Well.. Bush got our PM's name right ;) Heres a couple of interesting perspectives from the American viewspoint as well as the Canadian one.
Missile defense loomed large among the
issues between Bush and Chretien, as
did oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is criticized in
Canada on environmental grounds.
Bush called for drilling in the Arctic refuge, noting that it might hold about 11
billion barrels of oil. Environmentalists say developing the oil would jeopardize
the coastal plain's wildlife, including 130 species of migrating birds; thousands of
porcupine caribou that give birth to their young in the summer; and polar bears,
musk oxen and grizzly bears.
The meeting with Chretien was Bush's first face-to-face session with a world
leader since taking office January 20. It was arranged after Bush said he would
visit Mexico, not Canada, in his first foreign trip later this month, abandoning the
practice of his three most recent predecessors.
The meeting with Chretien was Bush's first face-to-face session with a world
leader since taking office January 20. It was arranged after Bush said he would
visit Mexico, not Canada, in his first foreign trip later this month, abandoning the
practice of his three most recent predecessors.
Canadians have not ignored the fact that Bush made a congratulatory call to
Mexican President Vicente Fox when Fox was inaugurated last year. Nor have
they overlooked the chummy nature of the February 16 Bush-Fox meeting, to be
held on Fox's ranch, or Secretary of State Colin Powell's comment that the
Mexico trip was evidence of "the special place Mexico holds in our national
priorities."
The personal vibe between Bush and Chretien will be closely watched too. It was
widely known in Canada that Chretien, who had a warm relationship with former
President Bill Clinton, would have preferred to work with defeated Democrat Al
Gore, and that Chretien's conservative predecessor, Brian Mulroney, has
maintained ties with Bush's father, the former president.
cnn.com
And in Canada:
But in spite of the
friendly face the
leaders are putting
on the meeting,
they do have some
potentially-divisive
bilateral issues to
deal with –
including a looming
trade war.
Canada exports $10-billion worth of softwood
lumber to the U.S. every year, and there is
growing pressure in the U.S. to limit those
exports.
Another area of potential disagreement is a
U.S proposal to drill for oil and gas in Alaska's
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Canada
opposes the plan, saying it would devastate
crucial caribou herds.
Then there's Bush's controversial plan for a
National Missile Defense System. Most NATO
countries are opposed to the idea, saying it
could start a new arms race. Chrétien has not
yet made his position clear.
Breaking with tradition
How the two men get along personally is
being closely watched. The last three U.S.
presidents became close personal friends
with their Canadian counterparts, and they
made Canada their first foreign visit.
But Bush is breaking with tradition. His first
foreign visit will be to Mexico.
Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox are
already friends, and when Fox was elected
late last year, Bush called to congratulate him.
Chrétien didn't get such a call when he was
reelected in November.
But both leaders downplayed any tension.
When asked by reporters which country he
had a preference for, Bush said his only
preference is for friendly relations in this
hemisphere.
cbc.ca |
