Canada Institute
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CANADA INSTITUTE Report on Activities OCTOBER 1, 2005 – MARCH 31, 2007 Canada’s profile among Americans remains more limited than it should in spite of the enormous trading and cultural relationship between the two countries. In an effort to highlight the importance of the Canada- U.S. relationship among U.S. policymakers and the infor- med public, the Canada Institute was founded in 2001. The Canada Institute, an integral program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, promotes a free flow of ideas and policy options for deepening understan- ding, communication, and cooperation between the United States and Canada by engaging policymakers and members of the scholarly, business, and not-for-profit communities in creative dialogue. The Canada Institute does not have a policy or legislative agenda. Rather, reflecting the Wilson Center’s tradition of providing a non-partisan forum to foster and advance dialogue on important issues of the day, the Canada Institute’s programming and publications—both in the United States and in Canada—seek to generate discussion and increase awareness of the bilateral relationship on a broad scope of issues including energy and environmental policy, trade and economic issues, and border security and the shared defense relationship. The Institute’s programs, publications, and partnerships in Canada and the United States consistently encourage open dialogue, bringing to the fore positive as well as critical views on the issue at hand. Outside of Washington, D.C., the Canada Institute strives to encourage a full discussion of bilateral policy by organizing programs throughout Canada that include U.S. perspectives on key bilateral issues. 1 The Woodrow Wilson International issues between our two countries. Center for Scholars was established by David Biette and his staff, as well as Note from the United States Congress in 1968 to the scholars affiliated with the Canada honor the memory of the 28th presi- Institute, have done an excellent job dent. The Center is headquartered in keeping Canada front and center Lee H. Washington, D.C., and is the living, na- in the United States. The Canada tional memorial to President Wilson. Institute continues to find ways to Hamilton The Wilson Center’s mission is reach a broader audience on Canada- to commemorate the ideals and con- U.S. relations through such initia- cerns of Woodrow Wilson by pro- tives as hosting programs outside of viding a link between the world of Washington, and sending U.S. schol- ideas and the world of policy and ars to Canada to give a different per- by fostering research, study, dis- spective to bilateral issues there. cussion, and collaboration among a As always, I am grateful for the broad spectrum of individuals con- invaluable support and guidance the cerned with policy and scholarship Canada Institute’s Advisory Board has in national and international affairs. provided to me and to David in shap- At the Woodrow Wilson Center, we ing the direction of the Institute. I bring together the thinkers and the must also thank C. Warren Goldring, doers—policymakers, scholars, jour- whose leadership and vision have been nalists, and business leaders—in the essential to the Institute’s efforts to ex- hope that a frank and open dialogue pand its programming in Canada. will lead to better understanding, I would also like to express my ap- cooperation, and public policy. preciation for the generous support The Canada Institute, like other of the Canada Institute’s donors, par- programs at the Wilson Center, does ticularly the Canadian Imperial Bank not have a legislative or policy agenda. of Commerce, and the numerous cor- The Canada Institute provides a non- porations and individuals who have partisan forum to discuss current and supported the award dinners, most re- emerging issues in the U.S.-Canada cently held in Calgary. Their contri- relationship, and plays a vital role in butions allow the Canada Institute to highlighting the importance of the continue to provide an open forum to most successful bilateral relationship discuss the leading bilateral issues of between two neighbors in history. the day. Such a forum offers a unique Since its establishment in 2001, opportunity to freely exchange ideas the Canada Institute has become one and perspectives from both sides of of the most active programs at the the border so that we maintain an Center, and has emerged as the prin- open and strong relationship between cipal forum in Washington to discuss our two countries. Lee H. Hamilton President and Director Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars 2 Through ongoing efforts to expand and Global Public Affairs as partners in enhance our programming, the Canada producing these forums, and thank Institute has emerged as the premier our Calgary donors for their ongoing forum in Washington for discussion on support and assistance in creating this bilateral issues between Canada and the highly successful series. United States. We strive to