under ranked choice voting, Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer joins Scotty and Chris on Canusa Street to discuss Alaska’s role as the United States’ sole Arctic state, the anticipated benefits of the infrastructure bill, and relations with friendly neighbors to the east and hostile neighbors to the west.
Travelers hoping to cross the Canada-U.S. border still need to navigate a regime of restrictions, apps, and requirements. Laurie Trautman, Canada Institute Global Fellow and Director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University, joins Scotty and Chris to discuss the status of cross-border travel and the impact of government initiatives from ArriveCAN to Nexus.
In this episode, Chris & Scotty take us behind the scenes on the big issues confronting Canada/US relations. And then Scotty interview the current Ambassadors on stage at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region’s annual summit in Calgary, Alberta. They discuss travel woes, frustration over the cancellation of the KXL pipeline, and state of play on developing critical minerals.
EV tax credits, Afghanistan, trucker protests, leaders’ summits, oil sands: a lot has happened since the Canusa Street podcast launched one year ago in July 2021. Our first guest, Richard Madan, is back in the virtual studio with Scotty and Chris to celebrate the podcast’s one-year anniversary, reflect on the issues and policies of the past 365 days, and talk about what lies ahead in the short- and long-term future for Canada-U.S. relations.
Most of Canada’s crude oil supply, which accounted for 62% of U.S. oil imports in 2021, originates from production in the Athabasca oil sands. This week on Canusa Street, Cenovus Energy Chief Sustainability Office Rhona DelFrari joins Chris and Scotty to highlight why six of Canada’s largest oil producers are banding together to reduce carbon emissions in oil sands operations and how the energy industry on both sides of the border can help lead the push to net zero.
Did Richard Nixon predict Justin Trudeau's premiership? Did Jimmy Carter save Ontario from a nuclear reactor meltdown? On this episode, Arthur "Art" Milnes, acclaimed public historian and co-author of Faith & Goodwill, takes Chris and Scotty on a verbal tour of the stories and relationships between Prime Ministers and Presidents that have defined high-level U.S.-Canadian diplomacy for over half a century.
In this episode, Chris and Scotty continue their conversation with one of Canada’s foremost diplomats, the Honorable Raymond Chretien. They consider how Canada and the US navigate global challenges together, and discover what worries the Ambassador most about the state of the world today.
In this episode Chris and Scotty talk with one of the preeminent experts on Canada-US relations, His Excellency Raymond Chretien. They talk about his time as Canadian Ambassador to the US and Mexico and his views in the current state of bilateral relations.
Scott Reid, the kid from Prince Edward County, talks about how he found himself in the Oval Office, his adventures in Canadian politics, and his work on a new book chronicling the relationships between Presidents and Prime Ministers through history. This is the first of two episodes on “With Faith & Goodwill,” a passion project of Canusa Street co-host Scotty Greenwood. The second episode will feature the co-editor and Kingston historian Art Milnes.
For hundreds of years, the Columbia River has served as a major resource for First Nations and Indigenous communities in the Columbia Basin. As Canada and the United States renegotiate the treaty that governs usage of the River, Indigenous participation and representation in the process is paramount. This week on Canusa Street, Scotty and Chris are joined by Nathan Matthew, Secwépemc representative to the Columbia River Treaty negotiations.
To meet 2030 and 2050 emissions goals, Canada and the United States need to experiment with innovative approaches to decarbonization. This week on Canusa Street, the stakeholders behind the Open Access Wabamun Carbon Hub in Alberta join us to discuss how the project can be a model for carbon capture projects, Indigenous engagement, and a new approach to energy on both sides of the border.
Over a third of all the land in the US and Canada is forest land, which are also a critical source of carbon capture and wood products from paper straws to building logs. This week, Scotty and Chris welcome the heads of both countries' forestry trade associations – Derek Nighbor of Forest Products Association Canada and Heidi Brock of the American Forest and Paper Association – for a discussion on best practices, sustainability, and cross-border collaboration in the industry.
In this episode, Chris and Scotty welcome Peter Van Praagh back to Canusa Street. Peter, President of the Halifax International Security Forum, discusses the role of Chinese and Ukrainian diaspora in the current dialogue in Canada and the US about the crisis in Ukraine. Peter also puts Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine into the context of China/Russia/US polarity.
This podcast would be banned in Russia, and we would be in jail for producing it. In our conversation, we use language to describe the crisis in Ukraine including vocabulary that is currently illegal in Russia. We talk about “war,” “aggression,” and “invasion.” Chris and Scotty are joined by the President of the Halifax International Security Forum, Peter Van Praagh, fresh from his travels to Ukraine as we enter week three of the war that is changing everything. Canada and the US, along with the NATO alliance are unified in opposition to the Russian war on Ukraine, yet are searching for the right tools to support the people of Ukraine. One thing is clear, according to our guest, Putin will lose. Its just a matter of how long it will take.
