Few Manitobans have likely had the need or the opportunity to visit the Consulate office of the United States located in downtown Winnipeg. Most Manitobans likely don’t even know of its existence. Yet, for years it has been an important connection point for local government officials with our southern American neighbors. I have had the opportunity to interact with the office and various Consul’s over the years on mutual interests of concern between our two countries. These have included issues of trade and more recently ways in which our two countries can work together on strengthening our border against human trafficking and drug trafficking.
Each July 4th, the Consul hosts a small Independence Day celebration in Winnipeg, and it is an opportunity to get together and to celebrate the strong relationship between our two countries. This year, the current Consul, Rebecca Molinoff held the event later in July to coincide with the visit to Winnipeg of the United States Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra. In addition to attending the Independence Day celebration event, Ambassador Hoekstra spoke at a Chamber of Commerce lunch and visited a number of businesses while in Winnipeg.
All of this comes at an unprecedented time in the relationship between our two nations and as America reshapes the nature of trade not just between the U.S. and Canada but the U.S. and the rest of the world. With that backdrop, many Canadians attended the event wanting to hear the Ambassador’s perspective and to try to get a sense of the path forward.
As I have for many years, I attended the event hosted by the Consul and was left with several impressions. The first is that while there is clearly a concern and anxiety that Canadians feel about the current state of the relationship with the U.S., there is also a real desire to have that relationship return to normal. For many years the close trade and security ties were taken for granted. That is no longer the case.
Yet, it was also clear that Ambassador Hoekstra feels that while there is a period of short-term uncertainty, the relationship is important to the United States and has a strong future. What that means in real terms when it comes to trade and tariffs, which is the most pressing present concern, wasn’t exactly clear. Likely because it continues to be a moving target with the ultimate goal known only by President Donald Trump and a few close allies in his administration.
In that way, it was a visit unlike I had seen before. It was clear that there is an uncertainty and an anxiety within the relationship. There is also a growing recognition that Canada must look beyond the United States to other nations when it comes to long-term trade arrangements.
A visit by the U.S. Ambassador to Manitoba is always welcomed. This particular visit was especially important as we try to get a sense of the path forward with our southern neighbor. And while there were few questions answered by the visit, the long-term solution to the current challenges will only be found by continued engagement. The often taken for granted friendship between our two countries may forge into something new, but it needs to remain strong and reliable for the benefit of both of our nations.
