'These Boots Made for Walking' or 'I Got You Babe'? Canadian Chamber of Commerce Pushes Canada to Diversify it's U.S.-Heavy Trade

CUSLI-Nexus talks Canada-U.S. trade relationship, with the help of some classic 60s tunes! 

The Canadian Business Journal (CBJ), an excellent and free resource to catch up with Canadian business issues, offers a Canadian Chamber of Commerce article that reviews Canada's Top 11 impediments to international competitiveness (go to page 18).

Top on the list:  Human resources.  Canadian businesses are having trouble attaining the skilled work-force they need.

But, also of note, was the Chamber's addition of trade diversification, especially in energy (cough, Keystone).  (Note:  This 'Top 11' list built off the Chamber's 'Top 10' list in February.)   

So is the Chamber telling Canada change its U.S. lullaby to this Nancy Sinatra classic?

From the Chamber's CBJ article:

Some other takeaways from the issue overall: 

• Canada as Resource King.  From the selection of articles, Canada's resource industry dominates Canada's business scene.
• Canada Should Up Trade Diversity, But Loving Microsoft.  While pushing trade diversification, especially in energy, note the cover story on Microsoft Canada.
• Business and the public sector.  Business issues are social issues:  (1) note the absence of concern over healthcare costs, unlike in the United States, and (2) the need for Canada to train its workforce (or bring in skilled immigrants).  Impact:  government policies are business issues. 
• Canada and the United States:  'I Got You Babe?'  I hate to repeat myself, but the defining issue in Canada-U.S. relations isn't whether they diversify their trade partners.  Rather, it's whether both nations harness their relationship in order to succeed in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.