About that brand, Canada . . .

A couple years ago I wrote an essay for Policy Options about Canada and its "brand" in the world stage entitled, "Brand Canada or 'branded' Canadian." As I recall, my point was that with all the chatter about a Canadian "brand," we really needed to start with a defining identity. In today's New York Times is an item entitled "Canada's View on Social Issues Is Opening Rifts With the U.S." This wasn't exactly what I'd had in mind, but it's good to see Canada rear up on its hind legs for some fun-filled internecine prodding.

Frankly, I'm not entirely certain the differences are as social and a-political as the article would have one believe. The thrust of the problem is not the social differences: gay marriages, pot smoking, etc., etc. as it is the political differences that make these issues more than niggling differences as among states of the union.

Posted by Grayson at December 2, 2003 08:03 AM