"Let me simply say to anyone who wants to question what I have been saying, beginning with (Conservative Leader) Stephen Harper, that I am the Prime Minister of this country, that our position on climate change will be determined by the government of Canada, that the fact is that we do expect our partners to honour their agreements --and I will defend Canada. Period."
This is Prime Minister Paul Martin's response to US Ambassador David Wilkins' accusation that Canadian pols are using "anti-American rhetoric" to score points in the run-up to the Jan. 23 Election.
More below.
From CTV.ca
http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/...
Canada warned to stop dragging U.S. into election
CTV.ca News Staff
In a pointed rebuke to campaigning politicians, U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins warned Tuesday that they risk hurting the relationship between the two countries when they use anti-American rhetoric to "score political points."
"I understand political expediency, but the last time I looked, the United States was not on the ballot for the Jan. 23 election," Wilkins said in a speech to the Canadian Club at the historic Chateau Laurier Hotel, next door to Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
"Just think about this. What if one of our best friends criticized you directly and incorrectly almost relentlessly? What if that friend's agenda was to highlight your perceived flaws while avoiding mentioning your successes? What if that friend demanded respect but offered little in return?" Wilkins asked.
"Wouldn't that begin to sow the seeds of doubt in your mind about the strength of the friendship?"
Wilkins warned the campaigning politicians to tone down the censure.
"It may be smart election-year politics to thump your chest and constantly criticize your friend and your No. 1 trading partner," Wilkins said.
"But it is a slippery slope, and all of us should hope that it doesn't have a long-term impact on the relationship."
Wilkins said he feared this "constant attitude" would hurt the Canada-U.S. relationship unless "all of us make a concerted effort to simply tone it down."
Wilkins' wide-ranging speech covered just about every issue of contention between the U.S. and Canada.
Although he didn't mention Paul Martin by name, he responded to the Liberal leader's rebuke last week of the U.S.'s refusal to sign onto the Kyoto protocol to curb greenhouse gases.
Less than a week after Martin named the United States for failing to yield to a "global conscience" on climate change in its refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol, Wilkins lobbed the phrasing back at the prime minister.
"The United States is, in fact, reducing emissions and spending more money on tackling climate change than any other country in the world, having spent over 20 billion dollars in the last five years," said Wilkins.
"I would respectfully submit to you that when it comes to a 'global conscience,' the United States is walking the walk," he added.
On the issue of Canada's concerns over U.S. border security, Wilkins stated: "You should understand that 9-11 forever changed my country. You don't get a second chance to stop a terrorist -- you can't be wrong the first time."
He then went on to say officials at the "highest levels" in Washington are working to come up with a secure document that would speed up border travel and increase border security should it be agreed upon by both countries.
And on the contentious issue of softwood lumber duties, Wilkins said the U.S. Commerce Department slashed tariffs "almost in half" last week.
"Friends working together in good faith can resolve the softwood lumber issues," he said, adding that 97 per cent of trade between the U.S. and Canada is "seamless," and amounts to $1.5 billion a day.
"That's what we ought to be talking about," Wilkins said.
But Martin made no apologies for remarks he has made, and brushed aside the ambassador's reprimand.
Asked to comment on Wilkins' speech by reporters in Surrey, B.C. on Tuesday, the Liberal leader said: "I have not made the United States a target in this campaign."
He said his positions on softwood lumber and on climate change are ones he adopted "long before any election was contemplated."
"Let me simply say to anyone who wants to question what I have been saying, beginning with (Conservative Leader) Stephen Harper, that I am the prime minister of this country, that our position on climate change will be determined by the government of Canada, that the fact is that we do expect our partners to honour their agreements --and I will defend Canada. Period."
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Yeah, the whole world should agree with Wilkins that the USA is "walking the walk" on issues of Global Conscience like Kyoto. Illegal tariffs on lumber? What are we bitching about when the USA has graciously offered to cut these ILLEGAL tariffs in half?
Funny how gentle requests for the USA to abide by GATT law, respect Kyoto and the UN, and not doom the planet become "anti-American rhetoric."
The issues of economy, trade and environment-- if they contain any negative content with regard to our largest trading partner (as we are yours) -- should now be excised from Canada's election debate, or the USA will "punish" us?
Let's analyze Wilkins' words.
"Just think about this. What if one of our best friends criticized you directly and incorrectly almost relentlessly?" (Not incorrectly, and we are only one of a number of aggrieved and ripped-off friends.) "What if that friend's agenda was to highlight your perceived flaws while avoiding mentioning your successes?" (Ummm... you lie, you steal, you dominate...and there just haven't BEEN any successes lately. Name one, Dave.) "
"What if that friend demanded respect but offered little in return?" (Oh, that's rich. We Ugly Canadians are known for that attitude, not you.)
"Wouldn't that begin to sow the seeds of doubt in your mind about the strength of the friendship?"
NO. A conversation like that would set me soul-searching about what was wrong with me, because I have morals, ethics and a conscience.
Wilkins, Rice, Bolton. The international face of America is now that of a sneering bully.
If it walks like a fascist, and talks like a fascist... now there's some anti-American rhetoric you won't hear on our campaign trail.