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U.S. midterms and Canada: We must defend our interestsGlenn Lowson

The U.S. Congress has undergone another sea change as a result of Tuesday's midterm elections and the Republican wave with a Tea Party crest. What has not changed is the requirement for vigilance in defence of Canadian interests. Those interests are our economic prosperity, our need for a wider and enhanced international trading system, and an open border between our two countries.

From the standpoint of our interests, Congress is the organ of government of greatest concern to Canada. In the U.S. system of checks and balances, the three branches of government are said to be co-equal, but they're not, by constitutional design of the Founding Fathers. Congress, not the presidency, is primus inter pares.

When the levers of power are divided between the two principal adversaries in Washington, there's a better chance for bipartisan rule-making than when power is monopolized. This is because without a deal, there's no legislation. Such is the potential for economic benefit or harm caused by decision-making in an economy the size of the United States, slowness of response may well be preferable to hasty action and, if gridlock or paralysis is a result, it might well be preferable to bad legislation.

The world is likely to be better off through avoidance of monopolization of the levers of power by one party in Washington. But foremost of the countries that would benefit would likely be Canada, because our dependency on the economic health of the U.S., even if diminishing somewhat, has no equal.

No matter which party is in power, the outlook for gains in multilateral trade and for ratification of bilateral treaties is poor. The sad reality is that the U.S. is experiencing a rising hostility to free trade. A decade ago, 32 per cent of Americans viewed free trade negatively. That figure rose to 46 per cent a few years ago. Today, it stands at 53 per cent. Among Tea Partiers, that figure is even higher - 61 per cent are negative to free trade. Among union members, the powerful ally and, post-election, even more important partner in the diminished Democratic coalition, it's even higher - at 63 per cent.

Nevertheless, Canada - and the world - is better off when the president and the barons of Capitol Hill are not of the same party. It's easier for a Democratic president to fight a bad trade bill sponsored by a Republican committee chair than one coming from a member of his own party. When the levers of power are separated, the prospects for delay and defeat are improved. Thus, Buy American and protectionism disguised as environmentalism is likely to be more difficult to succeed when power is split.

More troubling is the presence within the Tea Party of the Ross Perot/Patrick Buchanan isolationist tradition. It's doubtful that the new Senate will ratify either the arms control treaty with Russia or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Canadians are right to be concerned about this, not least because of the implications for Arctic security.

If the mood of Americans continues to turn inward because of fatigue with foreign wars and "unreliable" allies, we can anticipate more security measures and thus a further thickening of our border. The passport requirement for Canada and U.S. travellers was a profoundly retrograde step, curbing tourism and the flow of service clubs and youth sports that created unique bonds of friendship. The Republican "Pledge to America" promises to further "secure our borders with strong enforcement of the law."

Mythologies about 9/11 and Canada's leaky borders persist. Sharron Angle, the Tea Party candidate who almost defeated Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, is only the latest to voice the canard that "our northern border is where the terrorists came through." Meantime, that border continues to choke with its aging infrastructure, new rules and regulations, fees, inspections and redundancies. Our common frontier is probably the least open among any two industrialized countries anywhere, and no way to manage the world's biggest bilateral trading relationship. A more open border between our countries needs to be a top priority.

While recognizing the advantage of divided political power in Washington, Canada should greatly intensify our efforts to find new global markets for our resources, especially energy. It should be a matter of the highest national priority to develop the policies and to create the necessary infrastructure.

Regrettably, President Barack Obama seems to lack any strategic view of Canada's value from the standpoint of U.S. national interests. While it may be tempting, Canadian interests are too important for us to drop anchor and stay in safe harbour. Ad hocery and incrementalism will not stem decline. Open trade and borders are the proven path to jobs and mutually reinforcing growth and prosperity.

The most effective way to reverse the trend line is through bold, energetic Canadian initiatives. We should start by reminding Americans that, if they're to trade their way out of recession, the first step is to build on our deep, integrated supply chain dynamic with their biggest market and to renew the partnership with Canada.

Allan Gotlieb, a former Canadian ambassador to the United States, is senior adviser to Bennett Jones LLP. Colin Robertson, the first head of the Washington embassy's advocacy secretariat, is vice-president of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute and strategic adviser to McKenna Long and Aldridge LLP.

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