After the turbulent relationship between the Diefenbaker and Kennedy governments, the government of Canada asked two seasoned diplomats, Livingston Merchant of the U.S. and Arnold Heeney of Canada, to produce a report on how the two governments should relate to each other.

The result was a report that reflected the close friendship between the two authors, as well as their professional view that political controversy was more often than not counterproductive.

Fast forward 53 years, and we have many putting forward the view that “close allies” should not be airing their differences in public, and should make every effort to avoid the controversy that would only be hurtful to their common interests. Given the closeness of the relationship, the interdependence of trade, investment, and security, it seems, in this view, wisest to express our concerns in private.

Ironically, when the Merchant-Heeney report was published, it was seen as politically difficult to sell in Canada, because it seemed to imply Canada would park its political sovereignty at the door of quiet diplomacy.

Even more ironically, soon after the report was published, Prime Minister Pearson made a speech at Temple University before a visit to Texas, and the rest is history. Pearson called for a pause in the bombing of North Vietnam, after which President Johnson picked him up by the lapels and said “don’t you come to my country and piss on my carpet.” That same year, Canada and the United States signed the AutoPact.