Half of Canadians live south of 45 degrees 42 minutes north. Put in Montana road terms, that’s around the northernmost exit to Bozeman. At Trego, I’m 3 degrees further north at 48 degrees, 42 minutes. I think that means something like 70% of Canada’s population lives further south than I do. That includes folks in Victoria, BC. On the other hand, every Albertan lives north of me.
Every so often, I get to listen to a Canadian truck driver. A quarter century ago, in South Dakota, the Quebecois driver who delivered our Quonset materials listened to me and asked “What part of Alberta are you from?” Obviously southwestern, I suppose. The most recent truck driver pointed out that fewer Canadian trucks driving into the US would put more Canadian trucks driving east-west within 160 km of the border. I think that was his line for 90% of the population. His comment – related to the European Union – was that there are more barriers to trade between Ottawa and BC than there are between US states or member countries of the European Union. I don’t know if he was right – but truckers get a lot of time for stray thinking as they drive. I don’t think he plans on driving to Europe.
I notice this trade war with my neighbors – and for years there has been that 400% tariff on milk going north (though probably not as far north as I am). And I can’t help suspecting that the whole thing could have been avoided if the negotiations had been held in Elko and Eureka, between neighbors instead of Washington and Ottawa. After all, both cities are south of us. It wouldn’t have been hard just to eliminate all tariffs and call for free trade across the border – or at least free trade with Canada above the 49th Parallel.
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