Big Picture Realities: Canada and Mexico at the Crossroads

Acknowledgements

vii “Canada–Mexico Big Picture Realities” was the subject of a major conference organized by the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies at York University in November 2005. It was a unique event because it brought together a group of Mexican and Canadian experts to work on the big picture realities that are defining inter-state relations in North America. It is infrequent that Canada and Mexico have such an opportunity to explore the ways in which social and economic agendas are being rethought following the introduction of the North American Free Trade Agreement. This collection includes the papers—albeit all significantly reworked—from this conference. By also publishing it in Spanish, I am hoping to reach out to a larger audience and significantly strengthen Canadian-Mexican relations. Numerous individuals and organizations supported this project throughout its development. Ambassador Carlos Pujalte, consulate general in Toronto, played a critical role in finding resources both for the initial meeting and for the publication of this book. We owe him a special debt of thanks. The Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies played a singular role in hosting the conference, which was remarkable for the high level of participation and widespread interest from the academic and policy-making community. In particular, we owe a special debt to Laura Taman, who flawlessly organized this complex event. Her sharp editorial eye and pencil has improved the subsequent manuscript. Professor Seth Feldman, director of the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, has been very helpful in supporting this initiative, and I would like to offer him special thanks as well. Professor Duncan Wood of the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) generously offered to help with the preparation of this volume and facilitated the publication with Porrua edición. He provided badly needed resources and oversaw the translation. To Daniela Rivera, our translator, we owe the most Acknowledgements Daniel Drache viii Acknowledgements thanks of all for doing excellent work faced under numerous time constraints while overseeing the preparation of the manuscript in Mexico. She has done an excellent job of discharging her responsibilities and has played a critical role in the final preparation of the manuscript. Professor Rena Carces, an accomplished Costa Rican historian, checked the translation, and I am much indebted to her for her detailed work. Thanks to Jaigris Hodson, a research assistant at the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, for her terrific assistance in the final stages of preparation of the manuscript, in preparing the index, and for her most careful proofing. The task of editing has been made much easier by the cooperation and enthusiasm of all of the contributors. They also have been a pleasure to work with. We owe a special thanks for Daniel Schwanen, cigi, as well as David Dewitt, associate vice president, research, York University, for timely financial support. Muchas gracias. Daniel Drache ...