Following a challenging couple of weeks in the bi-lateral relationship, Chris and Beth check in with an old friend, both to them and to the United States. A discussion with Ambassador Raymond Chretien, who served as Ambassador to the US, France, Mexico and others. 

Beth and Chris take in the view from British Columbia, and a look at how Canada's economy and resources have it poised to thrive in the 21st Century. And that there is further opportunities to grow with the world and with the United States.

On a solo mission today, host Beth Burke talks with Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli, along with Ontario's newly minted representative in Washington, David Paterson. These two friends of Canusa Street truly understand the bilateral relationship and they take a deep look at the many connections between Ontario and the US, from energy, to trade, to critical minerals and more.

The US border is still closed to vaccinated Canadians. A key leader in the US Congress, Representative Suzan DelBene, shares her thoughts about the “incredibly difficult situation for our border communities” including places like Point Roberts, Washington, as well as USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai’s recent visit with DelBene and what the path forward is for Canada/US trade challenges in dairy and wine. What are the metrics needed to re-open the land border with Canada? Canusa Street hosts Chris Sands and Scotty Greenwood have a candid conversation with the Vice Chair of the Ways & Means Committee and a true Congressional champion for the bilateral relationship.

In this episode, Beth and Chris chat with Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, who was in Washington to talk up the energy, critical minerals, tourism experiences, and love for the United States that his province have to offer to the United States. Along the way, we talked about Premier Furey's volunteer work as a trauma surgeon in places like Haiti and Bangladesh, and his time on Fellowship in orthopedic trauma at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at University of Maryland in Baltimore, just one of his personal connections to the American side of Canusa Street.

Canada and the United States produce a lot of energy but getting it to customers can be a challenge. In this episode, Beth and Chris talk to Gitane De Silva, former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator and a diplomat who has represented Alberta in Washington and Canada in Chicago. The conversation runs from Canadian federalism to energy infrastructure, the role indigenous communities in Canada and the changing but still challenging experiences of women in business and government. Then there was something about racing pigs at the Wisconsin State Fair – tune in to find out why!

Brian Mulroney, who served as Canada's Prime Minister from 1984 until 1993, passed away on February 29, 2024. Tributes from world leaders have been numerous and heartfelt, especially from Americans who hailed Mulroney for his bold efforts to improve Canada's relations with the United States. In this episode, Beth and Chris speak with former Quebec Premier Jean Charest who was elected to Parliament in 1984 along with Mulroney, and named to Cabinet in 1984, Canada's youngest cabinet minister at 28, and became a lifelong friend. In this very special episode, Charest shares stories and speaks to the continued relevance of the shared values that Mulroney made the foundation of Canada's relationship with the United States.

This is a very special episode where we welcome back original cohost Scotty Greenwood and talk with former Canadian Cabinet Minister Peter McKay. Chris and Scotty go around the world with Peter looking at how Canada fits into many of the global challenges we are seeing today.

It's an anniversary bash along Canusa Street. In this episode, Beth and Chris chat with Wilson Center Mexico Institute director Andrew Rudman about the celebration of eighty years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Canada. 

We've been hearing a lot about India and Canada lately. With so much going on in South Asia in 2024, Beth and Chris talk to Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center to get a bird's eye view of what is going on and what to expect.

Though it insists upon its status as a pacific power, Canada has found itself on the outside looking in on a network of military and economic alliances being formed in the Indo-Pacific. This week, Chris and Beth are joined by Deanna Horton, Canada Institute Global Fellow and Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, to discuss Canada’s regional aspirations and woes.  

Assassinations, election interference, and geopolitical shifts: Canada’s 2023 was fraught with emerging security threats at home and abroad. This week, former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister Vincent Rigby joins Beth and Chris for a look ahead at Canada’s security landscape in 2024.

From election speculation to foreign leader visits and everything in between, POLITICO’s Ottawa Playbook gives readers a daily look into stories big and small across Canadian politics. As 2023 draws to a close, Beth and Chris reflect on the biggest Canada-US stories of the year with Nick Taylor-Vaisey: Toronto Maple Leafs fan, trivia master, and mastermind behind the Ottawa Playbook.

