At first glance, the winner of the U.S. presidential election tomorrow will not shift the IT channel in Canada off its axis or anything that dramatic.
However, the person who wins will have a big job ahead of them keeping the U.S. economic engine running at full capacity. Thanks to the George W. Bush-led war on terror and the collapse of major banks and investment houses the American budget deficit and national debt is on a major upward slope.
The new president, whether it is Barrack Obama or John McCain, has to stop the bleeding on the economy and do some major repairs. Whether you like it or not the U.S. marketplace is critical to business in Canada. Canada is America’s top trading partner, and vice versa.
Now, I have not heard anything specific from Obama or McCain on when they will do to fix the U.S. economy to the benefit Canada or other nations that market to the biggest market place in the world.
Most of their plans focus on Joe the Plumber-types in the U.S., and so they should. The U.S. President’s first priority should be his own people.
Also, the volatility of the U.S. greenback, which is the central currency in world trade, is another factor that will weigh heavy on the new president’s shoulders. Again a poorly competing U.S. dollar against our Canadian dollar will put manufacturing in crisis mode. This impacts the channel; especially in Ontario were a major part of the solution provider business is in manufacturing.
If you look at retail, which again is another key vertical for solution providers, poor consumer confidence will impact reseller business for sure. The next President has to restore that because, frankly, it is his job as leader of the free world.
Most Canadians would want Barark Obama to win. I say this from my own informal poll. Both men have not really said anything about Canada. Obama did say he would try to renegotiate with Canada and Mexico on NAFTA. But that was just political posturing during some visits to border states. McCain said that he welcomes Canadian oil over middle eastern oil because he views Canada as a friend and ally. But that is it for Canadian content when it comes to the men who are running for president.
Two quick hits before I go. Kevin Kennedy is the new CEO of Avaya, as Charles Giancarlo leaves that job to stay as chairman. This comes just days really after Mario Belanger resigned from Avaya Canada, as president, to take a similar role at Bell Enterprise.
Also, Chartwell Technology Inc. has appointed Dave Acorn as its COO. Chartwell also hired former Thoughtworks and Microsoft executive Clinton Begin as its new vice-president of software development.
