Stability, rebuilding among next steps for Canada-U.S. relationship, Champagne says

After a tumultuous four years brought on by the Trump presidency, Joe Biden's victory could usher in a new era of calm in the White House something Foreign Affairs Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne says is key to strengthening ties with other nations.

"In international affairs, stability and predictability are key elements in order to build these relationships. So certainly we look forward to doing that," Champagne told CBC Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton.

"We've seen for more than a century now this close relationship between our two countries. And we can be a force for good in the world," he said in an interview on Rosemary Barton Live.

Biden's win came Saturday after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials in the U.S. sorted through a surge of mail-in votes. The president-elect crossed the threshold of 270 electoral college votes with a win in his home state of Pennsylvania, securing Nevada's six electoral votes later in the day.

Trump has not conceded the race and isthreatening further legal action on ballot counting.

WATCH | Will a Biden presidency mean good news for Canada?

Will a Biden presidency mean good news for Canada?

4 years ago

Duration 8:48

Foreign Affairs Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne thinks a Biden administration is an opportunity to strengthen the 'special relationship' between Canada and the U.S.

'We can rebuild' relationships: Champagne

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he islooking forward to working with Biden to tackle some of "the world's greatest challenges," including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. The global health crisis has closed the Canada-U.S. border to non-essential travel since March.

During his victory speech, Biden said he would name a group of scientists and experts on Monday to help his administration get the United States' coronavirus crisis under control.

"When I heard the president-elect yesterday talking about the COVID response and said that they would be guided by science, that resonates with Canadians," Champagne said. "Canada obviously will be following up on the work of the committee that he's been putting together."

The foreign affairs minister also said he hoped to work with Biden and other leaders to renew relationships with international organizations.

"I think that what happened in the last four years, in terms of some of those relationships, we can rebuild," Champagne said. "Certainly there's a will by Canada to work with this new administration, to work with colleagues around the world, whether it's about the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations."

Mark McKinnon, U.S. political advisor and co-host of Showtime's The Circus, said Biden's former turn as vice president means Canada has experience working with the incoming leader.

"It's not only good for Canada, it's good for the world order in the sense that Donald Trump just wanted to sort of throw the table over and break things," McKinnon told Barton. "Joe Biden wants to put things together. I think it's going to be very steadying for the world order and for Canada and our relationship."

Canada-China relations, Keystone XL top priorities

A new leader could also spell changes for China-U.S. relations, something that could affect Canada's own strained relationship with China as Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor approach their second year of detention in that country.

"I have no doubt we're going to be working together with key countries, key allies around the world, to make sure that we face that challenge together," Champagne said.

Also topping Canada's priority list is the fate of the Keystone XL pipeline, a project threatened by a Biden presidency.

The president-elect says he plans to rescind approval for the project, which would carry 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta to Nebraska.

"This is top of the agenda. We're going to be making our case, saying that Canada is the most reliable energy supplier to the United States," Champagne said. "We've been working together for decades now."

Canada-U.S. relationship suffered a 'major hit,' congressman says

Democratic congressman Brian Higgins, who represents the border cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls in western New York, told Barton in a separate interview that the Canada-U.S. relationship will be "dramatically different" under Biden.

"[Canadians] are our friends, they are our trading partners, they have been with us in the toughest times," said Higgins, who was re-elected into the U.S. House of Representatives this week and serves as co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus.

"This relationship has taken a major hit over the past four years because of the arrogance of this president," Higgins said.

WATCH | Lack of civility over past four years, Democratic congressman says:

Canada-U.S. relationship took a 'major hit' under Trump: Higgins

4 years ago

Duration 6:18

Democratic New York Rep. Brian Higgins thinks U.S. president-elect Joe Biden will correct 'damage' caused by U.S. President Donald Trump to Canada-U.S. relations.

The congressman pointed to Canada's "early, strong and united" response to COVID-19 as one example of the countries' differences, characterizing the United States' approach as "slow, sloppy and chaotic."

"I understand that your prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has already reached out to president-elect Biden, and I think that's indicative of a vastly improved relationship that will occur over the next four years," Higgins said.

For his part, Champagne said he would wait for a more "appropriate" time to travel to the U.S. to meet with Biden.

"We have to be gracious we worked well in some respects with the last administration. Look at NAFTA, as a good example," the minister said. "So we'll do things properly but also planning for a good future together."