In this timely episode of Canusa Street, Beth and Chris take a walk down the street with former MP and Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt, taking a look at the US Canada relationship at this juncture.

Conflicts an ocean away reverberate in Canada and the United States through economic links, immigrant communities, and shared commitments to human rights and freedom. In this episode from 2022, Chris and Scotty talk to Peter van Praagh, president of the Halifax International Security Forum about the ties that link Canusa Street to a troubled world. 

As strategic thinkers from around the world meet at the 2023 Halifax International Security Forum, this classic Canusa Street episode from 2022 featured HISF President Peter van Praagh in conversation with Chris and Scotty on the global tensions that Canada and the United States must confront as allies.

It’s a new era on Canusa Street, as newly anointed co-host Beth Burke takes the reigns from Scotty Greenwood to join Chris for a conversation with Canadian Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng. Tune in for a wide-ranging discussion on inclusive trade, female representation in government, and people-oriented policy. 

No, this isn’t a Freaky Friday situation – we’re talking about the places the U.S. trades! National Foreign Trade Council President Jake Colvin sits down with Christer Sands Christopher Sands for a lively discussion about explore the prolific and diverse trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada, global considerations for the U.S., and the careful balance of domestic regulation vs. global cooperation. Whether you're an avid trade enthusiast or just curious about what and why things cross Canusa Street, this episode promises a deep dive into the world of cross-border commerce.

Get ready for a population party as we celebrate Canada’s recent milestone of hitting 40 million people. Chief Statistician of Canada Anil Arora joins the show to shed light on the factors that led to Canada’s rapid population growth, how we can compare it to U.S. demographic data and the fascinating vantage point that Anil’s position and expertise offers him on cross-border policy, cultural issues, and quality of life.

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Everything in-between. Natural resources are as central to the history of Canada-US relations as the world’s longest land border or hockey rivalries. This week, Scotty and Chris welcome Daniel Macfarlane, associate professor of environment and sustainability at the University of Western Michigan, to discuss bilateral resource management, balancing politics and science, and the concept of natural security.

Purchase his book, “Natural Allies: Environment, Energy, and the History of Canada-US Relations”, here: https://www.mqup.ca/natural-allies-products-9780228017592.php

Canada is famous for its participation in United Nations peacekeeping, but the US rule in UN missions has been an untold story until now. On this episode Scotty and Chris talk to retired US Army Colonel L. Scott Lingamfelter, a former UN Peacekeeper and author of a new book, Yanks in Blue Berets: American UN Peacekeepers in the Midde East (University Press of Kentucky, 2023).  Col. Lingamfelter discusses the qualities that make a good peacekeeper, the conditions on the ground necessary for a UN peacekeeping mission to succeed , and the prospects for UN peacekeeping missions in Ukraine and Haiti. We also learn about Scotty's personal connection to peacekeeping, a story that appears in Lingamfelter's book.

When Al Mussell isn’t leading research for the Agri-Food Economic Systems, or counting his cows, he likes to unravel the complexities of food security, innovation, and policy regulations. Scotty and Chris sat down with him to harvest his insights on the intricate world of agriculture, supply chains, and where Canada and the U.S. compare and differ.

No one man should have all that PNWER? Don’t tell that to Canusa Street, as Scotty is joined by former U.S. ambassadors David Wilkins, David Jacobson and Gary Doer for a wide-ranging discussion on trade, NATO, diplomacy and more. Recorded live at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region summit in July.

Is Canada utilizing its expats effectively? Will Canada be a clean technology superpower? How did Canadians contribute to box office headliners Barbie and Oppenheimer? John Stackhouse, senior vice president at RBC, joins Chris and Scotty for a double-headed deep dive into Canada’s expat community and the challenges and opportunities of Canadian energy transition.

During an interesting time for the Canada/US relationship, Chris and Beth have a conversation with former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Listen in as we discuss the long friendly relationship between the two nations, trade, borders and how things look going forward. 

