Midweek pod: return of the Three Amigos
As the wildfires in Fort McMurray continue to rage, thousands of people have been forced from their homes, with many of them heading to Edmonton.
On The House midweek podcast, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson joins Chris Hall to give an update on how his city is helping the residents of Fort McMurray, and whether the province has the infrastructure and funds set aside to cope with the crisis.
"We can rebuild, and we'll be stronger for it," Iveson says of the devastation that's displaced over 80,000 Fort McMurray residents.
Return of the Three Amigos
Then, after more than two and a half years, the leaders of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico will convene next month in Ottawa for a summit.
So what does the return of the Three Amigos mean for the state of the North American relationship?
- Barack Obama to address Canadian Parliament in late June
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Trudeau formally commits to lifting visa requirement for Mexicans
"It's tremendously significant," says Laura Dawson, director of the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.
"I think this is a new commitment from Canada to the whole North American project."
Former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson agrees, telling Chris Hall the upcoming summit is a signal that Canada is back in the game in North America.
"We've been a dog in the manger on the North American side — it's been really Mexico and the United States, and we've been sor tof an unwilling partner," Robertson says.
"Certainly the Mexicans see in Mr. Trudeau someone who understands the broad concept of the Americas, but now we have to deliver and that's what [the meeting] is all about."
Both Dawson and Robertson share their insights into the trilateral relationship and their hopes for what the summit will achieve, including a North American climate framework and a boost to Canada-Mexico relations — no matter who occupies the Oval Office after the U.S. presidential election.
"We need to encourage Canada and Mexico to align together on many, many more issues," Dawson says. "Canada and Mexico have not had a united front. Canadians and Mexicans need to speak much more about what their common objectives are in North America."