THUNDER BAY – A former Canadian ambassador to the United States and Conservative political strategist says he’ll take a wait-and-see approach to the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden.
Derek Burney, who served under former prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Stephen Harper, on Tuesday said he thinks there will be plenty to like about Biden’s plans, but there was also plenty to like about outgoing President Donald Trump’s policies.
“It’s pretty hard to compare a hypothetical with a reality,” Burney said, speaking to Northwestern Ontarian chamber of commerce members via Zoom from his snowed-in Colorado home.
“There are features of Biden’s platform that should appeal to Canadians. There are features of the platform that will not appeal to Canadians. There were features of Donald Trump’s agenda that appealed to Canadians. There were features of his policies that did not.”
Burney, who said Canadian trade prospects tend to fare better with the United States with Republicans in power, said if Biden bows to the far left-wing of his party and cancels projects like the Keystone XL pipeline project, it could be seriously damaging to the Canadian economy.
“Biden’s domestic policy positions are a mixed bag for Canada. Those favouring more action on climate change will be pleased by his quick decision to rejoin the Paris Accord,” Burney said. “I, personally, would be happier if he was also committed to ensuring more timely and more tangible commitments like China and India.
“The imbalance is startling, but just by returning to the original Paris targets, means that what was becoming a significant competitive disadvantage under Trump will be attenuated.”
However, Biden’s position on fossil fuels could be worse for Canadian interests, in particular western Canadians involved in the oil and gas industries.
“If he fulfils his pledge to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit, that would be devastating for our energy sector. In my view, such action would be blatantly discriminatory,” Burney said, adding he’d urge Canadian leaders to launch an official protest under the new U.S./Canada/Mexico trade agreement.
“It should be challenged forcefully by our government, not just by the pipeline company.”
Burney said Canadians can expect a less hostile relationship with the U.S. over the next four years under a Biden administration. Trump at times clashed with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was allegedly caught mocking the U.S. president with a group of other world leaders, over trade and other global matters.
That in itself should improve Canada’s trade prospects.
“Biden will be more congenial with Canada and with allies generally. After 47 years of service in Washington, he’s no stranger to Canada, nor to our prime minister and other alliance leaders, “Burney said.
To gain further favour with Washington, it would be prudent for Canada to step up to the plate and do more for NATO and take part in concerted efforts to rein in China alongside the U.S., Japan, Australia and India on economic and security issues.
“We have not been very relevant on global affairs in recent years and our relationship with the United States is certainly no longer special,” Burney said.
Much of Biden’s more radical agenda will depend on the outcome of a pair of Senate run-off elections in January in Georgia, a chance for the Democrats to take slim control of the Senate and, at least briefly, all three legislative branches of government.
He is encouraged by the preliminary cabinet appointments he’s seen, including Alejandro Mayorkas as director of Homeland Security and Tony Blinken as secretary of state.
Make no mistake, Burney said, the United States may have voted out Trump, but Trumpism is here to stay and the country has never been more divided, save for the Civil War era, as evidenced of how tight the vote was and how well Republicans did in down-ballot races.
“Donald Trump will not go quietly into the night.”
