G&M: "The 2000s were a lost decade for Canadian exports to the United States"

Yes, the a budget dropped in Ottawa.  

But I'm finding Michael Burt's Globe and Mail article a bit more significant to the Canada-U.S. relationship's overall trajectory:

In short, Canada and the United States are becoming less dependent on one another, and, in most cases, China is the X factor. The Conference Board of Canada discusses these trends, their causes and implications in its recently published report, Walking the Silk Road: Understanding Canada’s Changing Trade Patterns.

The most resilient industries in terms of Canada’s share of U.S. imports are generally service industries. A highly educated work force, similar cultures, and a shared language have helped Canadian firms maintain their competitive position in the U.S. market. In contrast, Canada has generally lost the largest market share in manufacturing industries where labour is a major share of total costs, such as furniture manufacturing, printing and textiles. Industry specific issues can be an additional factor, such as the shift in consumer demand for flooring and cabinets away from traditional hardwood products toward those made from bamboo or more exotic hardwoods.

The link above goes to a webinar; if you want to access the actual December 2012 report, go here. 

 A summary of the report and webinar will be up by next Monday.