NEWS STORY
U.S. loses faith in Canada
Joseph Brean and Sheldon Alberts
National Post
CREDIT: Peter Redman, National Post
"For Canada the priority is trade, for us the priority is security," Paul Cellucci said in Toronto yesterday. "Security trumps trade."
TORONTO and OTTAWA - Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, yesterday rebuked Jean Chr?tien's government for refusing to join the war on Iraq and criticized the Prime Minister for allowing a stream of anti-American comments by Liberal MPs to go unpunished.
In an unusually frank diplomatic critique of Canadian foreign policy, Mr. Cellucci said the federal government had abandoned America in a time of need and warned the economic relationship between the United States and Canada will suffer as a result.
"There is no security threat to Canada that the United States would not be ready, willing and able to help with," Mr. Cellucci said in a speech to the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto. "There would be no debate. There would be no hesitation. We would be there for Canada, part of our family. And that is why so many in the United States are disappointed and upset that Canada is not fully supporting us now."
In the Commons yesterday, Mr. Chr?tien defended Canada's right to disagree with the United States.
"Of course [Mr. Cellucci] is disappointed. We are all disappointed somewhat that we could not agree," Mr. Chr?tien said. "They have the right to make their own decision, as I said, and we have the right as an independent country to make our own decision ... Being independent and sovereign nations, we can disagree and remain good friends."
Mr. Cellucci, who has strong personal ties to George W. Bush, said concerns about Ottawa's stand extend to the President and there is a "growing perception" among Americans that Canada, like France, is a source of knee-jerk objection to U.S. foreign policy.
The Bush administration was particularly angered by remarks by Carolyn Parrish, a Toronto-area Liberal MP, who said she hated American "bastards," and Herb Dhaliwal, the Natural Resources Minister, who said Mr. Bush's decision to go to war shows he is "not a statesman."
"The remarks of Carolyn Parrish get played up, the comments of Mr. Dhaliwal get played up," Mr. Cellucci said.
He said the Prime Minister and senior Liberals appear to tacitly endorse anti-Americanism by rebuking Ralph Klein, the Alberta Premier, for publicly backing the U.S. action - yet declining to condemn Mr. Dhaliwal for publicly criticizing the U.S. action.
"When Mr. Klein issues strong support for the United States, the Canadian government comes down hard on him. When Mr. Dhaliwal makes totally inappropriate remarks about the president of the United States, they kind of ignore it. So maybe that's something they could do a better job at."
Mr. Cellucci, who has angered Ottawa in the past by criticizing Canada for a lack of defence spending, had remained relatively silent as the Liberals' opposition to the war mounted and criticisms of the U.S. and its leaders became more personal and vitriolic. But U.S. sources said Mr. Dhaliwal's outburst -- coming just six weeks before Mr. Bush is to make a state visit to Canada -- prompted Mr. Cellucci to make public the administration's concerns.
Mr. Chr?tien insisted he ordered his caucus and Cabinet last week to refrain from anti-American sentiment and says they have listened. "I said no comment should be made against the Americans. The members of my party have received their instructions and are following them very clearly. I hope it is noted by the people concerned," Mr. Chr?tien said.
The Prime Minister said, "I never said a word" about Mr. Klein's pro-U.S. remarks. His office did, however, issue a statement saying the Alberta Premier was offside Canadian public opinion.
The public chiding by Mr. Cellucci marks a new low in the tortuous history of U.S.-Canada relations, which have been strained since Mr. Bush took office in 2001.
"There is no precedent," said Michael Bliss, a University of Toronto historian. "We're no longer part of the family."
"Our position is a real break with our past," Mr. Bliss said. "As others have pointed out, this is the first time in our history that we have been offside with both Britain and the United States."
Mr. Cellucci said the disappointment with Canada is so strong that it could have an impact on diplomatic and economic relations, which have already suffered by years of trade disputes over issues like softwood lumber and wheat exports.
"There may be some short-term strains here," he said. Pressed for details, he said Canada will have to "wait and see."
He said Canada plays down the threat of more attacks by al-Qaeda, which destroyed the World Trade Center in 2001, and appears more concerned with keeping border crossings open to traffic than with keeping them secure.
"For Canada the priority is trade, for us the priority is security," Mr. Cellucci said. "Security trumps trade"
The federal government sent more mixed messages yesterday about where Canada stands on the war in Iraq.
Mr. Chr?tien and senior Cabinet ministers yesterday distanced themselves from comments made by Bill Graham, who said on Monday that Canada supported the ouster of Saddam Hussein and wished the U.S. "Godspeed" and a swift victory over Iraq.
