Remarks made by the Prime Minister of Canada

Email | 9/13/02 | Webmaster - Canadian Embassy

[Ed_NYC]

I sent an email to the Canadian Embassy (webmaster@canadianembassy.org ) to let them know how I feel about the comments made by Jean Chrétie and this is the reply that I got.

[Ed_NYC]

Thank you for your message regarding remarks made by the Prime Minister of Canada last July and aired earlier this week on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Embassy in Washington appreciates your views. Please find below a statement from the Prime Minister's office along with a transcript of the interview in question. If you are interested in further information regarding the close cooperation between the governments of Canada and the United States in the fight against terrorism, please visit http://www.canadianembassy.org/fightingterrorism/.

It is being wrongly reported today that in an interview broadcast on CBC television last night Prime Minister Jean Chrétien singled out the United States for responsibility for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In fact, in response to a question about how he thought the world had changed on September 11th, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to point to the need for all Western developed countries to reflect on the long-term consequences of the growing divide between rich and poor nations -- a divide which has clearly been used by fanatics to fan resentment toward the developed world. It is a gross misconstruction of his remarks to suggest that he was blaming the United States for the attacks. Indeed, the forceful action Canada has taken, shoulder to shoulder with the United States, to track down and bring to justice those behind the attacks is unequivocal proof of the views of the Prime Minister, the government and the people of Canada as to who is responsible for September 11th. In order for Canadians to come to an unfiltered judgement as to the intent and meaning of the Prime Minister's remarks, a transcript of the relevant portion of the interview is enclosed. In this regard, we also encourage Canadians to view the interview as it was broadcast on the CBC. It was part of a documentary entitled "Untold Story" and can be viewed on the CBC website at cbc.ca.

Interview Excerpt:

Peter Mansbridge, CBC Anchor: By the end of the day, what were you thinking about in terms of how the world had changed?

The Prime Minister of Canada: But I've said that it is a division in the world that is building up. And I knew that it was the inspiration of it. For me, I think that the rest of the world is a bit too selfish, and that there is a lot of resentment. I felt it when I dealt with the African file for the Summit of the G8. You know, the poor, relatively, get poorer all the time. And the rich are getting richer all the time. You know, now we see the abuse of the system with problems in the United States at this moment with the corporate world, you know. When you think that, you know, you have to let go somebody in the Cabinet because perhaps relatively very minor things...of guidelines. And there was billions of dollars that were basically stolen from the shareholders. And we have to you know solving the problems when you read history. Everybody don't know when to stop. There is a moment, you know, when you have to stop. There is a moment when you have very powerful (inaudible).

I said that in New York one day. I said, you know talking, it was Wall Street, and it was a crowd of capitalists, of course, and they were complaining because we have a normal relation with Cuba, and this and that, and, you know, we cannot do everything we want. And I said...if I recall, it was probably these words: 'When you're powerful like you are, you guys, is the time to be nice.' And it is one of the problems. You know, you cannot exercise your powers to the point that of humiliation for the others. And that is what the Western world, not only the Americans, the Western world has to realize, because they are human beings too, and there are long-term consequences if you don't look hard at the reality in 10 or 20, or 30 years from now. And I do think that the Western world is going to be too rich in relation to the poor world. And necessarily, you know, we look upon us being arrogant, self-satisfying, greedy and with no limits. And the 11th of September is an occasion for me to realize that it's even more."

Thank you again for taking the time to write the Canadian Embassy.

Webmaster http://www.canadianembassy.org

[Ed_NYC]

BUMP - Remarks made by the Prime Minister of Canada

[Edward Watson]

Once again, I APOLOGIZE to all Americans for the stupidity of our Prime Minister, who apparently thinks anti-Americanism earns him brownie points overseas.

Earth to Chretien! Earth to Chretien! If poverty is the cause of terrorism, why is it there aren't any Ethiopian terrorists or Cambodian terrorists? Where are the Mozambique suicide bombers?

No, the world's most prominent terrorists are ARAB Muslims! 15 of the 19 9-11 hijackers were Saudis! Is Saudi Arabia a poor nation? What about the Kuwaitis who were part of the Al Queda? Are they wallowing in poverty?

This tendency among the leftist wackos in the West of blaming terrorism on poverty is not just idiotic, it's suicidal.

[uncommonsense]

And I do think that the Western world is going to be too rich in relation to the poor world. And necessarily, you know, we look upon us being arrogant, self-satisfying, greedy and with no limits. And the 11th of September is an occasion for me to realize that it's even more.

Not that this statement by Chrétien needs to be commented on, but, for everything, there is a reason. If leaders of a nation are corrupt and the people are ignorant by choice and/or lazy, you can expect that they will live at a lower standard of living than those countries where this is not the case. Not too difficult to figure that out.

The USA is more generous then the next 20 nations combined in terms of "giving to the poor". Personally, I believe some charity is good - but too much - and you become an enabler of undesirable behaviors.

This is more likely the problem, the USA being overgenerous!

[southernnorthcarolina]

A very wise person once said that if you find yourself in a hole, you should stop digging. This "clarification" by the Prime Minister's office, if anything, makes the statement in question even worse.

