Martin will say 'no' to U.S. missile shield in surprise announcement

[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

[Betsy Ross]

1. Just another reason to move to Canada

But it isn't right to leave this mess for someone else to clean up.

[Maple]

2. Good news!

Better late than never!

[Fenris]

3. *laughter*

Surprise!

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Hooray for Canada!!!

[NEOBuckeye]

5. Way to go, Canada!

Someone has to stand up against and counter this GOP nonsense.

[xray s]

6. More good news for Bush

I bet when he gets home he goes straight to the ranch to cry for three months.

"Looking for a good cowboy". Sounds to me like he's the one getting branded in Europe.

It's tough being a little kid in a room full of grownups.

[achtung_circus]

7. Good.

Now let's see what's in the budget.

[Boswells_Johnson]

9. I'm excited about the budget. The NDP are pushing hard for Kyoto

support. It'd be great if they go through with the tax credits (or is it loan guarantees?) for retrofitting homes and offices.

[Babel_17]

8. "Opposition to the plan"

The PM can explain this to Bush and Bush will see his lips moving but not understand the meaning.

He'll probably offer "help".

[tuvor]

10. This isn't new. Paul Martin said in an interview last Christmas that

Canada wouldn't be joining the US in any such efforts.

I HAD saved the link, but I've misplaced it. Let me see if I can find it.

ON EDIT: Here's the story. http://www.canadiancontent.net/forums/about2883.html

Here's a better link: http://www.cndyorks.gn.apc.org/yspace/articles/bmd/canada85.htm

[Career Prole]

11. O, Canada!

Bravo, Northern neighbors! :loveya:

Hey...I've got lots of relatives in Quebec I've never even met!
I should start sucking up...errrr...touching base.

[Sub Atomic]

12. "Surprise Announcement"?

Only someone who refuses to look outside of the MSM would find this a surprise.

This has been Canada's stance for quite awhile. Why would anything different other than their response be expected?

[tuvor]

13. According to our new ambassador to the US, Frank McKenna, we're on board.

OTTAWA (CP) - The country's next ambassador to Washington dropped a political bombshell Tuesday, saying Canada is already part of the controversial U.S. missile defence program.

Frank McKenna made the comment after appearing before a Commons committee examining his appointment by Prime Minister Paul Martin. McKenna told the foreign affairs committee he wasn't sure what more U.S. President George W. Bush needs from Canada on the controversial plan to create a continental missile shield.

Afterward, the former premier of New Brunswick went much further with reporters.

Asked directly if Canada is already part of the program, McKenna responded: "We are.

http://www.canada.com/components/printstory/printstory4.aspx?id=0b3afa36-d5bd-49a8-8619-ffd64fd51595

[papau]

17. He must mean the 1950's NORAD forward stations.

Canada is already part of the program - feel free to ask about the latest radar readings! LOL

:-)

[Cha]

14. Good for Canada!

Beautiful to see when People or a Country don't buy into the scam that the monkey regime is trying to pull over the World.

[tabasco]

15. Thanks Canada !

This useless system is just another money-grab by profiteering corporations. The waste of money damages our national security.

[rodeodance]

16. go Canada go

[soaky]

18. good on you canada

i wish australia would do the same

[GetTheRightVote]

19. Excellent, thank you Canada for showing how we should act as well

Boy, do we have some great neighbors or what, hurray.

:kick:

[daleo]

20. The NDP and BQ would clobber Martin in an election if he signed on.

They could hurt the Liberals with this issue if he signed onto WMD. That is the great thing about minority parliaments - the government pretty well has to take the people's preferences into account for fear of a sudden election. Too bad we can't always have them.