In My Opinion! - A Parer Mio!

|Monday August 27, 2001 | BACK | NEXT

Let's stop blaming the Americans
for our own shortcomings
Starting a trade war would be a disaster that ignores Canada's real problems

by Angelo Persichilli
THE HILL TIMES

The so-called trade war with the United States is another example of the Canadian hypocrisy in dealing with our powerful friend-enemy in the South. It is hypocrisy not on the part of ordinary Canadians, but by their media and politicians.

It is a phony debate because the purpose of it is not to change the quantity or the quality of the relationship we have with the Americans, but only a jockeying exercise amongst politicians to make sure that the price of some tough decisions are paid by the opponent, and the gains enjoyed by their own party.

It's a game where the winner is the smartest not the best; it's a game where the debate is over form, never over substance. It's a game where people and ideas are judged according to their shortcomings not by their capacity to contribute to the social and economic wealth of this Country. It's a game were deception is rewarded and honesty penalized.

The demagogues have been successful in changing the debate over free trade into a debate over nationalism. All those opposing free trade start their interventions by saying "we are not against the concept of free trade, but against this particular agreement." That is like saying, "Go ahead, if it fails is your fault, if it works we take the credit."

How many times we have heard that? There are some, like former Prime Minister John Turner, who are sincere about their concerns. However, when we ask to the majority of the "nationalists" to qualify their disagreement, the only thing we see is a Canadian flag flying high trying to get the attention of the voters-viewers-readers-listeners who are ready to reward the patriotism of our politicians.

These are the same voters-viewers-readers-listeners who already shop at Wal-Mart, watch Jerry Springer and spend their vacations in Florida (and, if they don't, it's only because of the low Canadian dollar).

Nonetheless, as soon as you express some ideas about improving free trade with the States, you are subtly marked as a traitor: the game is over, the phony debate goes on and the new Canadian patriots have their day.

The question is: when do we decide to be honest with Canadians and tell them that free trade is already here? When will we tell Canadians that the remaining regulations are just creating chaos on the frontier and are only used by the Americans to stop our trade into the USA? Let's ask ourselves if we have ever been able to stop them when they have decided to crush the rules and how many times have they stopped us because of the rules. They want Canadian water or energy? They will get it! They want to stop our softwood lumber or potatoes? They stop it. Yes, eventually they will drop their stand, but in the meantime they will get something in return. One example? Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has already said that the Americans cannot ask for our energy and not our lumber. Right!

What's the conclusion? If they accept our lumber, we have to give them our energy. Mr. Bush already got something out of the lumber dispute: the principle to negotiate our energy!

So, what are the so-called nationalists trying to defend? The 15 per cent left of our international trade that is not with the Americans? Or are they trying to protect our airwaves when our cables are already filled with American TV programs? Are we trying to defend the so-called Canadian TV stations whose programs are over 50 per cent American? Are we trying to defend to so-called Canadian content programs, meaning mainly the newscasts, whose lineup is at times more American than CNN? Are we trying to defend the ownership of the corner store on Dundas St. when Eaton's has become Wal-Mart, and Future Shop has lost its future as a Canadian company?

The government's position is hard to understand. What kind of war, according to the media and politicians, is Canada trying to wage against the Unites States? One that paints the Americans as non-free traders, or one that accuses them of not respecting the rules?

In the first case the "nationalists" should be happy: Isn't that what they want?

But if it is the second scenario, and they do not respect the rules, do we really believe - given that 85 per cent of our trade is with the U.S. - that we will ever be able to wage a trade war against them by invoking section 23 of Bill 37? The reality is that the remaining rules are useful only to the Americans, and the soft wood lumber dispute is a clear example of that.

I am not a trade expert, but I know that if someone is weaker than another, you do not start a war. If a bull pushes you, you do not push back, you pull it. It's called judo, a defense mechanism used by smart people, not bullies.

If we want to defend our society, we will not accomplish that goal by erecting or defending barriers. Yes, we have a better Medicare system and our streets are safer (especially if we compare downtown Detroit with the outskirts of Stoney Creek). However, if our Medicare system is in trouble, it is not because our frontiers are shaky, but because our politicians have no idea how to fix it. If we cannot drink our water, it is not because the Americans want it, but because for 100 years we have believed, and we still do, that pure water is a right, not a gift.

In other words, let's stop blaming the Americans simply to cover our own shortcomings. After all, if we turn our backs on them, they can always look south. But if they don't like us, we can't look north.