Every three years, the reality of a presidential election in the United States looms, captivating our neighbors to the north. From political leaders to the business community, folks on the north side of the border watch as bystanders.
Businesses and organizations don’t just live the economic opportunities and regulatory burdens they are present with. They also live the political uncertainty that elections cycles inject into their decision-making process. In fact, they are constantly living this uncertainty, whether it is at a state or local level, with congressional or senate elections, or every fourth year in a presidential election cycle. The political machine in the United States requires us to be attentive to all the benefits and challenges that come along with political uncertainty. The key path to success is one where sustained effort build and nurture these cross-border relationships and mitigate any risks.
Team Canada gets involved
This year, we’ve witnessed the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, take proactive measures in anticipation through the ‘Team Canada’ engagement strategy to ensure the prosperity of the Canada-US relationship is maintained in all possible U.S. presidential election outcomes. So far, in 2024, Team Canada has traveled to 33 states and met with 42 governors to demonstrate the importance of the relationship.
The Canadian American Business Council (CABC) has partnered with Team Canada, having several conversations and bringing business voices to the table. We’ve discussed the importance of our bilateral friendship and ways the relationship is working well and places for improvement. Healthy conversations with friends are a key ingredient to maintaining amicability, of course. Angst, on the other hand, should not be leading the way.
Much of my career was spent on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. I often say, “once a staffer, always a staffer,” because the lessons you learn during your time on the Hill stay with you. Election silliness is therefore not new to me. So, when I’m met with anxious questions from my peers north of the border about what each administration would mean, my response is often “let’s take a collective breath.”
Angst and panic are not my recommended response to uncertainty. Rather, it’s reflection. I reflect on how the friendship between our two countries has stayed strong for decades.
From serving a Washingtonian senator, to acting as the U.S. Advocate and now CEO of the CABC, I’ve seen first-hand how important the United States is to Canadians. From integrated supply chains, the 400,000 people crossing the border daily, and billions of dollars of trade, the relationship is key to the economic health of Canada. The captivation of the U.S. presidential election is therefore not to do with mere gossip, but earnest care of what this means for future prosperity.
Angst and panic are not my recommended response to uncertainty. Rather, it’s reflection. I reflect on how the friendship between our two countries has stayed strong for decades. Through international and geopolitical challenges, changes in administration, global pandemics, and weather disasters, we’ve found opportunity and hope in working together. So why change our tune now? Why not reflect instead on our score card of success?
When speaking of this relationship through the tune of strength, we better captivate the attention of those on my side of the border. I’ve witnessed the growing understanding among U.S. lawmakers on how vital Canada is to the United States at large as well as the economic health of their home districts and states. International pressures have demonstrated to political leaders the importance of economic security, energy security, and national security as one. Neither Canada nor the United States can achieve those goals on their own. Instead, we are stronger and more resilient together.
Friends and Neighbours
Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, when questioned about his relationship with then-President Barack Obama, told a CABC crowd in 2012 that even though they don’t agree on everything, our countries share so much in common. “We share not just an economy and a wider value system; we also share security needs and unfortunately, we share security threats. So, when you have a relationship that is that close, in my judgement, it can’t help but be good.”
There is no doubt that election cycles bring forward an uncertainty that can cause unease. But the relationship itself has been built on the backs of not just our political leaders, but from the people, organizations, and businesses that endeavour to strengthen the Canada-US relationship and work every day to ensure its success and strength.
In the words of former President Bill Clinton, “neighbours by the grace of nature, and allies and friends by choice.”
So? Let’s take a collective breath, together.