Pro-American takes over as Canadian Prime Minister

CNN ^ | 12/12/2003 | AP

[yonif]

WASHINGTON (AP) --President Bush's first foreign visitor when he took office was Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien but Bush never returned the gesture with an official visit to Canada -- a sign of the recent tension between the two countries.

[bullseye1911]

At least now we've got a friend up north, instead of some frenchie.

You'll forgive me for waiting on that judgement for a while?

[Grig]

"Martin said the U.S. decision was "very difficult to fathom," "

Bull. The Liberal Party, including Martin, are masters of sending truckloads of taxpayer money over to their buddies for no good reason, probably the only thing he can't fathom is that Bush is standing on principles. And saying on one hand that the needs of the Iraqi people should be the deciding factor, than threatening to withdraw further financial support for Iraq in retaliation just shows where their head and heart is really at.

"Chretien said Bush also told him Canadian companies could indeed bid on Iraqi contracts, but the White House did not confirm that account."

Canada can only go after subcontracts and the White House is not budging on that. Chretien is a moron who either doesn't understand the difference, or is just trying to spin it into a final 'victory' for himself over the evil Americans.

"If Canada is allowed to bid on contracts, it would go a long way toward getting Bush off to a good start with Martin, Canada's former finance minister."

Why does Bush need to get off to a good start with Martin? It's Martin that needs to get off to a good start with Bush, and he isn't doing it so far. If Martin wants to have good relations with the USA, Martin has to DO something to earn it. Martin is not AS anti-American as Chretien was, put his party and its supporters are VERY anti-American so don't expect more than a cosmetic change.

[Grig]

Martin is from Quebec, he's just lived in Toronto long enough to not sound like it.

[yonif]

Thanks for the insight. I got some relatives who live in Canada - Winnipeg to be exact.

[SB00]

than threatening to withdraw further financial support for Iraq in retaliation just shows where their head and heart is really at.

FWIW that was Manley not Martin. But I agree with the rest of your post - I think action by Martin's new government that Canada will take America's security needs seriously would be a great start.

[Grig]

I though Martin implied the same thing.

[americanSoul]

Why does Bush need to get off to a good start with Martin? It's Martin that needs to get off to a good start with Bush, and he isn't doing it so far. If Martin wants to have good relations with the USA, Martin has to DO something to earn it. Martin is not AS anti-American as Chretien was, put his party and its supporters are VERY anti-American so don't expect more than a cosmetic change.

The last part says it all. Of all those moronic liberals who insulted and hate America, not one has been censured, much less fired, by their party.

What we can expect from Martin is continuing crony capitalism.

[SB00]

He might have.

Martin said it was unfathomable that America would put those stipulations on the rebuilding contracts.

A clueless thing to say. What's so unfathomable about America rewarding those who stood by them and excluding those who didn't? Now that Bush seems to be backtracking on this in regards to Canada, I think if the Liberals really wanted to take a stand they should have declined the offer of contracts. Instead they look like whiners.

[Snowyman]

Martin was born in Windsor Ontario. He was educated in Ontario. He was called to the bar in Ontario.

He's Liberal, not French.

He's from Quebec , yes, because he lives in Quebec.

But sadly the "Power" , Desmarais connections , are still there. In that respect you are right.

[albertabound]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20031212/COGEE12/TPColumnists/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20031212/IBVIEW12/TPColumnists/

Even the leftist leaning columnists at The Mop and Pail tend to agree with you.

[Alberta's Child]

I would also point out that it was unfathomable for the U.S. to expect Canada's support for anything after the U.S. shafted almost the entire Canadian softwood lumber industry in 2001.

This issue, more than anything else, drove a serious wedge between the U.S. and Canada -- mainly because the areas of Canada that were most seriously affected were those areas (Alberta and rural British Columbia) that have traditionally been America's strongest supporters.

[SB00]

As least that's not as bad as having the Toronto Star agree with me.

[SB00]

That's true.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Liberal Party leader Paul Martin was...

You'll forgive me for waiting on that judgement for a while?

same here

[Snowyman]

The recent softwood agreement is being turned down by Tembec and Domtar in Ontario. They're not interested in financing American upgrades to their processing facilities. The agreement is a farce.

[Alberta's Child]

This is going to sound strange coming from someone on this site, but the softwood lumber tariff is the one issue above all others that would ever drive me to NOT vote for Bush in 2004.

[Ashamed Canadian]

At least now we've got a friend up north, instead of some frenchie.

You've got far more friends up here than you realise. I assure you of that.