Because it is part of our responsibility as a powerful, wealthy and influential nation, and as part of the world, to remain in discussion with other nations. We have many ties - through business, personal realtions, education, tradition, language, law and culture. Some of those ties are much weaker than they used to be, but the business ties are stronger.

I do think that the relationship with Canada is so bad that it will be many years before it is healed; it may never happen. But we can't ignore each other. We don't have that luxury.