encourage The Canada Institute also takes full dialogue in all of the Canada Institute’s advantage of the Woodrow Wilson programming and publications, and Center’s resources. At times, we partner work to ensure that a variety of stake- with other programs at the Center to holders on both sides of the border—in- host events in an effort to broaden our cluding members of the public, private, own programming and reach a greater and not-for-profit sectors—have an op- number of public officials, scholars, and Message portunity to voice their opinion, ideas, business leaders who may not know that and concerns on bilateral issues in a they are actually involved in Canada- non-partisan forum. U.S. relations. A good example of this from the Nowhere is the Canada Institute’s was our May 2006 conference on cli- effort to bring both a Canadian and mate change, which we organized with Canada American perspective on important bi- the Center’s Environmental Change lateral issues more evident than in our and Security Program. We are also Institute One Issue, Two Voices series. The series using our website more and more, to takes an idea and looks at it from each archive webcasts of programs, post pre- side of the Canada-U.S. border—not sentations, as well as provide links and Director necessarily from opposite points of related publications for those interested view, but from the perspective of the in acquiring a deeper understanding of author’s country, in order to encour- the subjects we address. age additional dialogue on the issue. Our efforts to improve and broaden In most cases, the Canada Institute our programming are achieved with a accompanies the release of the publi- talented and dedicated staff. Stephanie cation with a public conference that McLuhan, our program consultant promotes conversation and enables al- in Toronto, has continued to do an ternative views to be voiced. outstanding job organizing events in The Canada Institute has contin- Canada since joining the Institute in July ued to expand its already extensive of 2005. We also benefit tremendously schedule of conferences, seminars, from the programmatic and develop- discussions, and briefings, particularly ment advice of our Toronto consultant in Canada. Over the past 18 months, Rudyard Griffiths, and the work of the we have held high-profile conferences Wilson Center’s Development team. in Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, and Of course, we recognize that our Vancouver, often in partnership with work would not be possible without Canadian organizations. Similarly, for the ongoing support of our donors. We our programs held in Washington, are particularly grateful to C. Warren the Institute has been fortunate to Goldring and the Canada Institute collaborate closely with other orga- on North American Issues for their nizations that share our goal of ex- generous contributions to our work ploring current and emerging issues in Canada, as well as the Canadian in Canada-U.S. relations. Our Cross- Embassy for its financial support of Border Forums on Energy Issues provide our conferences in Washington. We an excellent example of the value of are also indebted to the corporations building lasting partnerships. The fo- and individuals who participated in David N. Biette rums have emerged as a regular part our Woodrow Wilson Awards din- Director, of our programming and provide U.S. ner in Calgary. Finally, I would like to Canada Institute and Canadian government officials, thank Gerry McCaughey, who serves as industry representatives, and energy chair of the Canada Institute’s Advisory experts a unique opportunity to dis- Board. His leadership and support have cuss a variety of bilateral energy issues. been instrumental to the extraordinary We are grateful to have the Canadian success the Canada Institute has enjoyed Centre for Energy Information and this past year and a half. 3 The Canada Institute, founded in 2001, seeks to promote debate and analysis of key issues and policy questions of bilateral concern between Canada and the United States; highlight the importance of the U.S.-Canada relationship, both in the United States and in Canada; increase knowledge about Canada among U.S. policymakers; create new channels of communication among scholars, business leaders, public officials, and non-governmental representatives in both countries; generate discussion about future visions for North America; and share relevant pro- gramming and publications with the appropriate partners in Canada to encourage dialogue on those issues with Canadian audiences. 4 The Canada Institute hosted another Governance in Canada and the Events and successful biennial conference on “The United States: A Comparative View.” State of the Canada-U.S. Relationship” Professor Jay Lorsch of the Harvard in partnership with the Association for Business School and Edward Waitzer, Programs: Canadian Studies in the United States. chair of the Canadian law firm The conference featured presenta- Stikeman Elliott, lent their expertise Washington tions from six Canadian and U.S.