STEPHEN HARPER’S MANAGEMENT OF THE CANADA-US RELATIONSHIP Colin Robertson Managing the relationship with the US requires ongoing personal attention by every Canadian prime minister. Persistence, perseverance and a sense of timing are essential, and Stephen Harper has demonstrated all three qualities, in pushing his border access initiative in tandem with perimeter security and regulatory reform. He has taken to heart Brian Mulroney’s advice to develop a rapport with the occupant of the Oval Office. In an approach characterized by no drama and little recrimination, he has delegated to his ministers and ambassadors most of the problem areas and kept his focus on the “big table” issues. Le maintien de relations fructueuses avec les États-Unis nécessite une attention personnelle et soutenue de la part de tout premier ministre canadien. Ténacité, persévérance et sens de l’à-propos sont indispensables, et Stephen Harper a montré qu’il possédait ces trois qualités en faisant valoir son initiative d’accès frontalier de concert avec un périmètre de sécurité et une réforme réglementaire. Clairement, il a suivi le conseil de Brian Mulroney sur l’importance de tisser des liens étroits avec l’occupant du Bureau ovale. Il a adopté une approche fondée sur la souplesse et un minimum de récriminations, délégué à ses ministres et ambassadeurs les problèmes de moindre ampleur et s’est ainsi réservé les enjeux majeurs. very prime minister since Sir John A. Macdonald defence (thus sticking with the Martin government’s rejec- soon appreciates that there are three files that require tion). Obama and Harper take different approaches to gov- E his or her personal and continuing attention. The ernment, but this has not prevented cooperation on most of first is preserving national unity. The second is protecting the big files with a couple of exceptions: Harper’s unyield- national security. The third is managing the relationship ing philo-Semitism and skepticism on climate change. with the United States. The Harper approach has been characterized by no A plank in the victorious 2006 Conservative campaign drama and little recrimination. He has followed the Mulroney was the promise to improve the relationship with the US; it dictum “that we can disagree without being disagreeable” had become increasingly frosty during the latter days of the and its important corollary that we usually achieve more Martin government. Looking back over the past six years, when we start with the “big table” international issues. the Harper government has delivered on that promise. Importantly, Harper has also realized that if we are to Stephen Harper has demonstrated the ability to get along achieve results it is incumbent on him to take the initiative with first a Republican and now a Democrat in the White House. and then personally intervene to ensure it succeeds. This is He has taken to heart Brian Mulroney’s admonition that devel- nowhere better illustrated than with the announcement in opment of a rapport with the occupant of the Oval Office is the December 2011 of a framework agreement on the border most important personal relationship for any prime minister. and perimeter security. It was his “ask” of both Bush and It is not the bonhomie that characterized the relationship Obama. When it became clear that the only progress on of Mulroney with Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush nor Obama’s promise of border action at the Ottawa summit in the “golf buddy” camaraderie of Bill Clinton and Jean February 2009 would be about enhancing security rather Chrétien. But with both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, than expediting access, Harper got Obama to re-ignite the Harper has achieved professional respect and, importantly, process at the Toronto G20 summit of June 2010. He jour- trust as a reliable ally. neyed to Washington in February 2011 to start the formal There have been differences. George W. Bush was baf- negotiations and then returned in December to announce fled by Harper’s unwillingness to join ballistic missile the framework agreement. POLICY OPTIONS 31 APRIL 2012 Colin Robertson rom the outset, Harper has made eyes. Mindful of the irresistible dictates he biggest differences with the F the economy the central theme of of geography, Franklin Roosevelt T Obama administration are on cli- his government. Trade is critical to our included us in the American defence mate change and energy. Even here, the prosperity and, notwithstanding the umbrella. Our defence alliance “agree to disagree” is mostly without current malaise, the United States will remains rooted in the still vital histrionics although government com- always be our main market. About half Permanent Joint Board of Defence ments about “foreign funding” — Tides of what we produce is destined for (1940) and, since 1958, the North Foundation support for environmental- what is still the world’s biggest market. American Air Defence Agreement. ism — was juvenile. Instead of being a lag- gard on carbon containment, Stephen Harper has demonstrated the ability to get along with we should be a leader, as both a Republican and a Democrat in the White House. He has Mulroney demonstrated with his “Clean Hands” approach taken to heart Brian Mulroney’s admonition that development on acid rain. Fortunately, the of a rapport with the occupant of the Oval Office is the most differences on Kyoto and the important personal relationship for any prime minister. Copenhagen conference debacle did not interfere with To put it another way — we export Afghanistan and Libya have re- then ongoing, critical talks on global eco- more to Michigan in nine months established our credentials as a nation nomic recovery. Nor has the presidential than to China in a year. Most of what that knows how to fight, a Canadian decision to reject, for now, the Keystone crosses over the Ambassador Bridge or credential during our first century, XL pipeline interrupted the important through the tunnel between Windsor which then declined into the torpor practical implementation of the border and Detroit is auto parts. and false comfort of peacekeeping. We and regulatory accords. The XL pipeline The auto bailout story is as remark- ran down our Armed Forces and may be a “no-brainer” but rather than able as the original Auto Pact. The Prime defence commitments in what former harp on it, Harper parlayed the rejection Minister and the President closed the chief of defence staff Rick Hillier would into a personal invitation into the Trans- auto deal in what is a defining moment describe as a “decade of darkness.” Pacific Partnership from President Obama of their partnership. Accomplished Americans would accuse us, with at the Honolulu APEC Summit. In a quickly in the spring of 2009, with min- some justice, of freeloading. sense, he knew Obama owed him one imal fuss, it involved three levels of gov- Successive American ambassadors, and played the card skillfully. ernments, unions and management on Democrat and Republican, were more Meanwhile, Harper has built on both sides of the border. polite in their language but they made his own pivot toward China and made While energy exports have it clear that that we needed to invest construction of a pipeline to the Pacific, eclipsed the auto trade in value, the more and pay more attention to secu- specifically the Northern Gateway auto industry is still our biggest manu- rity. Former US ambassador Gordon Pipeline, a priority. When you only facturer. It is also the most integrated Giffin put it bluntly: “Canadians feel have one buyer, and that buyer proves industry in the Canada-US supply some entitlement to unfettered access unreliable, opening a second market is chain dynamic. Its recovery is a to US markets and military clout. both good policy and, mindful of his notable success, as President Obama is That’s implicit in the lack of military base in Alberta, good politics. now reminding American voters. spending here. We’re not telling you Bashing Uncle Sam is part of our The auto story also illustrates that you have to do this or that, we’re DNA, a recessive gene inherited from another dimension of the Harper gov- saying that if you want the access you the United Empire Loyalists. It has ernment. With rare exception (i.e., expect, this is what you need to do.” become obligatory for every prime Israel) it is less about high principle than His successor as US ambassador, for- minister, at one point or another, to pragmatism. Incrementalism that gets mer Massachusetts governor Paul tweak the beak of the eagle as a demon- the job done characterizes much of the Cellucci, was explicit in encouraging stration of their nationalism. It is a Harper approach to policy development Canada to develop a “lift” capacity. time-honoured tradition in Canadian and delivery. In recognizing a role for Re-armament began during the politics dating back to Sir John A.’s government intervention, Harper differs Martin government. Harper’s electoral hurrah of “the Old Flag, the from the current GOP presidential con- “Canada First Defence Strategy” is as Old Policy, the Old Leader.” Brian tenders who continue to trumpet their described, as long as the funding to Mulroney couldn’t be bothered and, opposition to anything resembling sustain the next generation of fight- despite bringing home the FTA/NAFTA “government bailout,” including that er jets, warships and the kit to sus- and Acid Rain Accord and advancing given to GM and Chrysler. tain the army’s expeditionary American acknowledgement of our The security relationship has capacity is appropriated and deliv- sovereignty in the Arctic, paid a price always been paramount in American ered on schedule. in loss of public confidence. 32 OPTIONS POLITIQUES APRIL 2012 Stephen Harper’s management of the Canada-US relationship Shortly after his first election victo- and the XL pipeline, and he has taken worked the unions.