May 20, 2012 May 20, 2012
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Own Every Podium
Despite leading the medal standings nearly one week into the Winter Games, the U.S. has betrayed an Olympic-sized inferiority complex. Credit for exposing it goes to the U.S. media. For the past six days, the U.S. press has mercilessly and relentlessly bashed Canada and Vancouver and their hosting of the Winter Games. The death of Georgian Luger Nordar Kumaritashvili, the technical glitch in lighting the Olympic flame, the spring-like weather, the unruly protesters, even the broken-down ice groomer. These, and other perceived missteps, have been cited by many U.S. observers in declaring, only six days after the opening ceremonies, that Canada is all but unfit to host the Winter Olympics. |
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The enduring image of last week’s G7 conference in Iqaluit was Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty being hit by a block of ice that he had accidentally dislodged as he emerged from an igloo. The image was played for laughs and rightfully so. It certainly fit the informal tone that Canada was seeking by hosting the G7 in the secluded Arctic capital. For Canada, however, what really fell last week was manna from heaven. 
On February 5, the Finance Ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations will converge on Iqaluit, the remote northern capital of Canada’s Nunavut Territory. It will be the first formal G7 meeting since last September’s G20 summit in Pittsburgh where the Group of Twenty industrialized nations declared that it, and not the G8 or G7, would be the “premier forum for our international economic cooperation.”
The Pittsburgh Declaration was generally regarded as a blow to Canada. It prefers the privileged status of G7/8 membership to being relegated to the mid-pack of the G20. If the G7 is rendered irrelevant by the G20 assuming responsibility for global economic policy, then, presumably, Canada will have less of a voice in shaping that policy.
This October, Canada will once again stand for election to a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Assuming its campaign will be successful, Canada’s timing could not be better. After years of stalled efforts, a consensus is building in the General Assembly for significant reform of the Security Council. Of the many reasons why Canada should sit on the Security Council beginning in 2011, a chance to advocate for an increased role for Canada on a reformed Council tops the list.
The Canadvocate is dedicated to the proposition that Canada will become the leading world power for the 21st Century. So far, so good. In the past ten years, Canada’s visibility on the world stage and its role and influence in world events has increased tremendously.
On Wednesday last week, the U.S. Congress introduced its latest version of the Buy American Improvement Act. Buy America provisions essentially require U.S. manufacturers, builders, and contractors to utilize only U.S.-made materials in government funded projects. According to its sponsors, Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL), the new legislation is designed to tighten up the existing Buy America rules by closing loopholes and otherwise making it more difficult for U.S. firms to waive the Buy America requirement. Debate on the new legislation will likely begin in January.
By most accounts, it was a tough two weeks for Canada at the Copenhagen Climate Conference. Canada was the subject of much ridicule by protesters and by delegates alike. Most of the criticism came from those representing the developing nations. However, as climate negotiations became mired in a stalemate between the rich and the poor, even the wealthy nations were quick to blame Canada for being a holdout to progress.
Yet, Canada accomplished much in Copenhagen. Canada’s conduct and the stance it took in the face of intense international scrutiny will prove to benefit Canada well beyond the climate change debate. In time, Copenhagen will be seen as one of the early signals of Canada’s emergence as a leading player on the global stage.
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