Everyone hates… Canada?
posted at 4:05 pm on November 23, 2011 by Jazz Shaw
Blaming Canada has been a staple of comedy for some time now. Whether it’s a song and dance number from South Park or a John Candy movie, comics have enjoyed taking a few good natured pokes at our neighbors to the North. But normally that’s where it stops. Canada holds a unique place in American foreign relations, sharing a massive, cooperatively monitored border, as well as being right up at the top of the list of our largest trading partners. So it’s rather curious when you see Washington – and to some degree, Europe – giving the Canadians the back of their hands.
Rachel Mardsen has a fantastic op-ed in the Baltimore Sun this week, wondering why – at least when it comes to finding a market for their abundent oil resources – the Great White North is suddenly persona non grata.
It’s been a rough month for Canada. America’s biggest trading partner and overall non-jerk country just wants to sell some oil to its friends. Canada is sitting on a black-gold mine, but its oil sales are unable to keep pace with production — a problem that will only increase as the nation further taps the Alberta oil sands and Arctic territory.
Canada’s conservative prime minister, Stephen Harper, understands that energy means influence and independence. It would be tough to argue that Canada is on some kind of power trip, and it’s not difficult to understand why the country is interested in establishing oil trade deals that would help its closest ideological allies retain their energy independence.
Decisions by Europe and America in the past month have pushed away Canada and its oil overtures under the guise of environmentalism — which is turning out to be the new protectionism. And for what? So America and Europe can explore more “green-friendly” petroleum deals with unstable Middle Eastern and African regimes? It’s not as if curtailing purchasing can stop production. China has expressed an interest in having it shipped in — so Europe and America are effectively shifting any environmental impact to another part of the globe with even fewer controls.
As she points out, Canada exports a lot more than just oil. They are also a huge supplier of timber and mineral wealth, highly sought after around the world. Once they warm up relations with an increasingly wealthy and economically influential nation like China, the doors are open. We’ll be competing with China for a lot more than the local fossil fuels which the current administration is turning their nose up at.
Perhaps it’s just because my niece suggested a Lord of the Rings marathon for the Thanksgiving break, but I keep getting this quote from Elrond stuck in my head reading this. “Our list of allies grows thin, Gandalf.” Canada is just about one of our best friends on the planet, and a good thing too, considering both their proximity and resources. Shoving them into the eager and willing arms of China would be beyond folly… it would be criminal.
Blowback
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GB2FRANCE, NORTH MEXICO!!
Jeddite on November 23, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Which is exactly why it’s on ONero’s to-do list. Dude hates this country, remember? He’s our nation’s Iago.
Mary in LA on November 23, 2011 at 4:09 PM
And by Iago I mean the Shakespeare character, not the cartoon parrot.
Mary in LA on November 23, 2011 at 4:10 PM
Well if we were able to get Canadian oil (or even drill for our own), how would the left be able to use national security as the justification for wasting billions on their green initiatives?
Dead Hand Control on November 23, 2011 at 4:11 PM
Barack Obama doesn’t care about Canadian people.
SlaveDog on November 23, 2011 at 4:12 PM
The name sounds familiar. Did she use to be on Redeye or something?
Chudi on November 23, 2011 at 4:12 PM
The Democrats are committed to establishing a “green” economy, using alternative energy sources. Accepting more petroleum imports from Canada would only interfere with that goal, hence, Obama and his minions would rather rely on unstable sources of oil until they can ram their agenda down the throat of America.
NNtrancer on November 23, 2011 at 4:14 PM
Well, since you’ve mentioned South Park and the discussion is on Canada, we should note that Terrence and Phillip don’t care about the oil, but they’d be pleased to give us lots of gas…
radjah shelduck on November 23, 2011 at 4:15 PM
When Obama bows to Canada’s Prime Minister, then we know he cares.
Electrongod on November 23, 2011 at 4:17 PM
FIFY you’re welcome.
Dr Evil on November 23, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Welcome to the world of environmental ideological nihilism. In order to preserve the environment, we must destroy ourselves. If we don’t do it by our own hand, enact policies that will allow our enemies to destroy us. And when destroyed, we will no longer hurt the Earth and allow it to heal.
Nethicus on November 23, 2011 at 4:20 PM
The John Candy movie that Jazz mentions (Canadian Bacon) is actually a Michael Moore movie, complete with lots of anti-American caricatures.
simkeith on November 23, 2011 at 4:23 PM
Except the emerging industrial nations like China and India are bigger polluters than we are, and they won’t take one for the planet.
Dr Evil on November 23, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Canadian Idiots
29Victor on November 23, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Ay?
karl9000 on November 23, 2011 at 4:30 PM
I wonder how many Canadians voted for Obowma…?
/
Seven Percent Solution on November 23, 2011 at 4:32 PM
I want to be where yaks can run free. Where Royal Mounties can arrest me.
vcferlita on November 23, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Lumberjack Song
sharrukin on November 23, 2011 at 4:38 PM
I deal with alot of customers from British Columbia, and they say many of them wish BC could break away from the Rest of Canada and become part of the United States.
Eastern and Western Canada are like two different worlds.
portlandon on November 23, 2011 at 4:40 PM
Don’t we only buy oil from those who would destroy us?
