If you’ve been following the news—and it’s hard to miss if you’ve been listening—then you must’ve heard about the attempted takeover of Saskatchewan-based Potash Corp. by an Australian company. The bid, which would’ve seen a Canadian company being taken over by an Australian one, and the loss of a huge money-making resource for Canada, was a pretty interesting one. Watching it play out in the media and through the various levels of government was down-right compelling.
First, it needs to be pointed out that Potash Corp. is a confusing operation. It’s based in Saskatchewan and does something important with fertilizers, as far as I can tell. The corporation employs boat loads of Saskatchewan residents and it’s a boon industry for the province, but it’s complicated because most of its higher-level management staff are based out of an office in the United States. So, a Canadian corporation? That’s a question that’s been left largely unanswered.
Nonetheless, in the name of the interests of the province, the Potash Corp. takeover was vehemently opposed by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. Wall, a sort of conservative and leader of the Saskatchewan Party, felt that it was in his province’s best interest to keep production and ownership of the corporation in Canada. He was outspoken in his opposition to the takeover going through, but ultimately it really wasn’t up to him. The decision was up to Industry Minister and Conservative Party heavyweight, Tony Clement, and it was certainly a tough call to make.
Ultimately, Mr. Clement sided with the Premier and vetoed the deal, a pretty rare event as far as these kinds of things go and, in my opinion, it makes sense.
In Conservative-heavy Saskatchewan, during what is a challenging time for his party, Mr. Clement certainly didn’t want to rock the boat and risk losing seats in the House of Commons. So it makes sense to side with the province, and nix the deal, to keep things kosher with the Conservative ranks. But, in global terms, turning down a massive international investment of this kind, on top of other recent international mistakes and missteps, might end up moving Canada from an important middle power on the world’s stage, to a minor footnote of a nation.
Our first big mistake came at the hands of the United Nations. For the first time in history, Canada lost its bid for a seat on the all-important Security Council. In the past, Canada’s position on the Council has enabled us to push through our agenda on items like peacekeeping—an issue that’s defined our country on the international stage. But Canada lost its bid this time and without deconstructing the issue too much I think it’s safe to say that our lack of visibility at the United Nations and our country’s general lack of interest in the international body over the last several years is probably to blame, in my opinion.
Our second misstep, I would argue, has been our government’s handling of the Omar Khadr case. Say what you will about Khadr the fact of the matter is that Canada, along with the United States, played an integral role in pushing through the United Nation’s treaty on child soldiers. In short order, both country’s have violated the very treaty they fought to create, by trying Omar Khadr at Guantanamo Bay. On the international stage, this is an incredible misstep. Not only does it set a dangerous and deplorable precedent but it alienates our government and our country from more progressive, fair-minded nations. It allies us with the United States in a way that I think we should be distancing ourselves; in the same way that the United States is willing to prosecute child soldiers it is also willing to use torture to extract information. That is not a path we want to begin to head down.
In terms of international environmental initiatives Canada made it’s third misstep last week by blocking important negotiations during a conference on biodiversity. To boil down a complicated issue, our country blocked developed nations from exploiting their own genetic resources for profit. A move that drew criticism from many pockets in the international community. Another example, I would argue, of Canada alienating itself and making decidedly un-Canadian decisions on the world’s stage.
And then there’s Potash.
When I said that the decision to block the takeover over Potash Corp. makes sense, I qualified it, and I think I’m justified in doing so. In light of all of Canada’s recent international missteps and mistakes, a move like blocking foreign investment on such a large scale is just another blow to Canada’s global reputation. I mean, I agree with the decision. I think Canadians jobs and, more importantly, Canadian resources, need to be protected to a certain degree. But, heaped on top of all of our other international failings, blocking this takeover pushes us that much further from the global community—and it’s unfortunate. It’s unfortunate because, in my opinion, it was the right decision and would’ve been a fine move, a small snub to international investment, if it were not for all of our other recent mistakes. Our country, already crippled from blow upon blow on the international stage, is now sent simply reeling.
A solution? Canada, and our government, need a clear international agenda. We need clearly defined goals and we need to work, in partnership with other “middle power” countries, other similarly-minded countries, to meet those goals. We need to bolster our flagging international reputation, through cooperation and common sense decision-making, before it’s too late. We need to reconnect with our country’s core values, our responsibilities, and get our priorities straight. If we want to fade into middle power obscurity, then we ought to sit back and do nothing. But if we want to play an active and important role on the world’s stage, if we want wield power and influence to do good—and we can!—then we need to reset our course immediately.
It isn’t acceptable that making the right decision, a Canada-first decision, puts Canada in such a difficult spot. We’re crippled by the choices we’ve made, and nearly prevented from making good, sound ones, because of the poor ones that preceded them. If Canada wants to be safe to stand up for itself in the global community, we need to start cooperating, start rebuilding our reputation—a good and decent one—where it counts. Doesn’t that make sense?
“It’s based in Saskatchewan and does something important with fertilizers, as far as I can tell”
For those keeping score at home potash is a family of salts containing Potassium (K). Potash can be mined in Saskatchewan and from there goes on to one of the three major ingredients of fertilizers, the others being Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P).
And we’re back in.