While I agree, the constant implication that we are a "small player" and a "nobody" is odd

Canada is the 10th richest country in the world.  We belong to the G7, and have a higher GDP than countries like Russia whom everyone seems so afraid of.

So yes, we are not the US or China, but once you get past those 2, nobody is that much bigger than we are.  Even Japan, Germany, etc. is not that much bigger than us.