Hening on November 23, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Jazz,
thanks for the article and your commentary. Hopefully it will open a few eyes. I am dealing with my county energy committee and it’s full of people that don’t think logically. They care more about doing what they consider is right for the environment than what is financially feasible for the county. In such a poor economy it’s crazy how delusional these people are.
njrob on November 23, 2011 at 5:00 PM
portlandon, it been observed before that if our blue states and Canada’s western provinces switched countries, everyone would be happier. And both counties would be more conservative.
LarryD on November 23, 2011 at 5:02 PM
Canada: America’s Hat.
Q. How do you spell Canada?
A. C-eh-N-eh-D-eh.
As far as movies about world domination being orchestrated from Canada, this one is by far the best.
Left Coast Right Mind on November 23, 2011 at 5:04 PM
But that’s the whole point. It won’t be the evil WEST who are polluting any more. Our conscience is clean, because we’re dead and died saving the world.
And then the Kumbaya birds will fly in and everyone will hold hands and realize what a terrible thing they’ve done and stop all industrialization and live in peaceful communes.
Because Communism is the ultimate ideology of peace, according to environmental ideological nihilism. It’s either that way or the big dirt nap.
I didn’t say it made sense. But if you follow their reasoning at OWS and any neo-hippie rally, you’ll find they agree with the idea of complete Luddism and redistributive economy of fairness (Communism).
Nethicus on November 23, 2011 at 5:18 PM
I don’t know which one is more irritating, though.
BigAlSouth on November 23, 2011 at 5:18 PM
The original, full-time occupant of the “legs chair”. It didn’t end well, though she did bequeath the show the legacy of the “hairy goblet”…
jon1979 on November 23, 2011 at 5:18 PM
Yep, his only film that was dubbed as “fiction” by Moore himself, not just by others…. Got horrible reviews, but it was kind of dopily cute, if I recall correctly.
calbear on November 23, 2011 at 5:28 PM
Obama prefers to kiss dictators.
pat on November 23, 2011 at 5:29 PM
Dave Sheetrock did.
Del Dolemonte on November 23, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Ah, Rachel Marsden – I remember back when she was a local interest / crazy stalker story in the Vancouver Province newspaper (like the NY Post). So hot and yet so bughouse nuts.
Anyway, on the matter at hand – Alberta WILL produce the oil and it WILL find a willing market. The Saudis have already admitted that because of their recent and massive welfare giveaways, they cannot let oil get below about $80/barrel, so the tar sands are here to stay, baby.
holdfast on November 23, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Oh Canada.
juanito on November 23, 2011 at 6:16 PM
My sister-in-law plays harp with a professional orchestra in Alberta.
Alberta is pretty cool.
annoyinglittletwerp on November 23, 2011 at 6:16 PM
As an American who grew up in a border state with Canada, I will forever be grateful to our canuks for saving American lives back in 1979 when they hid many Americans in Iran and eventually smuggled them to safety with forged passports. They did that at great risk and it is a true tribute to the kind spirits of the Canadian people.
That, and I enjoy HGTV, which shoots many of their shows IN Canada. :)
karenhasfreedom on November 23, 2011 at 6:19 PM
I just love songs about Canada. Heh.
annoyinglittletwerp on November 23, 2011 at 6:25 PM
Eh, Canada.
whatcat on November 23, 2011 at 6:32 PM
Relax, no matter who is in the White House, the Canadians MUST get along with them. Canadians invest in the US more than in their own country. But yes, please build the pipeline, it’s in everyone’s best interest.
KillerKane on November 23, 2011 at 7:02 PM
The only unpleasant Canadian I ever met was of the French Canadian variety while vacationing in Ireland. It is fair to mention that she was with a large group of similar and drunken friends. I’ve done a fair amount of business in Canada and have found Canadians to be friendly and delightful. They have good views of the US and we should strive to keep it that way.
Mason on November 23, 2011 at 7:02 PM
Drywall Hardest Hit.
BigWyo on November 23, 2011 at 7:09 PM
The Saudis greasing palms might also have something to do with the rejection.
Hosers.
andycanuck on November 23, 2011 at 7:15 PM
Thank you your majesty, Barackulus Obamulus.
AshleyTKing on November 23, 2011 at 8:36 PM
Take off, you hoser, eh?
bofh on November 23, 2011 at 9:46 PM
So it’s rather curious when you see Washington – and to some degree, Europe – giving the Canadians the back of their hands.
================================
Being a Righty Canadian,with a sense of humour,I know,that Obama
is temporary,and don’t forget, Team Obama was try’n to make deals,
even before he was elected!!!!
canopfor on November 23, 2011 at 10:16 PM
It sucks for Canada to not hooking this up and I really do wish that America was the one to receive this oil. But I’m also glad that Harper is not keeping all his eggs in one American basket, and is diversifying.
AlexB on November 24, 2011 at 1:50 AM
I remember that as well. The best part was the reaction of the “students” who were holding the American hostages: “That’s illegal!”
Kafir on November 24, 2011 at 8:03 AM
“I don’t even know what street Canada is on.” -Al Capone
Crusty on November 25, 2011 at 11:30 AM