The Canusa Street Podcast
Welcome to Canusa Street: a podcast at the intersection of Canada-US relations. Join hosts Beth Burke of the Canadian American Business Council and Christopher Sands, Director of the Hopkins Center for Canadian Studies, as they explore the issues that constitute the bilateral relationship.
LISTEN ON:
Recent Episodes
Episode 108 – Talking Ontario With Premier Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford takes a walk down Canusa Street with Chris and Beth, discussing progress on tariffs and the interest in finding a way through the issue.
LISTEN ON
Episode 107 – Talking to a True Statesman
Following a challenging couple of weeks in the bi-lateral relationship, Chris and Beth check in with an old friend, both to them and to the United States. A discussion with Ambassador Raymond Chretien, who served as Ambassador to the US, France, Mexico and others.
LISTEN ON
Episode 106 – The World Wants What Canada Has
Beth and Chris take in the view from British Columbia with former Premier Christy Clark, and a look at how Canada’s economy and resources have it poised to thrive in the 21st Century. And that there are further opportunities to grow with the world and the United States.
LISTEN ON
Episode 105 – Opportunity to Recalibrate
In this timely episode of Canusa Street, Beth and Chris take a walk down the street with former MP and Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt, taking a look at the US Canada relationship at this juncture.
LISTEN ON
Episode 104 – Just North of Northern Dakota
During an interesting time for the Canada/US relationship, Chris and Beth have a conversation with former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Listen in as we discuss the long friendly relationship between the two nations, trade, borders and how things look going forward.
LISTEN ON
Episode 103 – Remembering President Carter’s Canada Connection
Back from hiatus, Beth and Chris begin 2025 talking about the very special commitment that President Carter had to the US/Canada relationship. The CANUSA team remembers Carter’s extraordinary life, decades in politics, and global impact on the world stage.
LISTEN ON
Episode 102 – Just Peachy!
In this episode of Canusa Street hosts Beth and Chris sit down with Congressman Buddy Carter, the US Representative for Georgia’s 1st District. Together, they delve into the critical importance of the Canada-US relationship. Congressman Carter shares his insights on opportunities for continued collaboration, including USMCA, energy trade and coordination, healthcare, and more. Join us for a discussion that underscores the significance of cross-border cooperation and explores opportunities to strengthen the bilateral partnership.
LISTEN ON
Episode 101 – Defense Sense
NORAD, the only binational military command in the world, has a mandate to monitor North American airspace for threats, defend US and Canadian air sovereignty, and track Santa Claus as he delivers gifts around the world. This week, Beth and Chris welcome US Air Force General Glen D. VanHerck (ret.), who most recently served as commander of NORAD and US NORTHCOM from 2020 to 2024, to talk all things defense, security, and geopolitics in North America and beyond.
LISTEN ON
Episode 100 – Celebrating Our 100th Episode!
It may be hard to believe, but this is the 100th episode of Canusa Street! Today, Beth and Chris share some of their favorite moments as Canusa Street doubles as Memory Lane. Thank you to all of our listeners who have made this show a success.
LISTEN ON
Episode 99 – A Conversation with Ambassador Hillman
Who better to talk to on Canusa Street than Canadian ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman? In this very special episode, Beth and Chris take a few moments to discuss how important this relationship is to each country and the whole world.
LISTEN ON
Episode 98 – Madame President (of the Treasury Board)
With thousands of businesses engaging in cross-border trade, how do Ottawa and Washington work together to reduce costs and red tape? On this episode, Minister Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada, joins Beth and Chris to discuss her work on regulatory cooperation, approach to cyber defense and security, and Asian-Canadian upbringing.
LISTEN ON
Episode 97 – Our Neighbour Ontario:
On a solo mission today, host Beth Burke talks with Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli, along with Ontario’s newly minted representative in Washington, David Paterson. These two friends of Canusa Street truly understand the bilateral relationship and they take a deep look at the many connections between Ontario and the US, from energy, to trade, to critical minerals and more.
LISTEN ON
Episode 96 – Come from Away to Canusa Street:
In this episode, Beth and Chris chat with Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, who was in Washington to talk up the energy, critical minerals, tourism experiences, and love for the United States that his province have to offer to the United States. Along the way, we talked about Premier Furey’s volunteer work as a trauma surgeon in places like Haiti and Bangladesh, and his time on Fellowship in orthopedic trauma at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at University of Maryland in Baltimore, just one of his personal connections to the American side of Canusa Street.
LISTEN ON
Episode 95 – Making (Energy) Connections:
Canada and the United States produce a lot of energy, but getting it to customers can be a challenge. In this episode, Beth and Chris talk to Gitane De Silva, former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator and a diplomat who has represented Alberta in Washington and Canada in Chicago. The conversation runs from Canadian federalism to energy infrastructure, the role Indigenous communities in Canada and the changing but still challenging experiences of women in business and government. Then there was something about racing pigs at the Wisconsin State Fair – tune in to find out why!
LISTEN ON
Episode 94 – Remembering Prime Minister Brian Mulroney:
Brian Mulroney, who served as Canada’s Prime Minister from 1984 until 1993, passed away on February 29, 2024. Tributes from world leaders have been numerous and heartfelt, especially from Americans who hailed Mulroney for his bold efforts to improve Canada’s relations with the United States. In this episode, Beth and Chris speak with former Quebec Premier Jean Charest who was elected to Parliament in 1984 along with Mulroney, and named to Cabinet in 1984, Canada’s youngest cabinet minister at 28, and became a lifelong friend. In this very special episode, Charest shares stories and speaks to the continued relevance of the shared values that Mulroney made the foundation of Canada’s relationship with the United States.