Mr. Chr?tien refused to endorse the overthrow of Saddam, but said he does hope the U.S. wins the war.
"There is a war. You know, what will be the consequences of the war, we don't know," he said. "You know, I don't want Saddam Hussein to win."
But the Liberals, joined by the New Democrats and the Bloc Qu?b?cois, combined to defeat a Canadian Alliance motion calling on the House of Commons to endorse the U.S.-led coalition's decision to "enforce" Iraq's compliance with UN disarmament demands.
The Alliance resolution also asks MPs to express "unequivocal support" for Canadian military personnel serving on exchange programs with U.S., British and on ships in the Gulf. The motion was defeated 183 to 60.
Stephen Harper, the Canadian Alliance leader, said he was surprised at the harshness of Mr. Cellucci's comments but said they showed the depth of the problems between Ottawa and Washington.
"It is a very serious thing for us to have abandoned our allies in a military action against an evil regime," said Mr. Harper. "That is one thing that is very serious in and of itself. But then to have our own troops in the region and not morally support them is unforgivable."
He said Canadians should be embarrassed that Mr. Chretien cannot be consistent when setting out Canadian policy on the war.
"Most Canadians want to see us with our allies.... They want to have a prime minister of this country who can get up on a major foreign policy issue and make statements that are at least comprehensible. This guy can't do it."
WHAT LIBERALS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE U.S.:
Herb Dhaliwal, March 19
"I think the world expects someone who is the President of a superpower to be a statesman. I think he has let, not only Americans, but the world down by not being a statesman."
MP Carolyn Parrish, Feb. 26
"Damn Americans. I hate those bastards."
Jean Chr?tien, Feb. 13
"Great strength is not always perceived by others as benign. Not everyone around the world is prepared to take the word of the United States on faith."
MP Colleen Beaumier, Jan. 29
"This is a war against children. No matter how you slice it, there is more to this war than the Bush regime and the Saddam Hussein regime. How many children are we going to kill to replace that regime?"
MP Beno?t Serr?, Jan. 29
"George Bush is very trigger-happy. "
Fran?oise Ducros, Nov. 20, 2002
"What a moron," she said, referring to Bush.
U.S. loses faith in Canada
Joseph Brean and Sheldon Alberts
National Post
CREDIT: Peter Redman, National Post
"For Canada the priority is trade, for us the priority is security," Paul Cellucci said in Toronto yesterday. "Security trumps trade."
TORONTO and OTTAWA - Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, yesterday rebuked Jean Chr?tien's government for refusing to join the war on Iraq and criticized the Prime Minister for allowing a stream of anti-American comments by Liberal MPs to go unpunished.
In an unusually frank diplomatic critique of Canadian foreign policy, Mr. Cellucci said the federal government had abandoned America in a time of need and warned the economic relationship between the United States and Canada will suffer as a result.
"There is no security threat to Canada that the United States would not be ready, willing and able to help with," Mr. Cellucci said in a speech to the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto. "There would be no debate. There would be no hesitation. We would be there for Canada, part of our family. And that is why so many in the United States are disappointed and upset that Canada is not fully supporting us now."
In the Commons yesterday, Mr. Chr?tien defended Canada's right to disagree with the United States.
"Of course [Mr. Cellucci] is disappointed. We are all disappointed somewhat that we could not agree," Mr. Chr?tien said. "They have the right to make their own decision, as I said, and we have the right as an independent country to make our own decision ... Being independent and sovereign nations, we can disagree and remain good friends."
Mr. Cellucci, who has strong personal ties to George W. Bush, said concerns about Ottawa's stand extend to the President and there is a "growing perception" among Americans that Canada, like France, is a source of knee-jerk objection to U.S. foreign policy.
The Bush administration was particularly angered by remarks by Carolyn Parrish, a Toronto-area Liberal MP, who said she hated American "bastards," and Herb Dhaliwal, the Natural Resources Minister, who said Mr. Bush's decision to go to war shows he is "not a statesman."
"The remarks of Carolyn Parrish get played up, the comments of Mr. Dhaliwal get played up," Mr. Cellucci said.
He said the Prime Minister and senior Liberals appear to tacitly endorse anti-Americanism by rebuking Ralph Klein, the Alberta Premier, for publicly backing the U.S. action - yet declining to condemn Mr. Dhaliwal for publicly criticizing the U.S. action.
