CANADA: The New Reality: Nationalism

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The anti-American spirit is centered in the wealthy province of Ontario, and particularly in burgeoning Toronto. It is much less pronounced in the Maritimes and in the Far West, while Quebec is more concerned about maintaining its own French identity within a predominantly English-speaking country. But as a phenomenon, nationalism is increasing throughout Canada, to the point where many influential Canadians now worry about it.

Low-Key Affair. Businessman William Wilder, chairman of Canadian Arctic Gas Pipeline Ltd., decries the "negative nationalism" that is "reflected in the attitude that whatever is good for the U.S. must be bad for Canada." Novelist Mordecai Richler (The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz) talks of a "self-indulgent cultural nationalism" that in effect licenses mediocrity.

Since 1969, the Canadian government, which once followed a foreign policy closely aligned with that of the U.S., has pursued what it calls the "third option." Rather than allow Canada to be increasingly "absorbed" by U.S. power or, conversely, make a total break with U.S. policy, Prime Minister Trudeau has set an independent course by strengthening Canadian relations with Western Europe and the Far East and creating new ties with China and the Soviet Union. Trudeau visited Brussels and Paris in October to seek special trade relations with the Common Market, and early next year he may go to West Germany, Portugal and Italy for the same purpose.

In domestic policy, Trudeau has always refrained from taking a strongly nationalistic line. But this fall he has allowed some of his more nationalistic colleagues in the Cabinet to become more vocal on the subject—partly because of the national trend and partly because his victory last summer was made possible by the support of strongly nationalistic Liberals in Toronto and Southern Ontario.

Trudeau's 24-hour visit to Washington last week was a rather low-key affair —a chance for Trudeau to meet President Ford and discuss with him matters like Canada's new oil policy. On that issue, the Prime Minister made it clear that Canada will not change its plans to cut off oil exports to the U.S. Although he conceded that there were disagreements between Ottawa and Washington on energy issues, Trudeau also said that he was "pleased" with the talks.