Caption the accompanying photo.
Posted on 09/13/2006 5:00:59 AM PDT by Loyalist
STELLARTON, N.S.—The world's most influential diplomat and Ottawa's most eligible bachelor seem to be hitting it off.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay enjoyed a chummy — and unusual — visit to MacKay's Nova Scotia riding yesterday.
In stark contrast to the usual government visits where diplomats do business on the fly, Rice spent 23 hours in Canada, many of them in MacKay's riding of Central Nova, a languid locale that couldn't be further from the diplomatic hell holes to which she's usually dispatched.
"Peter, your foreign minister and your MP, invited me here. He said that I had to come to Stellarton ... it will show you another side of Canada," Rice said in explaining how one of the world's most powerful women arrived in a place most Americans couldn't find on a map.
At a reception Monday night, she met with members of MacKay's family, including his father Elmer MacKay, a former federal Tory cabinet minister, and graciously remarked yesterday what a pleasure that had been.
"Family means a great deal to me ... Wherever you go and whatever you're doing, there's nothing like really strong and great family. They keep you grounded," she told local dignitaries gathered at the Museum of Industry here.
"They remind you of the things that you did when you were 5 years old, and it's not easy then to lose sight of who you are," Rice, 51, remarked.
"And so, Peter, thank you very much also for letting me share some time with your family."
During a spring visit with Rice in Washington, MacKay, who turns 41 two weeks from today, had gushed that the two shared a "chemistry" and conceded he had always been a "fan."
MacKay steered clear of any such fawning talk yesterday. But it was obvious he was smitten with one of the world's most powerful women as they exchanged a handshake and double-cheek kiss. The feeling appeared mutual. Rice, who has never married, repeatedly called MacKay by his first name and seemed in no rush to finish up her morning agenda.
"This has been a lovely trip, Peter," she told him.
U.S. State Department officials played up the amount of time MacKay spent with Rice, saying few get so much attention.
"You don't get four hours of the secretary of state's time even if you're the Queen of England," said one American official.
"It's quite a strong signal."
Rice and MacKay travelled together to and from the riding — a 90-minute drive each way from Halifax — and held a working dinner Monday night.
"They could have talked about everything from Afghanistan to hockey. Or, in her case, the National Football League. She's a fanatic," the official said.
Asked if Rice had reciprocated with an invitation to visit her hometown, MacKay smiled coyly. "We've talked about an exchange visit but I'll leave that up to her in terms of the timing," he said.
One U.S. official said Rice enjoys home visits with her foreign counterparts as a way to strengthen personal ties.
Last October, for example, she took British Foreign Minister Jack Straw to a college football game in her hometown of Birmingham, Ala.
Rice is expected back in Canada in the spring when Prime Minister Stephen Harper plays host to U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexico's president.
Canadian officials said Rice didn't visit the MacKay family farm in Lorne, N.S., where Peter MacKay famously went to dig in the potato patch and hang his head after love interest Belinda Stronach defected to the Liberals in May, 2005. Rice stayed at the waterfront Pictou Lodge, where she kept her window open to enjoy the "cool ocean breezes."
"That's something I can't do in Washington," Rice said. "I had a wonderful brisk walk along the water. Seeing the wonderful people of Atlantic Canada has been a real joy."
The ambassador of American interests around the globe started yesterday with the most Canadian of traditions — a stop at Tim Hortons.
Eva MacDonald was working behind the counter at the Tim's on Water St. in Pictou when a motorcade rolled to a stop and in walked Rice and MacKay.
"We were shocked and very pleased," MacDonald recalled later. "We shook her hand ... I just adore her."
Rice ordered a half regular, half decaf coffee with one Sugar Twin. And while she eyed the doughnuts, she didn't order one, MacDonald said.
When the politicians quibbled over who was going to pay — MacKay had a medium tea, milk and one sugar — MacDonald said it was on the house.
"She was shaking hands with the customers. Everyone was very surprised," she said.
MacKay quipped about their coffee stop during their joint address to the museum gathering.
"She learned a little bit more about life in Atlantic Canada ... She learned about important things, like a double-double," he said to laughter.
Rice came to deliver a pep talk to Canadians about the war in Afghanistan.
But it was her charm that won over the locals, who saw first-hand the easy going style — and tough resolve — that Bush so often relies on to keep friends abroad.
Chief among the fans was MacKay, who pronounced himself "delighted" with Rice's visit.
"There's a great deal of hometown pride to have you here with us," he told her.
The woman who routinely holds court with world leaders and is dispatched to hotspots to defuse simmering conflicts flashed the crowd an easy smile and announced how pleased she was to be in their corner of the world.
The stylish global ambassador who's visited 28 countries this year alone can now add Pictou County, N.S., to her travel diary.
Said an excited Sandy Cyr, mayor of nearby Westville: "This is the biggest thing we've ever had here and I've been here for 70 years."
Caption the accompanying photo.
I had to look up the definition of "riding."
(flashback in the early 1990s). "They've got jungle fever."
whew....it's a bit hot in here...
'Smitten' seems appropriate by the looks of the picture...
ping
A terrific article. And a thank you to our friends in the North. I have GOT to get to N.S. Some of my ancestors are from there.
Mutual admiration society! So nice to see!
And you are classless.
It's a joke! Gosh...
Poor McKay. Belinda Stronach took him to the cleaners. Of course, she's the Billionaire Tire Parts queen, so she dumped him like yesterday's laundry.
Of course, with Condi, who knows? McKay seems a nice enough guy and has enough going for him.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
He's kind of cute bttt.
Cape Breton. July or August. You won't regret it :-D
It's classless. Pathetic
There's an expression I haven't seen on Condi's face before. There is some serious chemistry going on between those two.;)
Get out of here.
PING!
Awww, how sweet!
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