"When Mr. Klein issues strong support for the United States, the Canadian government comes down hard on him. When Mr. Dhaliwal makes totally inappropriate remarks about the president of the United States, they kind of ignore it. So maybe that's something they could do a better job at."
Mr. Cellucci, who has angered Ottawa in the past by criticizing Canada for a lack of defence spending, had remained relatively silent as the Liberals' opposition to the war mounted and criticisms of the U.S. and its leaders became more personal and vitriolic. But U.S. sources said Mr. Dhaliwal's outburst -- coming just six weeks before Mr. Bush is to make a state visit to Canada -- prompted Mr. Cellucci to make public the administration's concerns.
Mr. Chr?tien insisted he ordered his caucus and Cabinet last week to refrain from anti-American sentiment and says they have listened. "I said no comment should be made against the Americans. The members of my party have received their instructions and are following them very clearly. I hope it is noted by the people concerned," Mr. Chr?tien said.
The Prime Minister said, "I never said a word" about Mr. Klein's pro-U.S. remarks. His office did, however, issue a statement saying the Alberta Premier was offside Canadian public opinion.
The public chiding by Mr. Cellucci marks a new low in the tortuous history of U.S.-Canada relations, which have been strained since Mr. Bush took office in 2001.
"There is no precedent," said Michael Bliss, a University of Toronto historian. "We're no longer part of the family."
"Our position is a real break with our past," Mr. Bliss said. "As others have pointed out, this is the first time in our history that we have been offside with both Britain and the United States."
Mr. Cellucci said the disappointment with Canada is so strong that it could have an impact on diplomatic and economic relations, which have already suffered by years of trade disputes over issues like softwood lumber and wheat exports.
"There may be some short-term strains here," he said. Pressed for details, he said Canada will have to "wait and see."
He said Canada plays down the threat of more attacks by al-Qaeda, which destroyed the World Trade Center in 2001, and appears more concerned with keeping border crossings open to traffic than with keeping them secure.
"For Canada the priority is trade, for us the priority is security," Mr. Cellucci said. "Security trumps trade"
The federal government sent more mixed messages yesterday about where Canada stands on the war in Iraq.
Mr. Chr?tien and senior Cabinet ministers yesterday distanced themselves from comments made by Bill Graham, who said on Monday that Canada supported the ouster of Saddam Hussein and wished the U.S. "Godspeed" and a swift victory over Iraq.
Mr. Chr?tien refused to endorse the overthrow of Saddam, but said he does hope the U.S. wins the war.
"There is a war. You know, what will be the consequences of the war, we don't know," he said. "You know, I don't want Saddam Hussein to win."
But the Liberals, joined by the New Democrats and the Bloc Qu?b?cois, combined to defeat a Canadian Alliance motion calling on the House of Commons to endorse the U.S.-led coalition's decision to "enforce" Iraq's compliance with UN disarmament demands.
The Alliance resolution also asks MPs to express "unequivocal support" for Canadian military personnel serving on exchange programs with U.S., British and on ships in the Gulf. The motion was defeated 183 to 60.
Stephen Harper, the Canadian Alliance leader, said he was surprised at the harshness of Mr. Cellucci's comments but said they showed the depth of the problems between Ottawa and Washington.
"It is a very serious thing for us to have abandoned our allies in a military action against an evil regime," said Mr. Harper. "That is one thing that is very serious in and of itself. But then to have our own troops in the region and not morally support them is unforgivable."
He said Canadians should be embarrassed that Mr. Chretien cannot be consistent when setting out Canadian policy on the war.
"Most Canadians want to see us with our allies.... They want to have a prime minister of this country who can get up on a major foreign policy issue and make statements that are at least comprehensible. This guy can't do it."
WHAT LIBERALS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE U.S.:
Herb Dhaliwal, March 19
"I think the world expects someone who is the President of a superpower to be a statesman. I think he has let, not only Americans, but the world down by not being a statesman."
MP Carolyn Parrish, Feb. 26
"Damn Americans. I hate those bastards."
Jean Chr?tien, Feb. 13
"Great strength is not always perceived by others as benign. Not everyone around the world is prepared to take the word of the United States on faith."
MP Colleen Beaumier, Jan. 29
"This is a war against children. No matter how you slice it, there is more to this war than the Bush regime and the Saddam Hussein regime. How many children are we going to kill to replace that regime?"
MP Beno?t Serr?, Jan. 29
"George Bush is very trigger-happy. "
Fran?oise Ducros, Nov. 20, 2002
"What a moron," she said, referring to Bush.
