The dissolution of the United States of America marked one of the most bittersweet days in Canadian history.

The country lost its greatest ally in a way - while the United States remained, it was not the superpower it had once been. A great power it stood, but no longer in command of the world. This changed everything for Canada. Her protection was no longer as assured as it had once been, and a stable neighbor on its southern frontier had been replaced by four new ones, each mysterious in its intentions. Though nominally on the same friendly relations from before the dissolution, what was going on in the minds of Sacramento, Chicago, and Seattle was unknown still. Even Washington's next steps could spell danger.

But in tragedy has come an opportunity. Since the confederation in 1867, Canada had been overshadowed by the United States. Perpetually dwarfed in resources, wealth, population, and power, Canada followed the US not simply out of goodwill, but just as much necessity. There was never a scenario in which Canada could defend itself against Washington - until now.

Suddenly, Canada is on a much more level playing field. Though still smaller in population and wealth than many of its neighbors, it is finally within spitting distance. Disastrous as it may be for others, climate change was slowly opening up the riches of the Canadian north. Unlike its neighbors, it was not reeling from a political crisis not seen on the continent since Canada's confederation.

Ottawa has been supportive albeit somewhat apprehensive of its many new neighbors, and though originally somewhat panicked about what to do in the new reality of a post-American world, many in the capital have begun to smile at the chance to realize a dream that a year ago would have been simply preposterous - to make the 21st Century the Canadian Century.