Geoff Russ: Canada must reforge its relationship with its oldest friend, Britain - National Post

Well wishers look on before the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a Lansdowne Park community event in Ottawa, Canada, May 26, 2025. Photo by DAVE CHAN /AFP via Getty ImagesArticle contentLast week, a column for The London Daily Telegraph declared that there should be “no doubt” that Britain should back Canada in its trade dispute with the United States.

It was penned by Daniel Hannan, the president of the Institute of Economic Affairs and an independent peer in the House of Lords, who wrote that the “true ‘special relationship’ is between Britain and Canada.”

Perhaps there is something to that. It is true that Canada and the United States share vast cultural and political similarities. The same is true of Croatia and Serbia and of India and Pakistan.

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Donald Trump has shredded the continental relationship, and a Democrat is unlikely to repair it. As noted by Ben Woodfinden in the Post last month, it was Joe Biden who cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office. Economic hostility is still hostility, even when delivered in a kindly tone.

Britain should occupy a larger place in our thinking about the future. Deepening our existing ties and strengthening our alliance would enable our two countries to act together, rather than only reacting to the White House, regardless of who sits in it.

Obviously, Britain does not rival American hegemonic power. However, the British have an active nuclear deterrent, significant global financial reach, and a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

To name only two ways of deepening British-Canadian ties, Canada has a treasure trove of natural resources, including minerals and energy, that we need to sell to enthusiastic and reliable partners. In return, British R&D, finance, and other expertise can be tremendous assets for Canada.

What other options are there? The Commonwealth? It is a silly organization dominated by corrupt banana republics and would-be republics alike, many of which behave like thugs.