November 2, 2006

[Welcome to the dozens of new word warriors who have joined lately, as a result of promotions in the Council of Canadians’ Canadian Perspectives and the CCPA’s Monitor. Remember, these letters are intended to go to the editor of your local newspaper (the email address is usually easy to find in the on line editions, or just phone to get it). Keep them short and to the point - and try to toss in a compelling phrase if you can - you are competing with many other letters. Good luck!]

The evidence keeps piling up that being nice to an Empire gets you exactly what you should expect - nothing, nada, zip, or worse. Stephen Harper, The Great Sycophant, has been toadying to George Bush and his thuggish administration since the day he took office, arguing that a better relationship with the US would yield benefits. It was in “Canada’s interests” to be America’s best friend.

In fact, Canada has received literally nothing for its new efforts to do everything the US wants - mimicking Tony Blair’s experience. The US gives no credit for compliance - only punishment for non-compliance.

The latest example is arctic sovereignty - following a shameful capitulation on the softwood deal, a craven response on the US’s refusal to apologize to Maher Arar despite a so-called diplomatic protest and an admonishment from the US administration telling Canadians to get with the program re: passports for air travelers starting Jan 1, 2007.

Polls show Canadians have contradictory feelings regarding harper’s pro-American stance. They want Canada to have improved relations with the US but they are critical of Harper for being too close to Bush and Co.

It is important to underline that “improved relations” actually has meant absolutely nothing in terms of increased influence or any compromises by the US on issues that matter to Canadians or even to narrowly defined Canadian “interests.”

WRITE A SHORT LETTER TO THE EDITOR RIDICULING HARPER’S FAWNING ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE BUSH REGIME AND FOR GETTING NOTHING BUT INSULTS IN RETURN.

HARPER IS EITHER AFRAID TO TAKE ON THE BUSHITES OR HE IS SO ENAMOURED WITH THE US THAT HE IS SIMPLY INCAPABLE OF STANDING UP FOR CANADA.

Focus on the sovereignty issue as it directly challenges Harper’s boast that he is going to defend our sovereignty over the Northwest Passage by placing three ice-breakers in the north to assure this objective. Use the other examples of slaps in the face to demonstrate that this is just the latest example of US contempt for Canada - no matter who’s in power, no matter how compliant.

Conclusion? If we are going to be bullied we might as well be bullied for being independent.

Some facts and arguments - gleaned in part from the following newspaper articles:
"No apologies yet for Arar, MacKay says", Scott Deveau, The Globe and Mail, October 30, 2006
"US reasserts its position on Northwest Passage", Daniel LeBlanc, The Globe and Mail, Wednesday November 1, 2006
"Passport plan here to stay, U.S. envoy tells Canadians", Jeff Sallot, The Globe and Mail, November 2, 2006

* The US had now made it absolutely clear that it will not recognize Canada’s claim to sovereignty over the Northwest Passage. US Ambassador David Wilkins stated this week that: "Our position is that the Northwest Passage is a strait for international navigation and that's been our position and continues to be our position."

This is what Stephen Harper gets for cozying up/giving blind support to/being a lap dog of/improving relations with George W. Bush. Less than nothing - because when Paul Cellucci, the previous ambassador, left office (before Harper was prime minister), he hinted that the US should recognize Canada’s sovereignty. He repeated that notion this week, saying: "It is in the security interests of the United States that it be under the control of Canada."

Harper’s eagerness to support Mr Bush is obviously seen in Washington as a sign of weakness - and they are right.

Or... Harper’s blanket support for the US apparently makes them worry that Canada isn’t tough enough as a nation to defend the waterway.

* Prime Minister Harper has said nothing in response to this insult or any of the other slights.

* This is just another in a series of snubs, insults and slaps in the face that Mr Harper has been treated to as a reward for competing to be America’s best friend.

Other examples:

* Despite an official letter of protest regarding the appalling failure of the US to apologize to the Maher Arar, or explain how his deportation happened, the Harper Conservatives have meekly accepted the US response which Arar’s lawyer called “meaningless.” All that Condoleezza Rice promised was a commitment “..to informing and consulting Ottawa about any Canadian citizen who may be involuntarily sent to any third country in the future.” No apology and no statement that Arar was no longer on any terrorist watch list.

Unable to get an apology, an explanation or anything else Peter MacKay created a new concern - that this not happen again - and declared he was satisfied: "The response, in my view, satisfies the concern," Mr. MacKay said Monday. "They have to not let this happen again."

* The US is still treating Canada like a misbehaving child - not a country with “improving relations.” Ambassador David Wilkins, in the same week that he challenged arctic sovereignty, told Canadians to quit trying to delay the new passport rule that will come into effect for those flying to the US from Canada.

Said Wilkins:

"Now is the time we all should stop looking into the rearview mirror, stop trying to kill the plan, slow it down or change it," he said yesterday. "It's going to happen."

It doesn’t matter that Canada has spent billions on new border security measures - we are treated exactly the same as if we had done nothing.

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