Former American Businessmen in Canada, 1850–1981

Former AmericanBusinessmen inCanada,1850-1981 David D. Harvey FormerAmericans have always played a significant part in Canadian business lifeand have at times seemed conspicuous among the Canadian business elite. There are indications, though, that their profile is lowering as native Canadians assume more and more managerial and proprietary roles, roles involving the innovative and entrepreneurial skills once thought to be un-Canadian. "Branch plant" operations are also less likely to be managed by Americans resident in Canada-a trend parallel to but not usually contiguous with a decline in the movement of independent entrepreneurs from the UnitedStates, potential founders of firms or dynasties. These trends probably reflect a general coming of age more than the impact of particular nationalist policies or activities. Before the Union of the Canadas, especially before the 1837 Rebellion, formerAmericans were closely identified and associated with other Canadians in the Montreal fur trade, the building of ships in the Maritimes or the establishment of forges in Quebec and Ontario. As the political idea of Canada became more a reality and as movement from the United States became more an act of out-migration, identification with the growing country (and its growing Britishness) became more a challenge. Some challenge was evident on the eve of the Rebellion. In the words of a Montreal newspaper: "If Americans or other foreigners choose to become citizens of Upper Canada, we are among those most desirous of receiving them with open Canadian Review of American Studies, Volume 16, Number 2, Summer 1985, 155-188 156 David D. Harvey arms; but for them to come here, holding no allegiance to our King, buying up our lands, engrossing our trade, sending their profits to their own country, and having nothing in common with ourselves, is what we must denounce with the utmost vigilance and perseverance. "1 Later objections to branch-plant operations-i.e., industrial organizations whose head offices, ownership and effective control resided in the U.S.-have rarely been so forceful or succinct. Insofar as individuals are treated in this essay,they are mainly non-branch-plant former Americans who became either citizens or permanent residents, neither expatriates nor exiles, coming and staying not simply on a tour of duty but for a great variety of reasons and with greatly varying impacts on the Canadian economy. Yet parallels can be found between independent and branch-plant careers; these parallels are doubtless based on the fact that an opportunity has been perceived and either muffed or seized and developed. Whether or not this has been carried out by an independent foreign entrepreneur or by a foreign-based organization is in some instances and for some analytical purposes immaterial. It is also necessary to allow that, just as some foreign employers become "good corporate citizens," some branch-plant employees have become citizens or permanent residents closely identified and involved with the Canadian community. The input, and hence the impact, of American settlers has rarely been studied, is not easy to quantify, and is less susceptible of generalization than the overall American influence, whether that influence is felt physically or metaphysically . Influence is partly measurable: for instance, the annual report of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Commerce (CALURA) releases official statistics regarding foreign ownership. Deductions regarding trends may be drawn from such evidence and, along with data from other sources, a profile of foreign corporate involvement in the Canadian economy over a number of years may be obtained. We can, in short, come up with a rather reliable picture of American-owned companies in Canada; ownership and control are identifiable , and U.S. direct investment in Canada can be charted and assessed from year to year. But what of American immigrants to Canada who are businessmen-who are they (and how many, and when), why do they come, why do they stay, and what are the possible consequences of their settlement (for themselves and for their fellow Canadians)? Official sources-the Censuses of Canada and the immigration reports-are exhaustive about "how many" and "when," but they skimp on "who" and leave the other questions blank. Biographical dictionaries can stimulate yet further research and analysis that may increase understanding of select individual experiences...