Trade Issues Sour U.S.-Canadian Friendships -NYT

[Rose Siding]

COURVAL, Saskatchewan, Nov. 9 - Gerry Duckworth nails posters around his cattle ranch just north of the Montana border warning American hunters to get off his land as long as Canadian cattle are banned in the United States. "NO BEEF = NO HUNTING," the signs scold.

Those are fighting words and reflect the deep feelings of chagrin among western Canadians, who normally look kindly on the United States. Mr. Duckworth has printed thousands of the signs, and they are appearing across Canadian prairies, where American hunters were once welcomed with open arms.

The ranchers are frustrated by the lingering American ban on live Canadian cow exports, a ban that began when a single cow was found to have mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in neighboring Alberta in May 2003.
...............
Daily trade between the countries amounts to $1.2 billion, with Canada enjoying a $70 billion surplus with the United States last year. That surplus is the main motor for Canada's surging economy and currency.

"This has brought anti-Americanism in this country to levels I've never seen in my life, and I find it very disturbing," said Lyle Stewart, a conservative member of the Saskatchewan provincial legislature.

http://nytimes.com/2004/11/14/international/americas/14canada.html

[VegasWolf]

1. Having a clown for prez probalbly hasn't helped much either. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Nice work, Prez'dint Fuckwit.

You have brought us to an all-time low point in international relations. Now even the Canadians hate us.

[Maple]

3. The amazing part

to Canadians at least, is that huge numbers of people in those western provinces, have supported Bush and are very rightwing.

So of course...they get hit.

[AlamoDemoc]

4. There are other trade issues Canadians are

also upset about, including and not limited to Lumber imports and border intimidations of goods crossing across the border

[American Renaissance]

5. not that rightwing...

The trade issues are troubling, but the fault of both Democratic and Republican politicians. Although Bush alone is the reason for the anti-americanism up here.

I have spent years and years living in Calgary (I have permanent residency, but considering citizenship and I work on both sides of the border) and I have not encountered too many hardcore (by American standards) conservatives, even in rural Alberta.

Something I find so refreshing about Canada is, even in the most redneck parts of the country, jesus freaks are treated like freaks.

There was this asshat politician up here named Stockwell Day, and even in the smallest towns in Alberta, I was hard pressed to find anyone who took him seriously.

Except for one asshole, Rob Anders (who fancies himself tom delay), take the most firebreathing conservative politicians in Canada, and Freepers would claim their to the left of Stalin.

[Maple]

6. Ahhh Stock Day

is a political cutie, no?

Got kind of ripped to shreds though. ;)

The newly christened 'conservative' party is considered extreme rightwing here. I'm horrified that you find them mild in comparison with American standards. :D

[American Renaissance]

7. losers...

If you guys are losing sleep over Stephen Harper and his merry band of idiots, you have no idea how good you have it.

They are harmless,

[Spazito]

8. This article, as is the usual with the NY Times, is written with the bush

admin point of view. The reality of what is happening in Canada is very positive, we have learned to diversify our opportunities beyond the US, we have learned how to 'hedge our bets' as they say. All the soothsayers have been proven wrong in their prognosis 'as the US goes, so goes Canada'. It no longer proves true.

[ChicanoPwr]

9. Look at this way

If the draft does come, we don't have to worry about being deported back to the US when half the country is in Canada. Now how does that Canadian National anthem go again....