六九色堂

Nov. 30, 2018

U.S. 'open for business' to Canadian entrepreneurs

American ambassador Kelly Craft speaks at 六九色堂 about new trade deal
Wayne Henuset, left, speaks with U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft on Nov. 22 at the 六九色堂.

Wayne Henuset, left, speaks with U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft at the 六九色堂.

Kelly Hofer

Despite recent strains in their relationship, Canada and the United States are still 鈥渓ike a family,鈥 American Ambassador Kelly Craft told an audience at the 六九色堂.

鈥淵ou have to understand that you have your differences, but at the end of the day, you all come to the table,鈥 she said as part of the聽Wayne Henuset Entrepreneurship Speaker Series. The event was recently hosted at the MacEwan Ballroom by the聽Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which is part of the聽Haskayne School of Business.

The event was moderated by co-speaker Wayne Henuset, president and owner of Calgary-based Willow Park Resources Ltd. He asked Craft about the potential for Canadian entrepreneurs under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will replace the existing North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

'We are open for business'

Craft said one of the most important aspects of the new deal is that it will not only provide stability and clarity for Canadian investors in the U.S., it will also complement American President Donald Trump鈥檚 efforts to streamline regulations so that businesses can thrive.

鈥淭he president is very insistent that he wants people to invest in the United States 鈥斅爐hat we are open for business,鈥 she told an audience of more than 220 people ranging from entrepreneurs to Haskayne students and professors.

Calling Canadians 鈥渇ierce negotiators,鈥 Craft said much of Trump鈥檚 tweets and interviews about Canada during the trade talks were intended to 鈥渃hallenge people鈥 to get their reaction, sharpening the skills of both sides as they reached the best deal. 鈥淚f you play tennis, you want to play with someone who is better than you are so that you can improve your game,鈥 said Craft.

The agreement must be聽聽by the legislatures of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Craft said the聽oil and gas industry聽in particular will be a 鈥渂ig winner鈥 under the deal, with Trump aiming to make 鈥淣orth America energy independent.鈥

Craft did not say when U.S. tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel might be lifted, which was a hope of the successful conclusion of trade negotiations. 鈥淚 can tell you that it is an聽, that first and foremost, Donald Trump cares about the security and safety of the United States, as does Prime Minister (Justin) Trudeau when it comes to the steel industry within Canada,鈥 she said.

'Tension' at U.S. border

In the wake of the legalization of marijuana in Canada, Calgary-based investor and ex-Dragon鈥檚 Den聽member W. Brett Wilson told Craft 鈥渢here is an escalating level of tension鈥 at the U.S. border for everyone from cannabis entrepreneurs, workers and users to bankers. A Canadian investor travelling to Las Vegas to attend a cannabis conference recently received a.

Despite widely varying circumstances, Wilson feared thousands of Canadians will be painted with 鈥渙ne intake brush.鈥 Both U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale have been working since July on the issue, said Craft, who did not say when it might be resolved.

Each situation is different and U.S. border agents will respond to the differences. As Ambassador Craft says,聽鈥淐anadian laws have changed, but U.S. laws have not. And privacy considerations prevent us from commenting on individual situations.鈥