CANADA TRUMPED?
The spirits of the supporters of President elect Donald Trump have received a lift-off from the frustrating bog of despondency that the Republican vs. Democrat blockades produced under President Barack Obama’s administration. As the new President makes ready to take office a new mood has swept across the nation as exemplified in the fact that 45% of Americans have rejected their former bi-partisan identities and become political Independents. This is a clear message that America is ready to set aside politics and get on with reshaping the American Dream for this present generation.
The other major facilitator of this new era is the fact that President Trump controls the House and the Senate and the Presidency. This is as close to him holding almost dictatorial power as a democracy can produce. It leaves doors wide open to trying new ways to stimulate prosperity across the nation. President Trump has little standing in the way of his goal to make America great again.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the supply teacher and darling of female voters, is not a natural friend or equal to a somewhat pompous, bombastic, absolutist like President Trump, but he does have the right to stand beside the new President. In fact, if they become outward friends, the adoration towards our Liberal Prime Minister could help leverage President Trump in the eyes of those who voted against him.
Canadians should not miss the fact that the key issues facing America also exist here: shrinking middle class, ageing population, cultural diversity, economic stagnation, educational mediocracy and bureaucratic bondage. Similarly, significant changes introduced in one country or the other are often adopted by the other country. Thus, there could well be many opportunities whereby this “Change Agent” President will make it easier to introduce changes we need at home.
The NAFTA trade treaty has certainly benefitted Canadian employment, but hopefully President Trump will also come to understand that it also has assured the USA of deeply discounted raw materials and low cost cars plus huge returns to the American owners of 60% of our businesses. If he really wants to find a way to make NAFTA work even more to their advantage, he would do well to look at how it benefits his other trading partner. Now that the doors are being swung wide open for Canada in Europe and Asia, it would not take long for us to replace NAFTA’s benefits through other trading partners. Our downside to his election rhetoric about NAFTA is certainly only a short-term threat to jobs and a great stimulus towards reducing our American dependencies.
One cautionary note Canada should respect is the business ethics President Trump displayed throughout his empire building processes. He has always sought out the cracks in deals that his lawyers could use to delay or avoid paying his suppliers and creditors. This one-way-money-in ethical approach to business must be counted into any glorious riches deals he might like to make with Canada. (For example: Oil pipelines to American refineries might not deliver the financial returns we should expect from our non-renewable resources.)
Perhaps one of the most important benefits to Canada of this election is that after two years of distraction, we can stop second guessing every trade related business opportunity. With the USA swallowing 80% of our exports, we must begin to seriously spread our risks and markets. The unpredictability of the President, and his plethora of problems at home, should leave us on our own for a while.
Initiatives to expand and diversify Canada’s trading partnerships under Prime Minister Harper seem to be about to gel under Prime Minister Trudeau, who also controls parliament and the Senate. Politics has been forced aside as we are now free to experiment with new and creative opportunities raining down from this global technological, informational and communications age.
One huge asset Canada has, which has been sorely under-utilized, is the potential to work closely with countries with similar values and political aspirations. The British Commonwealth established democratic values and governments all over the world and Canada is certainly a respected partner in this network of nations. These are all natural allies in not just our populist democracies, but also our economic and cultural values.
Britain may yet stay in the EU, or become an independent partner, but if it can envisage that Canada has grown up now and is a member of their old family of nations, we may finally discover an equality between us that could foster widespread prosperity across the old commonwealth nations.
Canada is at the starting line for the greatest era of prosperity for the world. We must share our Vision of this future, not only amongst ourselves, but also with our friends.
Canadian hearts want peoples around the world to enjoy their lives. We generously help where and when we can. Wont we be best able to pursue this noble service by freeing up our people, families and businesses to create a new economy with our own 100 Year Vision?
God (who still reigns over our constitution) Bless Canada.
Jim Reid Founder: CFP
Copyright © Canadian Federalist Party, 2010