The most important relation that the Canadian government would want to conserve is its relation with its neighbors, the United States. In essence, the country relies heavily on policies such as defense and security, water and air pollution, indulging in investment, and many other agreements that it has with the USA. Matters that directly affect the personal lives of the citizens of Canada heavily rely on its relationship with the Americans and are therefore important in maintaining good foreign relations with the same. Industries like the wood industry, wine, meat, and fish industry, and the vehicle manufacturing industry of Canada relate directly to the USA in terms of production or even providing for a market.
In line with this, probably the biggest asset that Canada may have over the past 30 years is its Free Trade Agreement with the United States. At the beginning, the agreement did not receive massive support in the House of Representatives in the election period of 1988. With adequate campaign from the then government, it was passed and consequently approved by Parliament. The whole essence of the agreement was to provide security for Canadian trade with the USA. A voluminous document took a lot of time to create. Business and political experts from both countries participated in assembling this document.
The effects of the document can arguably range from positive to negative. Job gains on one hand have increased while on the other hand, other sectors have had losses. The instability of the Canadian dollar can also arguably be blamed on the effect of the agreement between the countries. Its major objectives though were to eliminate tariffs of trade to the USA and hereby exporting to the country would be easier and increasing access to export markets in the same country. Red meat was to be trades without tariffs on the US soil.
The agreement also focused on giving Canada energy products that would ensure cheaper and more efficient production of goods in their industries. There is also one law that also forbids misuse of trade laws like one that was done with the softwood lumber. This kind of relationship is important to Canadians for simple reason of existence. The high reliance on the US due to the support it provides the Canadian State gives a significant reason why the policy becomes its most valued one among foreign policies.
One of the biggest influencers of the foreign policy in Canada is arguably its media, which eventually includes the international media. The shift that exists when the media comes in and reports about anything that concerns the affairs of the foreign policies is intense. The impact created by the media when it was involved in the Canadian policy on oil production in the Canadian Oil Sands is example enough to show how much the media has influence on the policy.
Another great influencer of the policy is the international community in itself. The inclusion of the US consulate in Canada goes a long way in influencing any foreign decision that it intends to make. Since the US is the country’s biggest asset, any international policy that the policymakers create must pass through tight scrutiny by the diplomats in the country. Any decisions that Canada makes that might influence US in a negative way night receive repulsion from foreign soil.
The interest of the foreign ideologies in Canada in investing in the country also is a factor. Diplomats representing countries like the US may require hearings with the Canadian leadership in order to discuss issues pertaining to the above. Such sittings influence the foreign policies that the country may have set.