Harmonizing immigration rules would be unpopular in Canada, at least at first. But it's the most compelling practical option

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

There’s only so much of substance that Canada can do to assuage President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for mouse-elephant relations. To address his concerns over border security — namely illegal migration and drug smuggling — ideas now in play include putting RCMP cadets on patrol … but it’s an awfully long border, and the Americans, with far greater resources, clearly don’t do a great job of policing their borders either.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Don't have an account? Create Account

On the free-trade front, a Harris poll conducted for the Guardian published last week found 59 per cent of Republicans believe the new tariffs Trump is threatening against us would lead to higher prices at the cash register; 69 per cent of Americans believed it overall. Some of them support the idea anyway, in the name of “bringing jobs home.”

That said, an Angus Reid Institute poll conducted in late October found just 16 per cent of Trump voters supported a “major tariff” on Canadian goods — versus 66 per cent for Chinese goods and 38 per cent on Mexican goods. So, American public opinion looks like less of an obstacle than Trump himself.

Nevertheless, we’re bringing in the Mad Men to make our case: The Ontario and federal governments are both launching advertising campaigns that, if successful, might take some pressure off this country.

Ontario’s television ad casts the........

© National Post