8/02/2010 3:10 PM  WASHINGTON - A 30-second commercial lauding the close ties between Canada and the U.S. will air on Washington's NBC affiliate dozens of times during the upcoming Vancouver Winter Games.

The organization behind the ad, the Canadian American Business Council, says it marks the first time such a commercial has aired "inside the Beltway" - in other words, to an audience of powerful movers and shakers - during such a significant, avidly watched event.

"Our research shows that while there's enormous goodwill towards Canada in the United States, there is very little understanding of the importance of the relationship," Maryscott Greenwood, executive director of the council, said Monday on the eve of the commercial's North American release.

"The more people in D.C. understand the magnitude of the commercial trade as well as volume of energy coming from Canada, the better their policies are from a Canada-U.S. perspective."

The spot, with its uplifting music and shots of the fluttering flags of both countries, is aimed at American policymakers, energy and trade officials and "media elites." It airs during a crucial time period in Canada-U.S. relations.

Just last week, both governments announced Canada would be exempted from the protectionist Buy American provisions in President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package.

After almost a year of complaints, both from Canada and within U.S. business circles, firms and manufacturers north of the border will now be able to bid on projects being funded from what remains of the US$787 billion package. In return, American firms will be able to vie for infrastructure projects in Canadian provinces and municipalities.

Canadian officials say the deal reached represents an important first step, adding they'll continue pushing for a permanent exemption from all Buy American provisions, including those contained in future pieces of U.S. legislation.

Greenwood's organization, in fact, played a role in resolving the dispute, bringing U.S. business voices to the table. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several bluechip American corporations have been deadset against Buy American.

Canada and the U.S. are also taking a bilateral approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While Alberta's tarsands aren't popular in D.C.'s corridors of power, especially among some powerful Democrats, the business council's commercial stresses the importance of the energy source to the United States.

"Canada is America's largest energy provider, supplying oil from its vast oilsands and other reserves, natural gas and hydro-electric power," says the ad's narrator.

The commercial also mentions that U.S. exports more goods and services to Canada than all of the 27 European Union countries combined.

"The spot focuses on friendship, mutual respect for the environment and jobs, the current obsession of policy makers," Greenwood said.

One of the primary goals of the commercial, she pointed out, was to let American viewers know that Canada and the U.S. share the world's largest trading partnership, one that supports millions of jobs in both countries.