Roy Norton, Consul General of Canada in Detroit and member of CUSLI's advisory board, talks to The Daily Show about the Detroit International Bridge-and the strange combination of opposition to this alternative to the Ambassador Bridge.
(Note: Plans for the publicly owned bridge between Windsor and Detroit continue, with voters removing the thorniest obstacle to the bridge last November.)
Interesting fact: One man owns "the most important border crossing in North America."
Check out the clip below:
Showing posts with label Detroit River Crossing Project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Detroit River Crossing Project. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
President Obama’s Re-Election—for Obvious and Less Obvious Reasons—May Push the Canada-U.S. Relationship to Center-Stage
By Keith Edmund White
Will Obama’s second term put the Canada-U.S. relationship on center-stage? A quick round-up of Canadian headlines shows three major issues dominating the post-election Canada-U.S. relationship: (1) in the short-term, Canadian apprehension over America’s ability to reach a debt deal, (2) Keystone XL, and (3) moving forward on the Beyond the Border Initiative. But let’s not forget two other wrinkles from America’s election night: Heidi Heitkamp’s Senate win and the failure of a state constitutional roadblock to the Detroit River Crossing Project. And when you add to this Canada’s critical role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, the Canada-U.S. relationship will be getting its fair due during Obama’s second term.
BC’s The Tyee offers a cautious Canadian reaction to President Obama’s re-election. The article's two chief points: (1) If Obama does not reach a debt deal with Congressional Republicans, who still hold the U.S. House of Representatives, America could tumble into recession, and drag Canada along for the ride; and (2) hope that Obama will clear full construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. But The Hill calls Keystone XL an energy election-night ‘loser,’ seeing a Romney White House fast-tracking the project. My guess: with Keystone XL already under construction, I don’t expect the Obama administration to stall Keystone XL’s northern construction much longer.
But, in any case, Heidi Heitkamp’s Senate victory in North Dakota guarantees one strong, Democratic voice in favor of the pipe-line.
And then, of course, one major pit-fall in Canada-U.S. relations was avoided. Yesterday Michigan voters shot down a state constitutional amendment that would have delayed—and perhaps killed—plans to build a second, bridge crossing connecting Detroit to Windsor over the Detroit River—a project with obvious economic impact in both Canada and the United States, and strongly supported by Canadian Prime Minster Harper.
But one less reported story bears mentioning. December 2011’s Beyond the Border Initiative (BTB), a Canada-U.S. project to streamline border regulations and bolster border security, might get a jump start. Birgit Matthiesen offers this BTB post-election update for the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters:
What’s the importance of listing these seemingly unattached policy items? First, it seems that two big pressure points in the Canada-U.S. relationship—Keystone XL and the International Detroit River Crossing—have (or soon will be) taken care of. Next, Canada represents low-hanging economic fruit for the United States. And—after Obama does heavy lifting on a debt deal and a job bill—the name of the White House economic strategy will be (with one major exception) connecting small dots to generate growth. One major and needless U.S. economic drain? Canada-U.S. border regulatory burdens that could be eased through smart, cooperative policies.
Now, naysayers may argue the United States has had trouble keeping focus on Canada. But, if the TPP talks keep moving ahead, the United States simply won’t have this luxury. Hence, whether pushed by state-specific issues or international trade diplomacy, the Canada-U.S. relationship may just see its fair share of time on center-stage during Obama's second term.
Will Obama’s second term put the Canada-U.S. relationship on center-stage? A quick round-up of Canadian headlines shows three major issues dominating the post-election Canada-U.S. relationship: (1) in the short-term, Canadian apprehension over America’s ability to reach a debt deal, (2) Keystone XL, and (3) moving forward on the Beyond the Border Initiative. But let’s not forget two other wrinkles from America’s election night: Heidi Heitkamp’s Senate win and the failure of a state constitutional roadblock to the Detroit River Crossing Project. And when you add to this Canada’s critical role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, the Canada-U.S. relationship will be getting its fair due during Obama’s second term.
BC’s The Tyee offers a cautious Canadian reaction to President Obama’s re-election. The article's two chief points: (1) If Obama does not reach a debt deal with Congressional Republicans, who still hold the U.S. House of Representatives, America could tumble into recession, and drag Canada along for the ride; and (2) hope that Obama will clear full construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. But The Hill calls Keystone XL an energy election-night ‘loser,’ seeing a Romney White House fast-tracking the project. My guess: with Keystone XL already under construction, I don’t expect the Obama administration to stall Keystone XL’s northern construction much longer.
