Western has launched the only “think tank” in
the country devoted exclusively to studying
the relationship between Canada and the
United States.
The new Canada U.S. Institute will focus its
teaching, research and policy development
activities on the political, economic, legal,
cultural and historical dimensions of the
Canada-U.S. relationship. A centre for public
opinion and voting behaviour will also be
developed at the Institute.
The interdisciplinary initiative draws on
expertise from across campus, including Arts
and Humanities, Information & Media
Studies, Law and Social Science as well the
Richard Ivey School of Business. The institute
also brings together under one umbrella
three existing campus entities focused on
related fields of study: the Centre for
American Studies, the Canada-U.S. Law
Institute, and the Lawrence National Centre
for Policy Management.
It is anticipated the Canada U.S. Institute
will require $17 million over ten years with
$1 million coming from Western, $2.5 million
from a Tri Council Research Grant, and the
remaining $13.5 million from private donors.
The first study conducted by the Canada U.S.
Institute was presented on April 13, 2010 in
Washington, D.C. “Moving Closer or Drifting
Apart? Assessing the State of Public Opinion on
the U.S.-Canada Relationship” is by co-authors
Cameron Anderson and Laura Stephenson
who are both faculty members from Western’s
Department of Political Science and
researchers at the new Institute. They
examined a host of key policy issues based on
results from an extensive cross-border survey.
Don Abelson, Director of the Canada U.S.
Institute, says the study speaks to how
Canadians and Americans feel about how
effectively their leaders are coping with
pressing domestic and foreign policy matters.
“This report helps further our understanding
of the various factors that shape one of the
world’s most important and enduring
economic and political relationships,” says
Abelson. “In doing so, the authors have laid
the foundation for additional studies
intended to explore the complex nature of
Canada-U.S. relations.”
For results of the study, download pdf.
For more information about supporting the
Canada U.S. Institute, contact Kevin
Goldthorp at 519-661-3858 or krg@uwo.ca.
