Parrish defies calls to quit NATO post ("AMERICANS ARE BASTARDS" CANADIAN MP UPDATE)

The National Post (Canada) ^ | March 6, 2003 | Sheldon Alberts

[MadIvan]

Plans to seek re-election: Canadian Chamber of Commerce urges Chrétien 'to read the riot act' to MPs

OTTAWA - Carolyn Parrish, the Liberal MP who last week called Americans "bastards," intends to seek re-election as chairwoman of the NATO Canadian Parliamentary Association despite a campaign among her caucus colleagues to have her defeated.

Ms. Parrish's decision to defy calls for her resignation as the NATO group's chairwoman came yesterday as one of the country's largest business organizations, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, wrote Jean Chrétien urging the Prime Minister to discipline the Mississauga Centre member of Parliament.

"We believe that it would be inappropriate to make such comments about any leader, nation or people -- all the more so if the nation in question happens to be our closest ally and largest trading partner," Nancy Hughes Anthony, the chamber's president, said in the letter.

"Gratuitous insults have a way of dominating conversations, poisoning the atmosphere and creating mistrust. Incidents such as these are needless political irritants which distract the attention of both countries from dealing with other matters which are of much greater import."

During an interview, Ms. Hughes Anthony said the chamber's board of directors "were appalled by the bad taste and bad judgment" shown by Ms. Parrish and believe the Prime Minister needs to "read the riot act" to other Liberal MPs.

"There was a concern that the Prime Minister should exhibit some leadership, should take this kind of gaffe seriously and should discipline Ms. Parrish in some way or another, which has not happened so far," Ms. Hughes Anthony said.

Ms. Parrish apologized last week to Paul Cellucci, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, after saying on Feb. 26 to reporters: "Damn Americans. I hate those bastards." But she joked about her behaviour on Monday on comedian Mike Bullard's nationally televised talk show and said she "can't even guarantee I won't do it again."

Mr. Chrétien has said Ms. Parrish, who opposes U.S. plans for war in Iraq, is free to speak her mind and considers her apology sufficient.

But several Liberal MPs are campaigning to have her voted out as chairwoman of the NATO Canadian Parliamentary Association in elections on March 26.

As chairwoman of the association for the past two years, Ms. Parrish has led delegations of Canadian MPs to international meetings of parliamentarians from the 19 NATO nations.

The international president of the NATO Parliamentary Association is Doug Bereuter, a Republican congressman from Nebraska.

"She has an absolute right to run again, but she will not get my support," said Steve Mahoney, a member of the NATO Canadian group and MP for Mississauga West. "I think what she has said is an international embarrassment and I don't think anyone like that should be serving in an international capacity."

Mr. Mahoney said his office has been deluged with e-mails and telephone calls from his constituents, Ms. Parrish's constituents and "people all over North America" who remain outraged about her comments.

"They are madder than hell that a member of Parliament would make that statement and then exacerbate it by going on [the] Bullard [show] and making fun of it and saying she might do it again.... I will certainly encourage people not to vote for her."

David Pratt, who chairs the Commons defence committee and is a member of the NATO association, said it would be a mistake to have Ms. Parrish head an international delegation of Canadian MPs.

"If somebody leading the American delegation called Canadians a bunch of bastards, I wouldn't be all that inclined to want to work with that person," Mr. Pratt said.

Ms. Parrish is likely to be challenged for the chairmanship by David Price, the Liberal MP from Compton-Stanstead in Quebec and the association's vice-chairman.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the third major business organization this week to denounce Ms. Parrish's remarks, following the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association. More than 85% of Canadian exports -- roughly $1-billion a day --are sold to the United States.

The chamber said it shares concerns that Ms. Parrish's remarks could have repercussions for Canadian business if U.S. politicians and industry believe they are part of an overarching anti-Americanism within Canada.

"Unfortunately, there is not a high degree of understanding within the Liberal caucus of the economic importance of the relationship and the fact that the political actions have a direct impact on the economic relationship," Ms. Hughes Anthony said.

"Ms. Parrish represents Mississauga; she should look around Mississauga and appreciate the businesses and jobs in Mississauga which are dependent on Canada-U.S. trade before she says that kind of thing."

[gonzo]

Thanks for posting the Red Ensign, Ivan.

The flag that was voted-on and won the vote in '65 had blue borders, but Trudeau decreed that it would be commie-red............FRegards

[uncbob]

None of this crap would go on if the USA presented a strong united front to the rest of the world

When you have all the major media, the press, the movies, TV blaming the USA for every ill in the world

When our own school systems turn out American hating brain washed dumbed down boobs
When former American presidents dump on our current president, when Americans fail to drive a lying traitorous pervert and his wife from office and into jail
and whem a complete DORK like Al Gore wins the popular vote
How the hell can you not expect the rest of the world to jump on the anti-american bandwagon

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Can anyone provide detail on the shield ?