But, in any case, Heidi Heitkamp’s Senate victory in North Dakota guarantees one strong, Democratic voice in favor of the pipe-line.
And then, of course, one major pit-fall in Canada-U.S. relations was avoided. Yesterday Michigan voters shot down a state constitutional amendment that would have delayed—and perhaps killed—plans to build a second, bridge crossing connecting Detroit to Windsor over the Detroit River—a project with obvious economic impact in both Canada and the United States, and strongly supported by Canadian Prime Minster Harper.
But one less reported story bears mentioning. December 2011’s Beyond the Border Initiative (BTB), a Canada-U.S. project to streamline border regulations and bolster border security, might get a jump start. Birgit Matthiesen offers this BTB post-election update for the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters:
Over the last four years, Canada has too often benignly neglected by our neighbour. But the next four years presents an opportunity to build a North American manufacturing base. The US business community has a partner in Canada. One-third of our cross border business is intra-company and another third is comprised of intra-industry shipments. Our best ideas are each other's next new product.But, the big story—and not once mentioned on cable news last night—is that an Obama victory will continue progress, without the interruption of a presidential transition, on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). As earlier reported on CUSLI-Nexus, Canada may likely play a critical role in ensuring these talks succeed. And if this massive trade deal succeeds, it will likely—over the medium and long-term—generate more economic growth--and, at times, painful economic shifting--than any stimulus or jobs bill. Furthermore, how the TPP goes may well portend how the future effectiveness of the World Trade Organization.
The ball is in our court, as it always is when dealing with an American administration. But we do not have to start at square one.
Two initiatives between President Obama and Prime Minister Harper have already been launched – the Beyond the Border Action Plan and the Regulatory Cooperation Council. The ambition is great, but the progress is slow. Now that the elections are behind us, Ottawa and Washington need to get back to the table on these two efforts.
We have a major opportunity right now. 2013 must be the year that celebrates our cross-border partnership and the strength that our industries bring to each other's communities. Obsolete border management policies and unnecessary regulations must be replaced by a modern framework that will protect us from the economic storms ahead.
What’s the importance of listing these seemingly unattached policy items? First, it seems that two big pressure points in the Canada-U.S. relationship—Keystone XL and the International Detroit River Crossing—have (or soon will be) taken care of. Next, Canada represents low-hanging economic fruit for the United States. And—after Obama does heavy lifting on a debt deal and a job bill—the name of the White House economic strategy will be (with one major exception) connecting small dots to generate growth. One major and needless U.S. economic drain? Canada-U.S. border regulatory burdens that could be eased through smart, cooperative policies.
Now, naysayers may argue the United States has had trouble keeping focus on Canada. But, if the TPP talks keep moving ahead, the United States simply won’t have this luxury. Hence, whether pushed by state-specific issues or international trade diplomacy, the Canada-U.S. relationship may just see its fair share of time on center-stage during Obama's second term.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Friday Morning News Wrap
By Keith Edmund White, Editor-in-Chief
CNOOC-Nexen Deal In the Greater Canada-China Economic Context. Conventional wisdom says that the CNOOC-Nexen deal will be approved. But the real story, at least according to Asia Pacific Foundation President and CEO Yuen Pau Woo, is what strings Canada puts on future Chinese acquisitions of Canadian companies. What I find surprising? Woo’s advocacy for ‘smart’ state economic planning in Canada. From The Globe and Mail:
Detroit-Windsor Crossing: Harper’s Hard Press & Michigan’s Messy Ballot Battle. The Harper government, in their proposed 2013 budget, is exempting a second-planned bridge crossing between Windsor and Detroit from environmental review. We’ll see if that sticks, or if the NDP or Liberals can make political hay out of it. But, perhaps more importantly, Michigan voters may decide the pace any new international crossing is made—and it’s bringing out colorful local politics. The owner of the Ambassador Bridge, Manuel ‘Matty’ Moroun, is pushing Proposal 6, which—if passed—could create legal hurdles for the planned construction of the Detroit River International Crossing Project. And he seems happy to deal for votes from both ends of the political spectrum. Will an international bridge crossing be tangled by an unlikely coalition of ballot voters this November? And how is this issue, unlike the Keystone XL pipeline, not getting any national political attention? From The Windsor Star:
Liberals Can’t ‘Centerize’ Themselves To Victory. Paul Wells at Maclean’s gives some sober advice to a Canadian Liberal Party still on the ropes:
Cyber Espionage Part of Doing Energy Business in China? TheStar.com reports on increased Canadian cybersecurity spending, but notes the skepticism of Queen’s University cyber-security expert David Skillicorn. And iPolitics.com reports on espionage as part of doing business in China:
In fact, if the country’s assorted Liberal parties are in the mood for advice from the “department of easier said than done,” they should waste no more time seeking to present themselves as the middle ground between extremes. Instead they should find some extreme worth defending. What social end is so important that it’s worth taxing to achieve? What fights are worth fighting?
