bout de papier, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1984) — June 1984 // Juin 1984, p. 4
The Professional Committee Breakfasts continued to attract large numbers of colleagues. Tom d’Aquino, President of the Business Council on National Issues, spoke to us on business-government relationship in slightly more reassuring terms than might have been anticipated. David Dodge, Assistant Deputy Minister of Employment and Immigration and Canada’s representative on the OECD’s Manpower and Social Affairs Committee, addressed employment prospects for Canada and implications for immigration. Mr. Dodge indicated that Canada would need considerably more immigration to the year 2000 to assure flexibility of labour and to ensure that the labour force does not age greatly.
Peter Hancock, Director of our USSR and Eastern European Bureau, provided a thoughtful and highly-entertaining account of current East-West relations and how they were reached by conjuring historical snapshots from the past and invoking key paradoxes which underpin the relationship. His presentation was followed by a particularly frank and friendly dialogue with the audience.
Bernard Wood, Executive Director of the North- South Institute, spoke on the subject “Canada: Back to a Middle Power?” Mr. Wood said interdependence has grown more intense and at the same time relationships more fragile. Attempts to manage these relationships have been undertaken too late and have proved clumsy and reactive. Canada, said Mr. Wood, is particularly suited to a middle power role. This is underscored by the “peace initiative” and our promotion of North/South dialogue. Canada is perceived as non threatening and therefore in the best position to influence those new actors on the world’s economic stage such as OPEC and Newly Industrialized Countries (NICS).
In an open, relaxed and somewhat off the cuff fashion, American Ambassador Paul A. Robinson Jr., reviewed US/Canada relations as they stand today. Mr. Robinson assessed US/Canada relations as excellent, having improved considerably in recent years and ventured that after the upcoming elections in both countries the relationship would continue to improve.
The Garrison Diversion project was dismissed as a “nonissue” with Mr. Robinson emphasizing that the US would not consider proceeding with the “Canadian-sensitive” portion of the project without the prior concurrence of Canada. A nervous murmur was emitted by those present as Mr. Robinson scoffed at the idea of biota being carried by ducks into the Canadian watershed. On the question of extraterritoriality, Mr. Robinson noted the Canadian position but did not indicate that the US government would alter its course.
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