[uncbob]

That's fine with me. He will kick their butts again in the next election. I wonder how that makes the libs feel, to have someone so "stupid" continually beat them at the polls

Bush could defeat Iraq take out Iran pacify Korea and eliinate all the terrorist threats and come 2004 if the economy remains murky the voters will put in a democrat and it may be Hillary

Afterall Gore damn near won and there have been 4 more years of boobs being graduated from our so called schools

[geedee]

Great letter!!!!!!!!!!!

[Snowyman]

The flag that was voted-on and won the vote in '65 had blue borders

Nope. The flag was voted on and adopted in 1964. Trudeau wasn't elected till 1965, wasn't PM till 1968. Canada had been trying to get a new flag adopted since the 1920's, unfortunately it took the Liberal PM Pearson to do it.

[VOA]

One could, with some justice, have called this a "Hold Muh Beer" moment.

Maybe a "Hold My Molson, ya' hoser!" moment is more on point.

Where are the McKenzie brothers and The Great White North when you need them...

[Dont Tread On Me Eh?]

But I think it would be entertaining to totally close the US/Canadian border to ALL traffic for ONE day, each time one of their people mouths off like this.

It would do terrible harm to a lot of U.S.-based corporations - the ones that come to mind first are the big three American automakers. They own plants in Canada (taking advantage of cheaper Canadian labour) and depend greatly on the timely transport to the U.S. of the parts that are made in Canada. It would be entertaining, perhaps, but would cause unnecessary financial hardship to people and organizations on both sides of the border.

[cicero's_son]

I thought "hate" had been outlawed in Canada.

[alaskanfan]

Afterall Gore damn near won and there have been 4 more years of boobs being graduated from our so called schools

IMO the mere thought of an "alpha male" like Gore in the White House post 9-11 will be enough to fill the depends of any lib voter.

[MD_Willington_1976]

But I think it would be entertaining to totally close the US/Canadian border to ALL traffic for ONE day, each time one of their people mouths off like this. It would do little real harm when all the tractor-trailers full of Canadian plywood sit at the roadside for a day, but would make an indelible statement that would cause a lot of reflection and soul-searching.

Not to pick any fights here...How about opening the disconnects to the power grid too !! Then you can re-think the situation when you don't have any cheap hydro electric power heading south from Canada, those 500kv lines from north of 49 come in real handy down here south of 49. It is not the people who are trying to make a living in that "workers utopia" that are to blame, it is the idiots in Ottawa that are making things worse, why punish a truck driver for that? It's no wonder why so many Canadians move to the USA..it's simply to get away from the nitwits and their agendas in Eastern Canada

[Gorzaloon]

Not to pick any fights here...How about opening the disconnects to the power grid too !! Then you can re-think the situation when you don't have any cheap hydro electric power heading south from Canada, those 500kv lines from north of 49 come in real handy down here south of 49.

Good point. But a day of that a few short times might help a lot of perceptions on each side. There is nothing wrong with a brief reminder once in a while of interdependence, since it appears everyone takes it all for granted.

Let the Canadians be reminded of their need for our markets, and let the lawmakers and power industry be reminded that choosing capital equipment limits and other obstructions on new power generation on this side have their prices, too.

People are just taking too much for granted, whether it is cheap power here, or calling people "Bastards" there.

This is one of the few threads where I have no axe to grind, since I live in the US, and have family in the Maritimes. I just think too many people are forgetting who their friends are.

[spitz]

The crest contains three maples leaves with stems joined. The three leaves represent the component peoples of Canada: the natives, the French and English original settlers, and the others, mostly European, who came later. The veins of the leaves are gold, symbolizing wealth -- wealth created through unity and passion for this land and hard work.

The emblems within the crest reflect the origins of our founding peoples. the couchant lion (upper left), emblem of William of Normandy, has been used by the British monarchs since 1066.

The red lion rampant (upper right) was the emblem of the Scottish monarchs.

The harp (lower left) is a symbol of Ireland.

The fleur de lis symbolizes the early French settlers of Canada, who brought this as an emblem of a royalist not a republican France.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Thank you. I guess I identified some of it before your reply. I think every third person I've met in Canada is a Scot.
Regards,

[gonzo]

"...Can anyone provide detail on the shield ?..."

Thanks, spitz. Thats how I remember it too............FRegards