A version of the following article (written by Les Campbell) appeared in the National Post on May 22nd, 2002 under the headline, "Canada should try U.S. - style diplomacy?"

The growing chorus calling for a North American single market or customs union as the solution to Canada’s declining influence in the United States has it wrong. The solution to Canada’s declining relevance south of the border is not to capitulate to the forces pushing for continental integration, but to more clearly define Canada’s national agenda while forcefully asserting Canada’s crucial interests in the halls of power in Washington.

Let’s face it, Canada’s problems with U.S. protectionist measures and our country’s near invisibility in the American capital arise as much from our own lack of purpose on the world and American stage as they do from a specific American intent to shut Canada out. The U.S. doesn’t take the role of Canada’s armed forces seriously? Neither do we witness the documented decline of Canada’s ability to wage peace, or war, anywhere in the world. Frustrated that the American Congress feels free to increase farm subsidies without a second thought to the effect it might have on our prairie farmers? Given our support for monopoly marketing boards, have we made it clear that we’ve drawn a line in the sand regarding subsidies for the rural economy? Got a beef with the U.S. forest industry and its recent softwood lumber victory? Well, many Canadians have a beef with Canada’s forest industry and have some sympathy for the U.S. argument that we don’t put enough value on our own trees.

Don’t buy the old notion, put forward again recently by Alan Gotlieb, that Canada has to work U.S. backrooms more effectively and that a “special relationship” is required between Prime Minister Chretien and President Bush. Sure, that’s a piece of the solution, but Canada also needs to completely revamp its diplomatic doctrines. There are two articles of faith in Canada/U.S. diplomacy that have to be jettisoned:

1) Canada and Canadian diplomats have an open door in Washington and important bi-lateral issues are best resolved quietly behind closed doors.

2) When quiet diplomacy doesn’t work, look for a multi-lateral venue. Canada “punches above its weight” in multi-lateral settings and, rather than directly confronting the U.S. colossus, we enlist other countries to our point of view and try to force the U.S. onside.
Why revise these doctrines? Simply put, they haven’t worked for years, and, with an Administration in the U.S. that has little time for Canada, they are not likely to work again any time soon. Doors around Washington are quickly shutting to Canada. As much as we may want to put a nice spin on it, George W. Bush doesn’t have much regard for Canada’s concerns. Otto Reich, the State Department’s top official for Canada is a Cuban émigré who focuses almost exclusively on Latin America. Many members of Congress are in thrall to special interests, including the pharmaceutical industry, the lumber industry and the energy industry, all of which regard Canada as a menace to their businesses. This Republican Administration’s tendency to “go it alone” also means going without Canada.

Our multi-lateral prowess is highly overblown. What constitutes a “victory” for Canada, for example, when Canada marshaled broad support for a new treaty on landmines, can seen by the U.S. as provocative; a figurative poke in the eye. Rather than being perceived as influential, Canada is regarded as a gadfly, as an ungrateful partner. Our membership in multi-lateral organizations is of little help when the U.S. ignores them, as it is increasingly wont to do

The solution? A stronger and more independent Canadian foreign and trade policy and the cooption of an American style of doing business and diplomacy. New Canadian-American diplomacy would adopt the following strategy and tactics:

1) Define our values and our goals first. Does Canada wants to be a military player and recapture the glory days of peacekeeping? Invest in the capacity of our armed forces and bring something of value to the international table. Does Canada wants to be a free trading powerhouse? Get rid of our internal contradictions. Forge a national Canadian consensus on trade and apply the new policy consistently in every international venue.

2) Confront the colossus. Take on the American power brokers in the front rooms. Publicly articulate Canadian interests in the U.S., forcefully and often. Recognize the importance of the U.S. Congress as a player and adopt a more robust Congressional strategy. Pursue relationships with the committee chairs, perhaps relying more heavily on Canadian MPs. Aggressively stake out Canada’s turf. Americans admire nothing more than an individual, or, indeed, a country, with a strong opinion and the confidence to take them on.

Canadians must stop defining themselves by the degree to which the U.S. befriends us. Let’s not look for friendship or backroom backslaps from the U.S., and, above all, let’s not fret about every negative article, every perceived snub. Let’s seek respect but on our own terms.

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