OTTAWA (IPS) – Bowing to pressure from the public and his own parliamentary colleagues, Canada’s prime minister has risked the ire of the Bush administration by rejecting Canadian participation in Washington’s ballistic missile defense (BMD) system.
Prime Minister Paul Martin made the announcement Thursday, although Canadian officials said Bush was informed earlier this week at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of government meeting in Brussels.
The decision is bound to worsen the relations between Canada and the United States. Both are each other’s largest trade partners, and the US imports more oil from Canada than from any other country.
Canadian-U.S. relations were already strained by Canada’s refusal to join the US in its attack on Iraq. The neighbors have also been locked in trade fights over lumber and beef imports to the US.
Polls here show about 70 percent of the Canadian public opposes the proposed BMD system. Martin, who governs with a shaky, informal parliamentary coalition, likely would not have been able to garner enough support, even from members of his own party, for participation in the controversial system.
The prime minister supported BMD during the 2004 election campaign here but says he opposes the weaponization of space.
Jack Layton, leader of the left-of-center New Democratic Party, said the government has sent a mixed message on what Layton calls "Star Wars." Earlier in the week, Canada’s new ambassador to Washington, Frank McKenna, said Canada was already part of BMD because it is a partner in NORAD, the North American missile warning system.
Canada and the United States have also coordinated their defenses and been allied militarily, for defensive purposes, since 1940. Canadian participation would have given the much-criticized system a public relations boost, and allowed the US to deploy missiles in Canada to shoot down missiles coming over the arctic.
"The worry is that Washington in a way is being told one thing by virtue of our participation in certain elements of the program while Canadians are being told another," Layton said in an interview.
"Canadians don’t want to be a part of it. We have been telling Mr. Martin that for two years. He has finally come around to our way of thinking on it, at least symbolically and what we have to ensure is that in fact, that wish of Canadians is the case. Right now, we do have serious doubts, given Mr. McKenna’s comments," Layton said.
Martin tried to downplay the rift between Ottawa and Washington.
"Let me be clear: we respect the right of the United States to defend itself and its people," Martin said.
Canada will work with the US for the common defense of North America, but the country’s efforts won’t be concentrated on missile defense, the prime minister said.
"Canada remains steadfast in its support of Norad," said Martin.
The day before the announcement, the government added 10 billion dollars to the military’s budget over the next five years. Canada has been under pressure from Washington to increase its military spending and its capacity in NATO.
The Canadian decision to reject BMD was condemned by Paul Cellucci, the US ambassador to Canada.
"We will deploy. We will defend North America," he said.
"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 coming towards Canada," said Cellucci.
Pierre Pettigrew, Canada’s foreign minister, said, "Of course, the US is disappointed. They recognize and respect our decision. We will carefully examine all options and pursue our priorities vigorously."
"We will enhance the protection of North America," he said. "We will work closely to build the success of [border agreements] and engage Mexico to trilateralize, to better align our roles, priorities and interests."
Few people inside the government share Pettigrew’s optimism. Last December, during his first visit to Canada, Pres. Bush publicly urged Martin to join the program. Martin’s officials said before the visit that BMD was not on the agenda.
When he first took office, Martin suggested he supported joining the plan, saying he believed Canada should be at the table when it comes to any discussion of the defense of North America.
Several tests of the system have failed, including one last month that the Pentagon blamed on a minor glitch in computer software. The Pentagon, however, says they may never publicly declare when the shield is fully ready.