As Americans and Canadians roam the world our devices keep us connected using signals that travel at specific frequencies. Governments allocate frequencies for radio, television, cell phones, and new devices add new demands for spectrum every day. How do US and Canadian approaches compare, and when it comes to broadband internet connections and 5G, how do we avoid mixed signals? In the episode, Scotty and Chris welcome economists Tom Hazlett at Clemson University and Jeff Church at the University of Calgary to Canusa Street to explain the political economy of connectivity and how businesses in Canada and the United States stay on the same wavelength.
Links to reports mentioned in the show:
- https://cupdf.com/document/spectrum-policy-as-competition-policy-a-good-choice-spectrum-policy-as-competition.html
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/25593718?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-broadband-boondoggle-gao-infrastructure-digital-divide-rural-sandwich-isles-11633552660
It's not just supply chains and people that cross the US/Canada border, there's also the Columbia River! Building off of our previous episode about the Columbia River Treaty, Scotty and Chris talk with Sylvain Fabi, Consul General of Canada in Denver, Colorado, and Canada's top negotiator on the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty.
The Honorable John Manley, Canada’s former Deputy Prime Minister and business leader discusses the protests in his hometown of Ottawa with Chris and Scotty on day 20 of the so called “freedom convoy.” They discuss history of Canada/US collaboration on border issues since 9/11 as well as a multitude of global issues that Canada and the US face in the world today.
Canada/US relations just experienced a major shock when truck protesters closed several border crossings including the Ambassador Bridge which carries one-quarter of all bilateral trade and is the busiest commercial crossing in the world. This came after weeks of the so-called “freedom convoy” arrived in Ottawa and was emulated in other capitals in Canada, the US and Europe. Canusa Street hosts Chris and Scotty talk with a journalist who has been covering the unrest in Canada since it began. Emma Jacobs is a dual citizen living in Montreal and reporting for NPR and other international outlets. Chris and Scotty also pause to reflect on the impact that these protests are having on Canada/US relations.
The new Canadian Minister of Labour Seamus O'Regan joins Scotty and Chris to talk about his mandate to work on behalf of working Canadians, his outreach to American counterparts, and the overall state of Canada/US relations. O’Regan reminisces about his youth in Newfoundland, background in the media, and current concerns about the bilateral relationship.
In this exciting episode, Chris and Scotty have a conversation with conservationist Enric Sala, an explorer-in-residence with National Geographic. They discuss his work, writings, Canada, narwhals, and his latest film, "The Last Ice" which is available on Disney+. Clips from "The Last Sea Ice" used by permission.
In the last episode, Chris and Scotty spoke with the Premier of Nova Scotia about the holiday tradition of sending a spruce to the City of Boston for it's annual holiday tree display in Boston Common. This episode, they speak with Commissioner of Boston Parks & Recreation Ryan Woods on the receiving end of that tree's historic journey. Special thanks to the City of Boston for additional provided audio at the beginning of the show!
Did you know that the City of Boston and the Province of Nova Scotia have history? Good history! Join our hosts as Scotty and Chris share some special holiday memories with Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia, and discuss the continuing importance of the US/Canada relationship.
Electric vehicles are transforming the automotive industry and both Canada and the United States are poised to be major participants as consumer markets, raw materials suppliers, and vehicle producers. In this episode, Scotty and Chris are joined by David Patterson of General Motors and Nate Baguio of Lion Electric to discuss the future of electric vehicles and the cross-border supply chains in feeding the market's growth.
Supply chains are the talk of the town right now, especially on Canusa Street. In this episode, Scotty and Chris talk with David Woodruff and Eric Hampton about how the border works with trucking and rail, and how regulation on each side of the border affect the movement of goods.
Gov. Ed Rendell rejoins the Canusa Street hosts to discuss the new US ambassador to Canada, David L. Cohen, who was just confirmed by the US Senate. He also happened to be the Governor's Chief of Staff. Learn how this new ambassador can get things done in the US/Canada relationship.
2,000 kilometres long with a basin slightly larger than France, the Columbia River is the longest waterway in the Pacific Northwest and a critical source of hydroelectricity. This week, Scotty and Chris are joined by Steve Wright to discuss the ongoing renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty and its impact on Canada and the United States.
In this episode, Chris and Scotty take another look at Canada's involvement in the War in Afghanistan with journalist Kevin Newman. Remember, the actions in Afghanistan were not just an American war, but a coalition effort where nations like Canada joined in.
