For most of my life (all of it, let's be honest), Canada has been that quiet, polite neighbor to the north. We acknowledged its existence, maybe made a joke about the accents or the love of hockey, but honestly, it rarely occupied more than a fleeting thought. We were the world superpower, busy flexing our muscles, and Canada? Well, Canada was… Canada. Nice enough, probably.
But lately, something strange has been happening. Suddenly, Canada is the villain of the story. I'm bombarded with headlines, opinion pieces and social media rants depicting our northern neighbor as some sort of economic parasite, ruthlessly "taking advantage" of the United States. We're told they're undercutting our industries, stealing our jobs and generally behaving like a nation intent on our downfall. Frankly, it's bizarre.
(Fact check: a Canadian owns this company and has given plenty of Americans jobs. As for that stereotype of them being too nice: yeah, it's kinda true -- at least from our experience dealing with our boss and the team of Canadians at our parent company in Winnipeg.)
Where was this outrage years ago? Decades ago? If Canada was truly such a malevolent force, siphoning away our prosperity and undermining our national interests, wouldn't we have heard about it sooner? Why is it only now that we're supposed to believe they're the bad guys?
I find it incredibly difficult to swallow this narrative. For years, we, as Americans, often held a thinly veiled sense of superiority over Canada. We saw them as a smaller, less significant nation, a charming but ultimately less powerful entity. We barely paid attention, assuming they were just… there. Now, suddenly, this nation we barely noticed is somehow outsmarting us, outmaneuvering us, and bleeding us dry? It doesn't add up.
I suspect the sudden surge of anti-Canada sentiment is driven by a few factors, none of which are particularly flattering to us. Firstly, it’s a convenient scapegoat. In a world of complex economic challenges and internal divisions, it's easier to point fingers outward than to confront our own shortcomings. Blaming Canada allows us to avoid addressing the real issues plaguing our own industries and workforce.
Secondly, it plays into the broader trend of nationalistic fervor and protectionist policies. We’re hearing a lot these days about “America First,” and that often translates into suspicion and hostility towards anyone perceived as a competitor. Canada, with its robust social programs, universal healthcare and progressive policies, has become an easy target for those who see anything different as a threat.
Finally, let's be honest, there's a certain arrogance at play. The idea that Canada, a nation often viewed as a lesser power, could be "taking advantage" of the United States is a blow to our national ego. It's easier to demonize them than to admit we might be outmaneuvered, outsmarted or simply out-competed in certain areas.
But I refuse to buy into this manufactured outrage. I refuse to believe that a nation with whom we share so much history, culture and geography has suddenly become our enemy. Canada is not a perfect country, no country is. But to paint it as some sort of economic predator preying on the United States is not only disingenuous, it's dangerous.
I asked our boss, who is a radio broadcaster and newspaper columnist, the reverse for this column: What do Canadians think about America/Americans?
He answered on the promise I note that he's giving a general observation as a Canadian and not stating his opinion (because he's in the news business and can't do that).
"Overall, there's a new sense of national pride because of the trade wars," he said. "I've never seen so many store signs or ads or TV commercials where "proudly Canadian" or "Canadian owned" is highlighted. It used to just be a red maple leaf icon/logo to indicate Canadian but now businesses are making statements -- full ad campaigns screaming, "We're Canadian." I think Canadians have always found Americans a bit arrogant. On the flip side, as Canadians we always felt that we were a lesser nation than the U.S. -- and we don't refer to it as America, it's the United States. We don't understand the gun (control/debate) thing or the constant fight to keep people from having equal rights or healthcare. That's foreign to us. I don' t know any Canadians who own a gun -- and I know a lot of people. As a gay man, I've never felt unsafe anywhere in Canada based on my sexual orientation. It's not an issue and hasn't been for a decade or two. Canada and its people are very different from the U.S. and its people even though, from my house in Winnipeg, I'm less than an hour from North Dakota. I was the columnist for 20 years in the Emerson, Man. newspaper that borders the U.S. It feels like two different worlds just crossing an imaginary line that separates the countries."
Instead of succumbing to this wave of anti-Canadian sentiment, I think we need to take a step back and ask ourselves some tough questions. Are we really being "taken advantage" of, or are we simply struggling to adapt to a changing global landscape? Are we looking for a convenient scapegoat, or are we willing to address the real challenges facing our nation?
I believe that a strong, prosperous Canada is ultimately in our best interest. A healthy trading partner, a stable neighbor, and a nation that shares our democratic values is not a threat, but an asset. It's time to stop the baseless accusations, the manufactured outrage and the nationalistic rhetoric. It's time to remember that Canada is not our enemy, but our neighbor. And neighbors should be treated with respect, not suspicion. I, for one, am sticking with that belief. (And not just because I'm on a Canadian's payroll!)