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Values and Culture

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Canada's role

Contributor: canuckabroad

Date: 2003-01-23 09:12:40

i'd agree with steve's comments on this one. i'm a canadian living in europe and previously have lived in australia. while the Irish are going ballistic about the threat to their neutrality due to US war planes landing at Shannon and the Aussies are preparing to send troops to the Gulf to assist the americans, canada sits on the fence - Why? The current govt has adopted a holier than now attitude towards the USA, a type of don't bully us, like they are bullying who, Ireland, Australia? Its embarassing to try and defend our govt policy when the pure economic facts are that the USA is Canada's biggest trading partner - over a Billion dollars a day. Any smart business person would recognize this and attempt to improve relations with such a good customer, instead the leaders of the Great White North hold the US in contempt. Listen I'm no fan of George W, but if we push to hard the US may say enough and the glowing economy which Canada enjoys could soon go the way of Ireland's Celtic Tiger.

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Canada's role

Contributor: rmk

Date: 2003-01-24 08:44:54

Well said. I have lived in the U.S. for the past few years and have come to appreciate that country. Although they may be clouded in their judgement sometimes, they always do what they feel is right for their country. It's time our government (and Canadians) realized that the most important international realtionship they have is the one south of the border. Mr. Chretien, while he has done some good things, needs to get out of the way. He has handled U.S. relations very poorly since Mr. Bush has taken office. Make the right decision or just go away.

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Canada's role

Contributor: ls

Date: 2003-01-24 15:53:43

I spent six years in US and five years in Canada, and now in US again. Yes, US is our beggest trading partner, yes, our economy depends (too much) on US. However, that doesn't mean we follow US policy. You befriend your friend not by simply following his steps. You empower the business relationship not by bowing to every request from your business parter. If you lose your own integrity, at last, you will fall down, let alone any prospority of the economy. We should take care of own problems first, fixing our healthcare, fixing our welfare, fixing our jobs, fixing our downgraded living, rather than following US on intervention of the mess of other countries at the price of Canadian lives. Canada has a good international reputation, let's keep it that way. I see no reason for joining this war by US. I see no need to flatter our neighbor too much.

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Canada's role

Contributor: rmk

Date: 2003-01-27 13:41:59

I am not suggesting that we lie down and let the U.S. take us wherever they go, but what I am suggesting is that we take a harder look at our relationship with them. We are able to concentrate on social issues because we don't have to spend as much money on our military. Being a close ally of the U.S. gives us that option.

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