THis is quite the abrupt turnaround.. particularly considering I'd read another diary on here bemoaning our new Ambassador to the US saying we were already part of US Missile Defence...
In a span of a few short hours.. the government denied this in the House of Commons.. and now this rather stunning out-of-the-blue report tonight on CBC News: Prime Minister Martin will reject Canadian participation in US missile Defence:
...just two months ago, U.S. President George W. Bush pressed Martin publicly to sign on, saying on a visit to Halifax that he hoped the two countries would soon move forward to co-operate on ballistic missile defence.
But federal officials, who wished to remain anonymous, told the CBC's Radio-Canada that domestic considerations may have outweighed pressure from Washington..
Martin has faced increasing opposition in his own Liberal Party and of course has to worry about the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois opposing it.. both parties are within sync of public opinion on this.. both are on the left of his party, which is an important voting constituent for him..and in particular because Quebec where the Bloc holds 54 seats is the key to the Liberals winning a majority the next election.. (Quebec is the most opposed province to the missile defence plan).
More:
Federal officials told the Canadian Press that the United States was informed of Canada's decision at the NATO summit in Brussels.
'[The Americans] were told we will not participate,' a federal official, who asked to remain anonymous, told the agency.
'It is a firm 'no.' I am not sure it is an indefinite 'no.''
Thats fine with me... I've never begrudged the Americans the ability to study this technology.. if perfected.. it may have a good useful purpose.. but not right now... and not under this Administration, which is rushing this without proper test conditions or testing.. and which I suspect wants to use this technology for preemptive offensive strike action.. not defensive purposes only..
Canada has given the US and NORAD permission to track incoming missiles.. that should more then suffice for now.. I and a lot of other Canadians
arent prepared to give our moral blessing to this plan or how the Administration has acted.
Canada to reject missile defence: Report