Lesson 23 — Activity 3:
Canada Influences Other Nations

Warm Up

In this activity, you will recognize that Canada uses negotiations to resolve its own conflicts and that sometimes Canada is able to influence other nations to bring about change.

As you learned earlier, because nations share this planet, it is certain that issues will occur. Conflicts will occur regardless of whether an issue is between Canada and another nation or two other nations have a problem. Canada relies heavily on negotiation to resolve differences. Canada has a reputation as a peaceful nation. You may find it interesting that most of Canada's international disputes have been with the United States, our closest neighbour and our friend. Three ongoing disputes are about forestry, fishing, and Arctic sovereignty. Read more about these disputes below.

Those involved with the United States forestry industry argue that the Canadian government subsidizes our industry, and that this allows our producers to sell Canadian lumber at a lower price than American producers can.
On both the east and west coasts of Canada, Canadian and American fishermen argue about who can fish where and how many fish should be caught. Borders on the oceans are not as clearly marked as they are on land.
As global warming melts the ice and opens the waters on Canada's northern coastline, the dispute about whether these waters are part of Canada's territory is becoming a bigger issue. Other nations, especially the United States, want to use this passageway to pass from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

All these issues are still under negotiation.

Another short-term dispute between Canada and the United States occurred when a case of BSE, or mad cow disease, was found in a cow in Alberta. The United States closed its borders to cattle from Canada. Even after scientific evidence proved that proper tests were being done and Canadian cattle were safe, the United States kept the border closed to Canadian cattle.

This border closure had a very negative effect on Canadian ranchers who had lost their largest market for selling their cattle. Canadian farmers lost millions of dollars. This closure lasted for several years. Much negotiation occurred between government officials to resolve the issue, and the border was eventually reopened.

Many countries in the world have a very positive opinion of Canada. They see Canada as a fair and tolerant nation, not one that tries to force its ideas and beliefs on others. Because of this, Canada is in a strong position to influence undeveloped and developing nations as they move forward. Canadians are often part of the United Nations' forces that go into hot spots to try to restore peace and protect the citizens who live there.

Such missions often include being a part of any rebuilding process. Canada is rich in natural resources that many countries need as they develop their economies. Often, the negotiations leading to a trading deal provide an opportunity for Canada to influence a nation's attitudes toward human rights. A nation's government might have to agree to do something such as build schools or provide housing to become a trading partner. This influence is even greater when such expectations are part of a foreign aid program.

Pearson: A Peacemaker's Peacemaker video

Click here to watch a video about Canada's most famous peacemaker — Lester B. Pearson, a person who did much to establish Canada's international reputation. This video shows how he did this.

Try This!

Canada has been involved in many peacekeeping missions, beginning in the 1950s and continuing today.

Click here to go to a website that lists all of the peacekeeping missions that Canada has been a part of. As you look down the list, if you want to learn more about a particular peacekeeping mission, just click on the name of the mission to find out more. Be sure to read more about at least two different peacekeeping missions that Canada has been involved in.