Canada's Liberals Blame America

Prime Minister Paul Martin is in the fight of his political life against Conservative leader Stephen Harper and that’s obviously why he’s been trying to whip up anti-American fervor in the hope it might win him votes and get his government re-elected on voting day Jan. 23. And also to take voters’ minds off a raft of scandals that have erupted within his government and that of his predecessor, Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien. In December, Martin condemned President George W. Bush’s administration for allegedly not having a “global conscience” because Washington didn’t sign the Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing so-called greenhouse gases some say cause global warming. Martin’s outburst was seen as hypocritical by many, since the U.S. record on this particular environment issue is far better than that of Canada. Martin has also slammed Washington for imposing $5 billion worth of penalties on Canadian softwood exports to the U.S. The U.S. imposed the penalties because American softwood producers claim their Canadian counterparts are indirectly subsidized by low Canadian stumpage fees on government forest land. Martin hinted his government might retaliate for trade disputes by finding new markets for its natural resources exports such as selling its oil to Communist China rather than to the U.S. This was purely a nonsensical threat since the vast amount of oil is produced in Alberta and under law federal authorities have no claim to it. As an aside, it’s estimated that Alberta’s booming oil sands contain enough oil to supply the U.S. for 40 years. After the strained relations between the Chretien and Bush administration it had been speculated after Martin became prime minister in 2000 one of his priorities would be to mend fences with Washington. That was a shallow hope. Today, Martin can hardly get Bush to return his phone calls never mind get invited to the Oval Office. Yet is there any wonder? Paul Jackson has covered Canadian and world politics for several major Canadian papers over the past 40 years. He is now Editor Emeritus of the Calgary Sun, in Calgary, Alberta. http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5125

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