WOW!
Probably opening up a fucking can of worms with this one!
US - Canada relations are officially dead.
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Liberals caucus considered expelling U.S. ambassador
WebPosted Mar 26 2003 04:49 PM PST
OTTAWA - The storm over the comments made by the U.S. ambassador, rebuking the Liberal government for not supporting the United States in its war with Iraq, is far from over.
On Wednesday, Liberal MPs held a fractious meeting behind closed doors, debating whether to censure, maybe even expel, Ambassador Paul Cellucci.
FULL COVERAGE: CBC.CA
Paul Cellucci
Cellucci told a business audience in Toronto that Americans are disappointed and hurt by Canada's decision. And he bluntly warned that there will be short-term consequences.
The speech stung many Liberal MPs, and they urged the government to file a formal protest against the ambassador.
Other Liberals believe Cellucci was only reacting to a string of anti-American comments made by senior members of the Chrétien government.
INDEPTH: Iraq:Canada's Perspective
This isn't the first time Cellucci has criticized Canadian policy. In the past he has complained that the Chrétien government doesn't spend enough money on defence.
On the way into Wednesday's meeting, some Liberal caucus members had a few, undiplomatic things to say about Cellucci. Scarborough-Agincourt MP Jim Karygiannis said Cellucci had no business commenting on Canadian policies. "We're the ones that speak on behalf of our electorate. Cellucci doesn't get elected in our constituencies. He doesn't get elected in Canada."
Thirty-six Liberals lined up to speak in caucus, after an Ontario MP argued Canada should lodge a formal protest.
One camp argued the ambassador crossed the line, behaving more like a partisan politician than a diplomat. Some even argued he should be recalled.
In the other camp were MPs who think he was only responding to the anti-American comments by Liberals: cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal calling President George W. Bush a failed statesman, and MP Carolyn Parrish calling all Americans "bastards."
Irwin Cotler, who represents the Montreal riding of Mount Royal, says the prime minister has a tough job ahead of him convincing Americans that the differences over Iraq are based on policy, not personality.
"What they couldn't abide by were the kinds of statements that seemed to suggest that Bush was worse than Saddam Hussein. Those are the kind of hurtful and harmful references that began to resonate in the United States."
Chrétien heard everyone out, before urging MPs to tone down the rhetoric.
Leadership contender Paul Martin agrees that Liberals need to choose their words with care. "Canadians are not anti-American," he said. "This government is not anti-American."
In the House of Commons, Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper expressed shock that the Liberals would consider expelling Cellucci when they've refused a U.S. request to expel Iraq's only diplomatic representative in Canada. "Why does the prime minister not grasp that his stance is deeply injurious to our national interest?"
Chrétien reminded the Commons that Canadians took in 40,000 Americans after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; that Canada has contributed to the war on terrorism by sending troops to Afghanistan and ships to the Arabian Sea. Canada, he said, will also contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq.
Probably opening up a fucking can of worms with this one!
US - Canada relations are officially dead.
*****************************************
Liberals caucus considered expelling U.S. ambassador
WebPosted Mar 26 2003 04:49 PM PST
OTTAWA - The storm over the comments made by the U.S. ambassador, rebuking the Liberal government for not supporting the United States in its war with Iraq, is far from over.
On Wednesday, Liberal MPs held a fractious meeting behind closed doors, debating whether to censure, maybe even expel, Ambassador Paul Cellucci.
FULL COVERAGE: CBC.CA
Paul Cellucci
Cellucci told a business audience in Toronto that Americans are disappointed and hurt by Canada's decision. And he bluntly warned that there will be short-term consequences.
The speech stung many Liberal MPs, and they urged the government to file a formal protest against the ambassador.
Other Liberals believe Cellucci was only reacting to a string of anti-American comments made by senior members of the Chrétien government.
INDEPTH: Iraq:Canada's Perspective
This isn't the first time Cellucci has criticized Canadian policy. In the past he has complained that the Chrétien government doesn't spend enough money on defence.
On the way into Wednesday's meeting, some Liberal caucus members had a few, undiplomatic things to say about Cellucci. Scarborough-Agincourt MP Jim Karygiannis said Cellucci had no business commenting on Canadian policies. "We're the ones that speak on behalf of our electorate. Cellucci doesn't get elected in our constituencies. He doesn't get elected in Canada."
Thirty-six Liberals lined up to speak in caucus, after an Ontario MP argued Canada should lodge a formal protest.
One camp argued the ambassador crossed the line, behaving more like a partisan politician than a diplomat. Some even argued he should be recalled.
In the other camp were MPs who think he was only responding to the anti-American comments by Liberals: cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal calling President George W. Bush a failed statesman, and MP Carolyn Parrish calling all Americans "bastards."
Irwin Cotler, who represents the Montreal riding of Mount Royal, says the prime minister has a tough job ahead of him convincing Americans that the differences over Iraq are based on policy, not personality.
"What they couldn't abide by were the kinds of statements that seemed to suggest that Bush was worse than Saddam Hussein. Those are the kind of hurtful and harmful references that began to resonate in the United States."
Chrétien heard everyone out, before urging MPs to tone down the rhetoric.
Leadership contender Paul Martin agrees that Liberals need to choose their words with care. "Canadians are not anti-American," he said. "This government is not anti-American."
In the House of Commons, Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper expressed shock that the Liberals would consider expelling Cellucci when they've refused a U.S. request to expel Iraq's only diplomatic representative in Canada. "Why does the prime minister not grasp that his stance is deeply injurious to our national interest?"
Chrétien reminded the Commons that Canadians took in 40,000 Americans after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; that Canada has contributed to the war on terrorism by sending troops to Afghanistan and ships to the Arabian Sea. Canada, he said, will also contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq.
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