It should send a chill down the backbone of every American who believes in free enterprise to realize that socialists control the government of Canada; that their Prime Minister believes that the West is becoming "too rich," and offers that "fact" as a reason for the terrorist attack; that Canada offers, for all practical purposes, sanctuary for undocumented aliens; and that we share a 3,000-mile essentially unsecured border with these loonies.

Tell you what. There's an oil-rich nation badly in need of a regime change, and it's a lot closer than Iraq. We could take them out in an hour or so, and it would be in our best interests to do so.

[billorites]

"Once again, I APOLOGIZE to all Americans for the stupidity of our Prime Minister"

Well, if you give us the Prairie Provinces we'll give you Massachusetts and Vermont and we'll be even. OK?

[Malesherbes]

It has been said that Chretien is inarticulate in two languages. I don't know about his French, but he is certainly inarticulate in English. To the extent I could make heads or tails of his remarks, I still find them offensive.

[Enduring Freedom]

A Socialist

A Terrorist Sympathizer

AND a Liar

[MoJo2001]

I accept your apology as soon as you accept our apology for your children having to endure the Clinton administration. So? We are basically even. Look forward to when a new Conservative heads the Canadian Prime Minister's office. I just wish the two Conservative parties would unite.

[desertcry]

From my veiw in the Southwest desert, Mr. Chretien is a huge stain on Canada. If Canadians want respect from their neighbors to the South( we do have lots of Canadian snowbirds here in Winter), they have to get rid of this presumptious arrogant, hypocritical, and mean old man. While America greives for the loss of their love ones, Mr. Chretien plays his fiddle, and sings: Oh America, you deserve to cry in pain.

[Edward Watson]

Look, I AGREE with you - I'm from the West (in Vancouver) -blame the loons in Ontario and on the East Coast for voting Liberal.

[Area51]

After putting up with the BS Bill Clinton spread for 8 years across the Globe don't sweat it. His time in limited and hopefully you all will replace him with someone that has a slight level of rational thinking.

[desertcry]

I spent a few summers in BC,(Vancouver Island)and the people I have met there have been very nice, and friendly to Americans. In response, we have also welcomed, and enjoy the company of the Canadian snowbirds who spend their Winter here in Arizona. Thus it pained me greatly to read, and hear the hostility that your PM has shown to America during the 1 year 9.11 Anniversary. Now it appears that my perception is off the mark, because the majority of Canadians agree with your PM, that the USA is responsible for the 9.11 attack. Apparently, Western Canada is completely dominated by easterm Canada. Solution: breakaway, and join us, and we will give your PM Massachusettes, and Vermont. I know it's a bad deal for Mr. Chretien, but hey it will make a lot of people happy.

[Madcelt]

you forgot the point : He's a d@!# frogg!

[Madcelt]

Sorry Canadian Frogg : Frozen frogg on a stick (hee)

[blastbaby]

[Earth to Chretien! Earth to Chretien! If poverty is the cause of terrorism, why is it there aren't any Ethiopian terrorists or Cambodian terrorists? Where are the Mozambique suicide bombers? ]

100% agree with you. Definition of "liberal" for our American friends: Everything you ever do wrong for the rest of your natural life is a direct result of your parents not loving you enough! And we the liberal Gov't of Canada will help you move on from that terrible tragedy because we know better than you...Trust us!!

Chretian believes people commit these acts because they are disadvantaged. Those poor Saudis - they had all the money in the world but no one REALLY loved them.

I too apologize for the man because he is too little to do it himself.

[blastbaby]

[Apparently, Western Canada is completely dominated by easterm Canada]

You have absolutely no idea - ask one of your B.C. friends ...(hint: the further you get West the more insane some of the things from out east sound) Also please remember us Westerners just do not have the population to make any changes in the government. Before i even go to the polls the tv has already told me who has won the election. Us western provinces are 1/2 of Canada (just not population-wise). Also please ignore EVERYTHING you read or listen to that has CBC in it. (state-run tv that you are forced to subscribe to)

Please remember that you would probably not want to be judged by Clinton - Chretian only has about 17 1/2 months to go - then we celebrate.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

I guess you don't want of our money or support, eh? starve you hoser!

[desertcry]

When we get together with my BC freinds, we seldom discuss politics, although they have no hesitation expressing their displeasure of Canada's central govt. and in particular mr. chretien. Yeah, mr. clinton is so corrupt, and has corrupted
everything in our country, I call him the bentone. And like you Guys/Dolls in Western Canada, Arizona, and the American West is often irrelevant in our national CEO/HOS elections. Our ultra liberal Eastern States also elects them for us. I know exactly how you feel. Forunately for us, we have term limits for US Presidents, 8 years, and that's it, unless there are Force of God emergencies(like WWII). Does Canada have Term Limits for PMs? I hope you have. America now once again can hold it's heads high, we have President GWB. And just in time, when we needed him, perhaps God still favors this country.

[Jason Kauppinen]

Statement by Stephen Harper, MP Leader of the Opposition
Canada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2002

“Mr. Chrétien's comments, particularly coming on the anniversary of 9-11, blaming the victim, are shameful. What was behind the events of September 11 are the forces of evil and hatred. These must be resisted by free and democratic societies and their leaders. His comments are unacceptable, and he should apologize to the United States and to the families of the Canadian victims. The Liberal Party and its would-be leaders should disavow the statement.”

http://www.canadianalliance.ca