The decline of Liberal parties in Canada produces a kind of optical illusion. The centre isn’t disappearing, it is becoming crowded. Nothing about the Liberal name ensures the endurance of Liberal parties. Loyalty will not save them. Wit and heart will, or nothing will.
Two First Nations Tribes Territorial Dispute May Delay Major Canadian Wind-Energy Project. The Anishinabek and Batchewana tribes are arguing over their territorial lines, which were set by the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. At risk: the 36-turbine, 80 km/~50 mile Bow Lake Wind Farm Project. Check out The Globe and Mail’s report.
There are plenty of anecdotal examples of cyberespionage in the energy sector and some consider it part of the business.
“One of the companies we deal with makes power plants,” said a source familiar with the Canadian energy sector. “They built a power plant in China and all the intellectual property was stolen.”
An opportunity was missed a few years ago when there was a bidding war for Inco. At the end of a convoluted series of offers and counteroffers, two bidders were left standing – Vale of Brazil and Teck Resources of Vancouver. Vale was the much bigger player, and Teck’s offer came as a surprise. Since the acquisition was subject to government review, Ottawa had a chance to weigh in. Support for Teck would have resulted in a much enlarged Canadian company ranking in the top five of global mining giants.
But Vale prevailed, and another Canadian icon went into foreign hands. To be sure, Teck is Canada’s largest diversified mining company and still a global player, but an opportunity for a “national champion” to enter the top tier of mining companies was missed.
The point of this example is not to bemoan foreign ownership but to bring clarity to the goal of building national champions. Blocking foreign investment in and of itself won’t create globally significant Canadian companies. By the same token, a purely hands-off approach to market transactions is no guarantee of success. If this sounds complicated, it’s because economic statecraft is complicated. Beware of those who would boil it down to just a few easy rules.
Detroit-Windsor Crossing: Harper’s Hard Press & Michigan’s Messy Ballot Battle. The Harper government, in their proposed 2013 budget, is exempting a second-planned bridge crossing between Windsor and Detroit from environmental review. We’ll see if that sticks, or if the NDP or Liberals can make political hay out of it. But, perhaps more importantly, Michigan voters may decide the pace any new international crossing is made—and it’s bringing out colorful local politics. The owner of the Ambassador Bridge, Manuel ‘Matty’ Moroun, is pushing Proposal 6, which—if passed—could create legal hurdles for the planned construction of the Detroit River International Crossing Project. And he seems happy to deal for votes from both ends of the political spectrum. Will an international bridge crossing be tangled by an unlikely coalition of ballot voters this November? And how is this issue, unlike the Keystone XL pipeline, not getting any national political attention? From The Windsor Star:Critics say Moroun already has a deal in play with the group Americans For Prosperity, buying the group’s support on Proposal 6 by bankrolling its campaign on Proposal 5 — a ballot initiative to limit taxes.
Last week, the Detroit Free Press reported on Moroun bartering with the United Auto Workers for the union’s support on Proposal 6 in exchange for Moroun financially backing Proposal 2 — the union’s ballot initiative on collective bargaining.
Reportedly under pressure, UAW leadership backed away from the deal, with union president Bob King saying the UAW would remain neutral on Proposal 6.
The UAW’s recent hints of support for Proposal 6 were made all the more embarrassing by the revelation that earlier this summer, King wrote a letter to the U.S. federal government extolling the benefits of a new bridge crossing.
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