Within the same week, the White House announced it would be loosening restrictions on international air travelers and kicked the can down the road for another month on travel restrictions at the U.S.-Canada land border. This week, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI 2nd District) joins Scotty and Chris to discuss the bipartisan effort to reopen the border and a host of other topics from American attitudes about the Ambassador Bridge to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Now that the Taliban have recaptured control of the Afghanistan, Canadian and American veterans alike reflect on their years in combat and reckon with the outcome of America's longest war. On this episode of Canusa Street, Chris and Scotty are joined by Col. Charles Hamel of the Canadian Armed Forces and journalist Neil Macdonald of the CBC to discuss the War in Afghanistan, Canada’s role in the conflict, and what the United States’ messy exit means for U.S.-Canada relationsNow that the Taliban have recaptured control of the Afghanistan, Canadian and American veterans alike reflect on their years in combat and reckon with the outcome of America's longest war. On this episode of Canusa Street, Chris and Scotty are joined by Col. Charles Hamel of the Canadian Armed Forces and journalist Neil Macdonald of the CBC to discuss the War in Afghanistan, Canada’s role in the conflict, and what the United States’ exit means for U.S.-Canada relations
Infrastructure is the word of the day, week, month, year on Capitol Hill as the Biden administration pushes to pass the largest piece of infrastructure legislation since the Eisenhower era. This week on Canusa Street, Scotty and Chris check in with former Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell. Listen in as the Governor shares his thoughts on the bipartisan American Jobs Plan and the importance of winning support for pieces of cross-border infrastructure along the U.S.-Canada border.
The US border is still closed to vaccinated Canadians. A key leader in the US Congress, Representative Suzan DelBene, shares her thoughts about the “incredibly difficult situation for our border communities” including places like Point Roberts, Washington, as well as USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai’s recent visit with DelBene and what the path forward is for Canada/US trade challenges in dairy and wine. What are the metrics needed to re-open the land border with Canada? Canusa Street hosts Chris Sands and Scotty Greenwood have a candid conversation with the Vice Chair of the Ways & Means Committee and a true Congressional champion for the bilateral relationship.
Cannabis has been federally legalized in Canada for almost three years and decriminalized to some degree in twenty-seven U.S. states. This week on Canusa Street, Chris and Scotty check in with Anne McLellan, former Canadian Minister of Justice, and Graham Boyd, founding director of the national ACLU’s Drug Law Reform Project, about Canada's journey to cannabis legalization and how it can inform advocacy in the United States.
Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY) is extremely frustrated with the Biden Administration’s approach to management of the Canada/US border. In this episode of Canusa Street, the Congressman pulls no punches in describing the importance of following science and reopening our shared border. Canada has opened to fully vaccinated Americans, but America hasn’t reciprocated. Here is candid conversation with podcast hosts Chris Sands and Scotty Greenwood.
Since March 2020, the United States and Canada have restricted border crossing to “essential” crossing only. What’s essential? Commercial trucking. What isn’t? Love, as it turns out. On this episode of Canusa Street we talk to Devon Weber who leads a grass roots group called Let Us Reunite that has been campaigning for months to get Ottawa and Washington to let families cross the border to see partners, children, and elderly family members.
With Special Guest Jerry Howard! In our last segment regarding the softwood lumber trade dispute, we shift to the homebuilder’s perspective to add insight on the real-life implications of this dispute. In this episode, we speak to Jerry Howard, the CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, who has been in the housing industry for over 35 years. Howard speaks with Chris & Scotty about the consequences of soaring lumber prices and the threat it poses on U.S. homebuilders.
With Special Guest Mike de Jong! In Part 2 of this 3 Part series, we look at the longstanding softwood lumber trade dispute from a different lens. Adding his unique Canadian perspective on the issue of softwood lumber is Mike de Jong, member of British Columbia Legislative Assembly, who currently serves as the Official Opposition Critic of the Attorney General in Abbotsford. Seeing as Canada is the world leading exporter and second-largest producer of softwood lumber, with British Columbia representing around 63% of exports, de Jong’s insight of this dispute offers a unique look at real life consequences for the lumber industry.
With Special Guest, Senator Trent Lott! The softwood lumber dispute is one of the longest, yet most important trade disputes between the United States and Canada, with the affects still felt in the lumber industry to the present day. In Part 1 of this 3 Part series, we invite former U.S. Senator Trent Lott to walk us though the effects of the historic lumber dispute from a U.S. lens as the implications are paramount to both countries.
Seeing as the border between Detroit and Windsor is one of the busiest ports of entry along the Canada-U.S. border, the lack of modernized crossing paths at this border is a cause for concern for bilateral supply chains, tourism, and transportation. To remedy this, both governments proposed the construction of a new bridge, now known as the Gordie Howe Bridge. However, things have not been smooth sailing, as the development has faced heavy resistance from interest groups and stakeholders. To speak on the trials and tribulations of the development of the Gordie Howe Bridge is the Hon. Lisa Raitt, who is currently serving as Vice-Chair for Global Investment Banking at CIBC, a global fellow at the Canada Institute, and on the CABC Advisory Board. We are also joined by Dr. Roy Norton, a career foreign service officer who is also a Global Fellow at the Canada Institute, as well as a Resident Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs.
The inauguration of President Joe Biden marks a hopeful return to normalcy for the Canada-U.S. relationship. However, taking a historical look at the bilateral relationship, this new chapter in history begs the question of what normalcy really means to the two countries. On this episode, we are joined by the esteemed Richard Madan, CTV’s Washington, DC correspondent, as he highlights the role of media in constructing our understanding of the bilateral relationship as well as walking us through the implications of the to normalcy as we transition towards a new era of Canada-U.S. relations.