Thinking about and studying the whole strength in diversity thing in this country is deeply interesting, because it's not just about making sure you've covered every niche group and you're telling their stories. That's important, but it's not just that. It's also the language Canadians use in telling everyday stories about any conflict or anything that's going on in their communities. It's the way Canadians frame their conversation that is different. It's subtly different, but once you start looking at it, you say, “Oh my God, it's a lot different.”
When I was living in New York.... This is kind of interesting. I will tell you that in a Spanish-language newspaper it's one language, but it's 22 countries of origin. They could hardly talk to each other. It was unbelievable to have a Canadian come down and say, “Okay, guys, put down the guns and let's have a real conversation.”
If you look at how Canadians talk to each other about anything, you find that there's a really interesting way of engaging that dialogue over many years. As magazines or other broadcasters, when we actually do start to drill down into the stories of newer Canadians and into the stories of first nations.... There's a tremendous focus on the Far North right now, which is really neat, with great voices. Sheila Watt-Cloutier was up for a political writing award at last week's Politics and the Pen. You hear these voices, you watch the way they construct their stories, and you say, “That's very Canadian.”
That's what we need to make sure we don't lose. If we make a story that's just about winners and losers, black and white, in that up or down kind of American dialogue.... Forgive me if there are lawyers in the room, but I will tell you, having employed U.S. lawyers and Canadian lawyers, there's a difference in how they approach the problem. My U.S. lawyers want to win. My Canadian lawyers want to get a deal done. You see that in every story you read, when you look at it and say, “Oh, okay, we heard different, a little bit different.” But we are different, and that difference is hugely important.