What is soft power? Is it exclusive to the United States or is it something Canada has too? Scotty and Chris converse with author and Center for Strategic and International Studies expert Daniel Runde about his new book "The American Imperative" and talk diplomacy, foreign aid, great power competition and even movies! You can check out the book here: https://www.porchlightbooks.com/product/american-imperative-reclaiming-global-leadership-through-soft-power--daniel-f-runde/isbn/9781637582008

How can a simulation contribute to a sustainable future? That's the question as Scotty and Chris talk to Hélène Gagnon, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of CAE, a Montreal-headquartered multinational firm known worldwide for its flight simulators. Logging more time on a simulator saves fuel, but that is only the beginning of a great story of Canadian and American innovation to sustain values shared on both sides of Canusa Street. 

Washington state is home to 427 miles of the US-Canada land border, thriving aviation and technology hubs, and a stadium that will host matches for the 2026 Men’s World Cup. This week, Scotty and Chris welcome Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) to Canusa Street for a conversation on cross-border industries, democratic institutions, and sports diplomacy.

As Canada continues to struggle with its worst wildfire season in recent history, brave volunteers with Team Rubicon Canada are helping affected communities on the frontlines of the blazes. This week, Scotty and Chris welcome Paul McCarthy, Vice Chair of Team Rubicon Canada, to discuss the organization’s history, mission, and pivotal role in disaster response.

NYT on Quebec fires:  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/world/americas/canada-wildfires-season.html?smid=url-share

Support Team Rubicon Canada: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E341708QE&id=1

 In the wake of forest fires in Canada impacting a large swath of the United States, Chris and Scotty talk with Jean François Samray, the President and CEO of the Quebec Forest Industry Council. Not only does the latest smoke filled atmosphere get an airing, but they also talk about forest management on government owned land and the long standing softwood lumber trade dispute between the US and Canada. 

It’s a carbon capture congregation on Canusa Street as Chris and Scotty are joined by Lisa Jacobson of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Jonathan Sohn of Capital Power for a discussion on energy transition, incentives and regulations, and the push to net zero on both sides of the border.

Today we hear from a program held by the Canadian American Business Council in their Corporate Action on Social Justice series, discussing how businesses in the US and Canada navigate the political seas of "Woke" vs. "Anti Woke." On the panel we hear from our own Scotty Greenwood as well as Clint Odom, the Vice President of Strategic Alliances and External Affairs for T-Mobile, Kevin Madden, senior partner at the Penta Group, Reg Manhas of Lapis Energy, and Estuardo Rodriguez of the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino and founding principal of the Raben Group. 

 

Last week, U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen took Canusa Street from Ottawa to Washington for an event at the Wilson Center, where he pushed back on claims of American protectionism and highlighted opportunities for Canadian-U.S. prosperity. Tune in as Chris and Scotty discuss the event, the Ambassador’s remarks, and perceptions of protectionism on both sides of the border.

Dive into the latest episode of our podcast as Chris and Scotty make a splash with special guest, the Hon. Catherine McKenna! From champion swimmer to Canada's former Minister of Environment and Climate, she shares her insights on Canada's carbon pricing, Indigenous engagement, and how we can all work together to tackle climate change.

For a look at the report mentioned in the episode go to: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/high-level_expert_group_n7b.pdf

What do Ontario, Nevada, China and Washington DC have in common?  What do Ian Bremmer, Doug Ford and Robbie Diamond have in common?  LITHIUM! Jonathan Evans, CEO of Lithium Americas, visits Canusa Street to talk about one of the most important critical minerals for EV batteries, found in Canada and the United States, and what we must do to meet demand. 

Back from hiatus, Beth and Chris begin 2025 talking about the very special commitment that President Carter had to the US/Canada relationship. The CANUSA team remembers Carter's extraordinary life, decades in politics, and global impact on the world stage.

This week we are treated to a live program in Atlanta where Scotty Greenwood talks to Flavio Volpe, the head of Project Arrow, Canada's first zero-emissions concept vehicle.  It is a fascinating discussion about where North America is positioned for the future, and what direction we are headed.

