Martin will say 'no' to U.S. missile shield in surprise announcement [View All]

[Boswells_Johnson]

OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin will deliver a firm 'no' to Canadian participation in the U.S. missile-defence plan and break a lengthy silence that fomented confusion on both sides of the border.

The announcement will come in the House of Commons and end a streak of obfuscation where Martin refused to state Canada's position, a report suggests. The end of that silence - scheduled for Thursday - will also come as an about-face for a prime minister who had repeatedly stated his support for missile defence when he was a Liberal leadership candidate barely a year ago.

...

Opposition to the plan inside and outside the Liberal party made it impossible for Martin to move forward, said government officials.

The U.S. was informed of the Canada's plans at a NATO summit in Brussels, attended by Martin and President George W. Bush, and the news was also conveyed Tuesday through diplomats in Ottawa and Washington.

<MORE>

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/02/22/939137-cp.html