Obama-Rama is set to ride the Hillbilly Highway here. The President-elect is set to make his first official visit after Inauguration to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper's (minority) government has done all but lick the ball's of the outgoing administration since they won a minority mandate from the out-going Liberals, what, four years ago? Harper's backwards good ol' boy schtick worked wonders with Dubya's Cowboy-themed policies on everything from the Environment to Foreign Affairs, but I wonder what shift he will take to get in the good books with Barack... How will Steve spin his own administration when dealing with the "Change-a-Coming" style from South of the Border? Time will tell...
Regardless, there will be many things on the table when the Obama train rolls into town... Afghanistan, climate change, a failing economy, & massive energy projects in the north of North America will undoubtedly be a part of the briefing, & it will certainly be interesting to see where Obama stands on these issues as regards Canada's involvement. Will he be for destroying the northern boreal forest for cheap oil, or the displacement of indigenous nations in Canada's Far North to satisfy demand for natural gas & arctic sea access? Will he lean on Steve & Co to continue sending Canadians to die for pipeline-safety in Afghanistan?
Again, time will tell....
It would be a shame for all the Canadians who championed Obama to have to deal with the bitch-slap of reality that is likely looming. Regardless of what Change is Coming for the US, our southern neighbours are likely to have energy security high on their priority list, which, anyway you slice it, comes down to Bad News for anyone in the way....