It’s a cross-podcast extravaganza on Canusa Street as Chris and Scotty welcome CSIS’ Trade Guys for a discussion on open markets, USMCA, supply chains, and perennial trade disputes.

Canusa Street is back on the road, recording on the sidelines of the US-Canada Summit in Toronto! This week, Chris and Scotty interview Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez on climate policy, critical minerals partnerships, and the global challenges that keep him up at night.

With President Joe Biden’s visit to Ottawa in the rear-view mirror, Chris sits down with CBC’s Washington-based correspondent Alexander Panetta to discuss Canadians’ reaction to the two-day summit and reflect on policy developments affecting migration, foreign engagement, and cross-border supply chains.

This week, President Biden is flying north for the first visit to Canada of his presidency. As Ottawa prepares to welcome the President, Scotty chats with the man at the helm of President Obama’s and then-Vice President Biden’s visits to Canada in 2016: former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman. Tune in for a dynamic discussion on expectations for the upcoming visit, wider geopolitical context, and stories from visits past.

Scotty and Chris take a walk on the west side of Canusa Street to talk to Member of Parliament Taleeb Noormohamed who represents Vancouver Granville in the Canadian House of Commons.  In a wide ranging conversation, the trio discuss the role of volunteerism in society, Taleeb’s famous thesis advisor, and the unique power of the US and Canada as a beacon for freedom and success in the world and how we should approach migration in North America. 

Chris and Scotty look south of our borders to Haiti with Benjamin Gedan, Wilson Center Latin American Program Director and former National Security Council South America Director. Things have been on a downward trajectory in Haiti, with intractable poverty, brain drain, natural disasters, crime and political strife.  How do the US and Canada figure in helping to turn things around?

With President Joe Biden’s promised trip to Canada around the corner, Chris and Scotty welcome Jennifer Savage, Director of the State Department’s Office of Canadian Affairs, for a conversation on life in the foreign service and US perspective on the bilateral relationship.

One balloon in the sky over Canada and the United States has focused attention on the challenge that China poses in North America.  Chris and Scotty discuss the balloon and global geopolitics with one of the US leading experts on China, Robert Daly.  

This week, Congressman Brian Higgins is back on Canusa Street to talk about NEXUS, pandemic-era restrictions, and other roadblocks affecting bilateral traffic and trade along the Canada-U.S. Border.

Check out the text of Congressman Higgins’ “Make NEXUS Work Act” here: https://higgins.house.gov/sites/higgins.house.gov/files/NEXUS%20BILL%20-%20MAKE%20NEXUS%20WORK%20ACT.pdf

In this episode of Canusa Street hosts Beth and Chris sit down with Congressman Buddy Carter, the US Representative for Georgia's 1st District. Together, they delve into the critical importance of the Canada-US relationship. Congressman Carter shares his insights on opportunities for continued collaboration, including USMCA, energy trade and coordination, healthcare, and more. Join us for a discussion that underscores the significance of cross-border cooperation and explores opportunities to strengthen the bilateral partnership. 

Scotty and Chris discuss a true Canusa Street issue, the two way street between Canada and the United States when it comes to electricity transmission. Joining them is Francis Bradley, the CEO of Electricity Canada, a trade association of suppliers focused on sustainable electricity. You will probably be shocked at the amount of interesting cross border connections that are made here!

A record number of people are dying from overdoses of synthetic drugs like illicitly manufactured fentanyl.  At the recent North American Leaders Summit, Presidents Biden and Lopez Obrador and Prime Minister Trudeau discussed cooperative ways to address the flow of these substances across our common borders.  Chris and Scotty discuss policy approaches to the drug crisis with one of the leading thinkers and advocates on the topic, Regina LaBelle, Distinguished Scholar and Director of the Addiction and Public Policy Initiative at the O'Neill Institute at Georgetown University Law Center.

You may know that minerals are vital for 21st century life. So much so that some are even called "critical minerals." Fortunately, the US and Canada are abundant in these mineral resources, and Scotty and Chris have a conversation with Abigail Wulf of SAFE on how we can align policy to meet a "critical" need.