The Global Economic Crisis and its Impact on U.S. and Canadian Politics (Part 1)

Economic downturn, recession or depression – where are we headed and how long will it last? Exports account for two-thirds of Canada’s industrial output and over 85% of our exports go to the USA. But Americans, caught in the credit-crunch that is paralyzing the industrial world, are buying less. Belts are being tightened. Inventories of goods are building. Factories are closing. The ranks of the unemployed are swelling to alarming levels, both in America and here at home. As the economies of Canada and the USA are intricately intertwined, it behooves our respective political leaders to coordinate their approach to the crisis. But cries of “Buy American” ring out in the U.S. Congress. How will President Obama deal with this? He’ll be in Canada all of 5hours on February 19th. And what should Prime Minister Harper be saying to him? Is it time to rethink the wisdom of putting all our eggs in the American basket? Speaker: Dr. Trevor Harrison, Ph.D. Dr. Trevor Harrison is best known for his studies of populist politics in Canada and the political culture of Alberta and the Canadian west in particular. In addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters, he is the author, co-author, or co-editor of seven books, including most recently, Twenty-First Century Japan: A New Sun Rising (Black Rose, 2008). His op-ed columns frequently appear in several national newspapers, as well as the Lethbridge Herald. Dr. Harrison is currently Professor and Chair of the department of sociology at the University of Lethbridge and Interim Director of the university’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economics. Previously, he was a visiting professor at the University of Alberta where he also co-founded the Parkland Institute and was its first Research Director.