Both of our countries had birthdays this week. Canada turned 159 years this week and the US 250 years.

For most of those years, we have been good friends with the US. We fought together in World War I and World War II. We had one of the strongest trade agreements in the world. We took in our American friends on September 11. Invited them to take a gander at Labrador on September 11.

This past year has been very rocky. We were identified as being a 51st state possibility. Heavy tariffs on our aluminum and steel industry. A US ambassador who has no respect for Canada whatsoever. And a president who, despite much evidence to the contrary, believes he is the smartest person at the table.

Canada has responded by decreasing our visits to the US and by seeking trading partners throughout the world, much to the long-term detriment to the neighbour, south of us

Canadians need to look at this as a temporary blip. We will survive the next three years and life is and will go on. Eventually, our friendship with the US will strengthen again. It will never be the same. It can never be the same, but Canada will be much stronger for it.

That’s all I have for today.