Peter McKenna: Canada's Trudeau Should Rush to Repair Relations with Mexico Peter McKenna - The Chronicle Herald
go to original November 18, 2015

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau grace the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Wednesday as the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation leaders’ summit kicked off in Manila. (The Canadian Press)

One of the first foreign policy priorities for the new Trudeau government should be resetting the Canada-Mexico relationship.

The previous Harper government essentially neglected diplomatic relations with Mexico for the last five years. It is thus badly in need of a new infusion of political energy — especially the pivotal Canada-Mexico Partnership initiative.

Much of the current tension stems from Canada’s 2009 imposition of a travel visa — ostensibly in response to an increased flow of Mexicans improperly seeking refugee status in Canada.

The refugee issue today — given that the initial numbers have dropped by 85 per cent — is no longer a major problem. Yet Mexicans continue to fume over Ottawa’s inflexibility and its penchant for treating a reliable NAFTA partner in such a shabby fashion.

Another part of the problem is Canada’s stubborn insistence on viewing Mexico through a violent, drug-infested lens.

Instead of characterizing Mexico as a security threat or a narco-state problem, we should be looking to Mexicans as possible partners and allies, including in our fight with the U.S. over its outrageous country-of-origin-labelling practices.

Indeed, Mexico could be very useful to Canada as a sure-footed tag-team partner pitted against the United States.

Read the rest at The Chronicle Herald

Canada's new prime minister Justin Trudeau is charming and says the right things but let's break down some of his political beliefs. (AJ+)

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