Dec. 1, 2004. 06:40 AM
Missile pitch stuns Martin
Controversial defence scheme raised in talks
But leaders rebuild relationship between countries
TIM HARPER AND SUSAN DELACOURT
STAFF REPORTERS
OTTAWA—George W. Bush has further fuelled a Canadian controversy with an aggressive pitch for Ottawa's participation in a continental ballistic missile defence program, something Prime Minister Paul Martin had sought to avoid during the U.S. president's first visit to the nation's capital.
It was a harshly discordant note in a day when the two leaders, showing genuine comfort with each other, spoke often about what Martin called the "unshakeable friendship between our two countries."
The president paid tribute to Martin for Canada's contribution in Afghanistan and Haiti and its help in reconstructing Iraq as the two men sought to rebuild a relationship that soured under former prime minister Jean Chrétien.
But Bush surprised Martin and Canadian officials by raising the missile defence plan — something not on the official agenda.
The president talked about the future of NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defence Command) and the continental defence plan in a private meeting with Martin, then talked about it publicly as the two men met reporters following a working lunch at the Lester B. Pearson building here yesterday. Martin, according to his advisers, told Bush there was a debate on the missile shield program in this country and the Prime Minister had made a commitment to consult Parliament before making a decision on Canadian participation.
"We talked about the future of NORAD and how that organization can best meet emerging threats and safeguard our continent against attack from ballistic missiles," Bush said, as Martin stood silently beside him and thousands protested Bush's visit outside the building.
Martin reminded Bush in their private meeting that he is the leader of a minority government and that under a formal agreement forged with his opposition counterparts last month, he is committed to holding a vote in the Commons on missile defence.
Both the NDP and the Bloc Québécois are adamantly opposed to Canada's participation in the missile defence shield and the Conservatives want more information before they will support it.
Bush administration officials later acknowledged full Canadian participation in the missile defence shield is a sovereign Canadian decision, but Bush wanted it understood that the plan was envisioned to protect the entire continent.
There were no breakthroughs on two high-profile trade issues — softwood lumber and opening the American border to Canadian beef. However, officials on both sides said the foundation for a healthier relationship had been laid.
Bush made it clear that differences on foreign policy were not likely to be patched in the short term.
He dismissed a question about polls in this country showing Canadians and Americans moving further apart on fundamental questions of values and their views of the world.
"We just had a poll in our country where people decided that the foreign policy of the Bush administration ought to stay in place for four more years,' Bush said, a reference to his Nov. 2 re-election.
He acknowledged differences with Canadians over the invasion of Iraq, but said his foreign policy is predicated on the security of the United States.
"I'm the kind of fellow who does what I think is right, and will continue to do what I think is right," he said. "I'll consult with our friends and neighbours, but if I think it's right to remove Saddam Hussein for the security of the United States, that's the course of action I'll take."
He also said he thought he received a warm reception in Ottawa — ignoring the more than 5,000 protesters, some of whom briefly clashed with heavily armoured police.
"I want to thank the Canadian people who came out to wave — with all five fingers — for their hospitality."
Bush said he understood Martin's frustration with a U.S. ban on imports of live Canadian cattle in the wake of the mad cow scare, but Washington bureaucracy means the ban will be in place for up to five more months.
Martin acknowledged their differences on trade issues, saying he was frustrated that Bush could not move more quickly to open the U.S. border to the free flow of Canadian cattle — but emphasized shared values between the neighbours.
"It is quite normal among countries to have this kind of disagreement," Martin said of the cattle ban, which has cost the Canadian economy more than $3 billion.
"But we have common shared values, shared ambitions, and we share optimism also.
"I think that is what is fundamental."
Bush, 58, and Martin, 66, were meeting for the sixth time since the Prime Minister came to office in December, 2003, pledging stronger ties between the two countries.
The body language of both leaders showed they are comfortable with each other, and senior White House officials said later the two men showed "confidence and openness" in their relationship, allowing them to quickly get to substantive issues.
The easy rapport, the Bush administration official said, springs from the shared political background of the two men, both of whom come from prominent political families.
Bush's father, George H. W. Bush, was the 41st president of the United States and Paul Martin Sr. was a Canadian external affairs minister and Liberal leadership candidate in the 1960s.
The two leaders actually met on three separate occasions yesterday. They discussed security and border issues for 45 minutes with officials present and then talked about trade and economic issues during a working lunch.
In another 45-minute meeting, Bush and Martin were joined by Condoleezza Rice, the outgoing U.S. national security adviser who is expected to be confirmed as secretary of state next month, and Jonathan Fried, Martin's foreign policy adviser.
Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell and First Lady Laura Bush also joined the president for the visit, which shut streets and disrupted much of the day's activities in the capital.
The U.S. president also toured the National Archives, attended a reception at the U.S. embassy and then joined Martin and 700 invited guests at a gala dinner at the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que., last evening. There he was served Alberta beef and pronounced himself pleased with the menu.
The Bushes spent the night at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci.
This morning, before returning to Washington, Bush will speak in Halifax, to thank Atlantic Canadians for opening their homes and hearts to American travellers stranded due to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Bush raised the missile defence issue with Opposition Leader Stephen Harper when the two men met late in the afternoon.
Last summer, Canada agreed to modify the North American Aerospace Defence agreement in a way that gave the United States the latitude to keep pursuing its missile-defence plan.
The first missiles in a system that has been criticized for going over budget and being less than effective could be ready for deployment in Alaska within days.
Canada agreed to modify the agreement to remain a full partner at the table in discussion of North American defence. Critics say it was one more crucial step on the road to Canada's active participation in the missile-defence plan.
Canadian officials stressed afterward that while Bush did bring up the subject of missile defence, he did not cross the line into formally seeking Canada's participation.
Officials on both sides said later the missile defence pact is not key to the renegotiation of NORAD in 2006.
As expected, the meeting produced a wide-ranging accord billed as a "new partnership" between Canada and the United States.
In its stated goals, the document is broad, covering "security," "prosperity" and "quality of life." But in specifics, the deal is light.
Martin said a more comprehensive roadmap to those goals will be put in place soon. Plans but no breakthroughs: Leaders discuss softwood lumber, cattle ban.
thestar.com
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