Frank McKenna Prefers Americans Work Over Canadians.

McKenna backs Canada's cattle farmers, debunks terrorism myths on U.S. show Wed Mar 30, 5:59 PM ET BETH GORHAM WASHINGTON (CP) - Canada is "not going to sit back and abandon its farmers" over the mad cow crisis, even if that means the United States will lose processing jobs, Ambassador Frank McKenna told a call-in television show Wednesday. Appearing for a half-hour on C-SPAN, a political cable channel, McKenna also attacked the "urban legend" that any terrorists involved in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks crossed into the United States from Canada, as well as persistent views that the border is a major security problem. And he told one caller with a long list of grievances about Canada, major policy differences and a few "loose cannons" who have disparaged the United States don't mean the country is anti-American. Just a month into the job, McKenna is fast becoming a strong pitch man for Canadian interests and quick to respond to American criticism. He took issue last weekend with a New York Times editorial that alleged terrorists routinely cross the border into the states, firing off a letter to debunk the claim. "The northern border, and it's the only one I can speak about, is not terrorist friendly at all," McKenna said Wednesday. "We've spent $10 billion Cdn ourselves as a country to make sure the border is safe. "Don't forget, we've also shown up on al Qaeda's list of countries and we take our security seriously." The ambassador's remarks about border security was echoed by the head of Interpol, who was visiting Ottawa. Ronald Noble said Canada works hard in the fight against terrorism and is not a highway for U.S.-bound terrorists. Co-operation is the best defence and Canada is showing the way, he said. "As secretary general of Interpol, whatever you call the highest category of support and participation we have, Canada is in that category." In Washington, Canadian Embassy spokesman Bernard Etzinger said McKenna is serious about engaging Americans on perceptions of Canada. "His approach is to be out there with the facts, to engage, and to be open and talk about what matters in Canada-U.S. relations," said Etzinger. "He wants to get out of (Washington) as well, to speak to Americans where they live." One caller from Arkansas recited a litany of complaints against Canada, from its refusal to participate in the Iraq war and the U.S. missile defence plan to a former prime ministerial aide who called Bush a "moron" and an MP who called Americans "bastards" and stomped on a Bush doll for a comedy show. "I don't really think Canada is too much without America," said the woman. "Without our trade and without our defence, you guys would be in a bad spot. It just disgusts me and makes me sick when I hear these things." McKenna noted Americans have also said "some pretty nasty things about Canada" but said it doesn't reflect badly on relations. "We have offered support to each other in so many ways that transcend the narrow and parochial comments from a few individuals from time to time. "We're family and we're friends and we're colleagues and we're allies . . . This is an enduring relationship." While McKenna noted the U.S. administration strongly supports the Canadian cattle trade, now held up by a legal challenge from a protectionist ranchers' group, he said Ottawa will do everything it can to explore new markets for ranchers. The federal government announced a $1-billion Cdn package Tuesday aimed at restructuring the industry. "If this blockage continues on the border, we're increasingly going to develop our own processing industry in Canada and . . . we will make sure that we will end up having product on the world marketplace that will be acceptable," said McKenna. "If we do that, it will mean processing jobs will move from the United States into Canada. And that's not where we want to go." And while McKenna said he thinks the softwood lumber dispute can be resolved in negotiations, which resumed last week, he was critical of the so-called Byrd amendment that distributes penalties levied against Canadian companies to their U.S. competitors. Ottawa is considering retaliatory measures over the law and may announce sanctions against the United States in coming days. "The money which normally would accrue to governments ends up being pocketed by those doing the complaining," said McKenna. "The trouble is, it creates an uncompetitive environment and makes disputes much more difficult to settle." When one caller from North Carolina complimented Canada for refusing to participate in the U.S. missile defence program, McKenna said the country is pursuing other priorities and emphasized the budget's recent $12 billion Cdn investment in defence. He also voiced Canada's disagreement with U.S. plans to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, noting Americans signed a 1987 agreement to protect the Porcupine Caribou Herd that depends on the area's lands. McKenna, a former New Brunswick premier, started in Washington on March 2 and was officially accepted as ambassador by President George W. Bush the following week. [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on April 2, 2005]