Canusa Street - Intersecting the Canada U.S. Relationship

Latest Episodes:

Nexus Perplexus; Bi-lateral Hug from Rep. Brian Higgins Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

This week, Congressman Brian Higgins is back on Canusa Street to talk about NEXUS, pandemic-era restrictions, and other roadblocks affecting bilateral traffic and trade along the Canada-U.S. Border.

Check out the text of Congressman Higgins’ “Make NEXUS Work Act” here: https://higgins.house.gov/sites/higgins.house.gov/files/NEXUS%20BILL%20-%20MAKE%20NEXUS%20WORK%20ACT.pdf

Shocking Integration Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Scotty and Chris discuss a true Canusa Street issue, the two way street between Canada and the United States when it comes to electricity transmission. Joining them is Francis Bradley, the CEO of Electricity Canada, a trade association of suppliers focused on sustainable electricity. You will probably be shocked at the amount of interesting cross border connections that are made here!

Overdose Crisis in North America and Innovative Approaches to Address the Disease of Addiction Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

A record number of people are dying from overdoses of synthetic drugs like illicitly manufactured fentanyl. At the recent North American Leaders Summit, Presidents Biden and Lopez Obrador and Prime Minister Trudeau discussed cooperative ways to address the flow of these substances across our common borders. Chris and Scotty discuss policy approaches to the drug crisis with one of the leading thinkers and advocates on the topic, Regina LaBelle, Distinguished Scholar and Director of the Addiction and Public Policy Initiative at the O'Neill Institute at Georgetown University Law Center.

Minerals are Critical Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

You may know that minerals are vital for 21st century life. So much so that some are even called "critical minerals." Fortunately, the US and Canada are abundant in these mineral resources, and Scotty and Chris have a conversation with Abigail Wulf of SAFE on how we can align policy to meet a "critical" need.

Try on a Hard Hat Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

Continuing our integrated North America theme we've been on recently, we talk to Jennifer Pierce. She is the CEO of TC Energy, and a Canadian who lives in Mexico, while running a Canadian company that brings US LNG to Mexico. Scotty and Chris discuss trade, pipelines, government cooperation and friction, new energy transitions and more.

A Preview of the North American Leaders Summit Jan 07, 2023

Show notes

With the Tenth North American Leaders’ Summit around the corner, Chris and Scotty discuss priorities for the three leaders and what to expect from their meetings in Mexico City. Then, we listen in on a special event with Chris and Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols co-hosted by the Wilson Center Canada Institute and Mexico Institute.

Avocados from Where? Dec 29, 2022

Show notes

In this final episode of 2022, Scotty and Chris take their final interview from their pop-up studio in Mexico City, talking to the Director of the Business Transformation & Innovation Division at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Vincent Annunziato. There is so much to learn in this episode about trade, counterfeit products coming into North America, and Scotty's long held secret desire to be an avocado farmer.

From the Tundra to Hotlanta Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

Another guest in our Mexico City pop-up studio is Ambassador Louise Blais, whose 25-year career as a Canadian diplomat brought her everywhere from INTERPOL and the United Nations to the Canada’s Consulate in Atlanta and its Embassy in Paris. She joins Chris and Scotty to discuss the importance of people-to-people connections in diplomacy, prospects for growth in North America, and other lessons from her storied career.

Life & Death Risks in Reporting Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

The media landscape has been tough for the last few years. But in Mexico it has been brutal, literally. In this "On The Road"episode, recorded in Mexico City, Chris and Scotty sit down with CBS News Correspondent Enrique Acevedo to talk about the challenges faced by journalists covering politics and crime in Mexico and take a step back to look at the media in North America from Ottawa, to DC, to Mexico City.

Face-Off: The 1972 Summit Series Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

50 years ago, Canada and the Soviet Union faced off in an historic hockey summit series at the height of the Cold War. The impact of the series on both countries, hockey itself, and the cross-cutting field of sports diplomacy are felt to this day.

This week, Chris and Scotty are joined by Ambassador Gary Smith, author of Ice War Diplomat, and Andrew Holman, Professor of History and Director of Canadian Studies at Bridgewater University.

Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Ice-War-Diplomat-Hockey-Politics/dp/1771623179

Documentary link: https://www.whitepinepictures.com/documentary/icebreaker