25 February 2005Yahoo NewsDavid Ljunggren
Canada's minority Liberal government, in a snub to President Bush (news - web sites), said on Thursday it would not take part in the controversial U.S. missile defense system, which is unpopular with many Canadian voters.
Washington's ambassador to Ottawa said he found the decision "very perplexing" and said the United States would press ahead with the system, which is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles from adversaries such as North Korea (news - web sites).
The announcement marks an abrupt change in policy by Prime Minister Paul Martin, who came to power in December 2003 saying he backed the idea of signing on to the missile system and deepening the integration of the two countries' defenses.
But the idea makes little political sense now. Martin lost his parliamentary majority in the June 2004 election, some Liberal legislators dislike missile defense and the survival of Martin's government depends on a minority party opposed to the system.
"We are announcing today that Canada will not take part in the proposed ballistic missile defense system," Martin told reporters, saying Ottawa would, however, continue to work closely with Washington in matters of defense and foreign affairs.
The decision marks the second time in recent years the Liberals have rejected U.S. military plans. In March 2003, Ottawa refused to take part in the war on Iraq (news - web sites).
"We simply cannot understand why Canada would, in effect, give up its sovereignty, its seat at the table, to decide what to do about a missile that might be heading toward Canada. It's very perplexing to us ... we really don't get it," U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci told reporters.
Cellucci has complained frequently about what he sees as Canada's miserly defense spending. Martin pointed out that, in a federal budget delivered on Wednesday, Ottawa had promised to pour billions of dollars into its armed forces.
"Ballistic missile defense is not where we will concentrate our efforts. Instead we will act -- both alone and with our neighbors -- on defense priorities such as those outlined in yesterday's budget," Martin said.
Canadian officials are confident the decision will not prompt Washington to exacerbate two trade disputes involving exports of softwood lumber and live cattle to the United States.
The opposition Conservative Party, however, said Martin's decision means Canadians will suffer.
"Without new emphasis on strengthening our relationship, we can be sure that the resolution of these (trade) problems is more likely to harm Canada than to help it," party leader Stephen Harper told Parliament.
Canada agreed last year that information from the two nations' joint NORAD aerospace defense command could be transmitted to the missile defense network. Defense experts say this means Ottawa is already playing a role in the system.
Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew broke the news on Thursday in an address to Parliament. He spoke in French in a clear signal to the francophone province of Quebec, where the Liberals must increase low levels of support if they are to win an election expected within the next 18 months.
An Ekos poll for the Toronto Star two weeks ago showed that 54 percent of Canadians -- and 64 percent of Quebecers -- opposed the idea of Canada joining missile defense.
The minority left-leaning New Democrats, who are supporting the Liberals in Parliament, congratulated Martin for rejecting "Bush's missile madness."
The Globe and Mail newspaper deplored what it said was Martin's "exceptionally poor leadership" over the affair, saying he had needlessly alienated Bush.
(With additional reporting by Randall Palmer)
