Ambassador: ‘Canada is your biggest customer’

Gary Doer, Canadian ambassador to the United States, told the Western Governors Association today, “Canada is your biggest customer.” “We buy more goods and services from the United States than the whole European Union put together,” Doer told the group, which is holding its annual conference in Coeur d’Alene. He added, “You probably know that we’ve got lots of tourists visiting you all the time.” In a country of 35 million people, 25 million visit the U.S., he said. “We love to travel to the United States.” Doer said western premiers and governors “share a vision” of land management. “Our wildlife does not require ‘Real ID’ to get across our border,” he said to chuckles. The ambassador also touched on cooperation between Canada and the United States on international issues, including Libya, Afghanistan and Iran, and trade and energy issues. “We are with the U.S. and with Israel on not allowing or accepting unilateral declarations of countries that do not believe in the right of Israel to exist,” he declared. Doer also got a round of applause when he said, “I also want to congratulate the United States for that great and successful Navy Seals mission in Pakistan.” He said, “We really appreciate that skill, and our soldiers and military wanted me to pass that on to you and to the American people here today.” He said the two nations agree on working toward increased use of renewable energy, but said when it comes to traditional energy resources - like the Alberta oil sands project - “It makes more sense to rely on Canada for this energy rather than the Middle East.” Said Doer, “We feel that when people are debating energy and energy security, that it makes sense to have energy from Canada.”