Canadians Discuss Ousting U.S. Ambassador

Newsmax.com ^ | March 28, 2003

[dmcg_98]

Canadians Discuss Ousting U.S. Ambassador Friday, March 28, 2003

The fallout from the U.S. ambassador to Canada’s remarks Tuesday that Americans are disappointed by Canada's decision not to support the U.S. effort in Iraq continued Thursday with Liberal members of parliament debating behind closed doors whether to censure or expel the American diplomat, according to a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Company.

MP Jim Karygiannis said Ambassador Paul Cellucci had no business commenting on Canadian policies.

"We're the ones that speak on behalf of our electorate. Cellucci doesn't get elected in our constituencies. He doesn't get elected in Canada," Karygiannis said.

Thirty-six Liberals spoke out in caucus, after a motion had been floored to lodge a formal protest. Arguments were made that the ambassador was behaving more like a partisan politician than a diplomat. Some argued he should be recalled.

It was also noted that the American diplomat had criticized Canadian policy before, complaining, among other things, that Canada doesn't spend enough money on defense.

But other Liberals believe Cellucci was goaded to make his controversial remarks because of anti-American comments made by senior members of the Chrétien government.

One of those anti-American sentiments was voiced by cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal, who called President George W. Bush a failed statesman.

MP Carolyn Parrish called Americans "bastards."

Irwin Cotler, who represents the Montreal riding of Mount Royal, explained how he saw the clash between the usually friendly and benign neighbors:

"What they couldn't abide by were the kinds of statements that seemed to suggest that Bush was worse than Saddam Hussein. Those are the kind of hurtful and harmful references that began to resonate in the United States," Cotler said.

Meanwhile in the House of Commons, Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper expressed shock that the Liberals would consider expelling Cellucci when they've refused a U.S. request to expel Iraq's only diplomatic representative in Canada.

Prime Minister Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, who warned all to tone down the rhetoric, reminded the Commons that Canadians took in 40,000 Americans after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, that Canada has contributed to the war on terrorism by sending troops to Afghanistan and ships to the Arabian Sea. He added that Canada will also contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq.

[Dr.Deth]

Do fleas decide whether to throw out the dog, now?

[UCFRoadWarrior]

What a bunch of arrogant jerks...the Liberal govt of Canada.

It has to be embarrassing for a nation to have a Prime Minister who is trying to be Mini-Me to Jacques Chirac

[tomahawk]

Canada: Expel our ambassador, and diplomatic relations will be cut.

[Diogenesis]

Every country has had an opportunity to declare itself.

Axis of Evil or Armies of Good.

Canada is oooozing (French influence?) to the Axis of Evil.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #3

These liberal Canucks are small-minded morons.

[MEG33]

Perhaps we should recall our Ambassador voluntarily.H e can return when regime change has been achieved in Canada.

[sam_paine]

Celllucci...said..."that Americans are disappointed by Canada's decision not to support the U.S. effort in Iraq..."
MP Jim Karygiannis said ... Cellucci... had no business commenting on Canadian policies.
"We're the ones that speak on behalf of our electorate. Cellucci doesn't get elected in our constituencies. He doesn't get elected in Canada," Karygiannis said.

What a little pip. Our Ambassador discloses how WE feel about them, and they take it as trying to "represent them."

Very tender, aren't they? They should put some ice on that.

[concerned about politics]

Liberal members of parliament debating behind closed doors whether to censure or expel the American diplomat

Just the Socialists. I don't think they have the say.
If they do manage to pull it off, stop trading with Canada, and they'll lose their government hand out checks.
They shouldn't bite the hands that feed them.

France is suffering a 26 mo. low employment, Air France flights are at a minimum, and their exports hit a 6 year low.

[Semper Paratus]

Wimps, hurt their feeeling, EH.

[xsmommy]

that's what i'm saying!

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Lest we forget canada has made a lot of money
off of American assets stolen by cuba!
US law on using stolen American assets not
used against canada.
Maybe it is the GOV. obeyed its own laws.
To h*ll with liberal canada.

[Beck_isright]

No problem. Then we can turn around and impede the ability of citizens to cross into Canada by issuing a health advisory via the CDC AND refusing to allow any non-Canadian so called refugee status persons from entering into the U.S. We can also cancel alot of or restrict all southbound air traffic from Canada because of the health alert from SARS. Personally speaking, I hope they dare to do it. Then we can watch the backlash against Canafrance to be just as severe as our backlash against their parent nation, France. If they want to be and act like a French colony, so be it. I hope they are prepared to pay the price.

V

[cynicom]

I hope they throw him out. Then we can throw theirs out. We do not need "friends" such as Canada.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Right then, so it's war!

[Mo1]

Some argued he should be recalled.

Try it .. Go ahead .. Just Try it!

[tcostell]

Canada is our largest trading partner, and our closest neighbor. Like it or not, they are like family. We can't get by without them, they can't get by without us, and even more important, neither of us really want to try.

Most Canadians have positive feelings about the US. Let's not get all twisted up because a couple of posturing politicians are trying to make ground by bashing our current policies.

They have guys like Tom Daschle in Canada too, and I certainly wouldn't like other countries thinking a guy like Daschle speaks for me.

The people who are spouting the loudest in Canada now will find themselves in the dustbowl of history in no time. We have Canadian troops currently serving in combat positions with ours, so let's not allow some separatist politicians clinging to the corpse of a dead ideology to cause us to doubt who our real friends are.

[Snowyman]

Thank you. Finally some one who knows what they're talking about.

[bullseye1911]

Like it or not, they are like family. We can't get by without them, they can't get by without us, and even more important, neither of us really want to try.

Ok, so we should treat them like a younger brother whose out of line, AND BITCH SLAP THEM SILLY!!!

[CatoRenasci]

They have guys like Tom Daschle in Canada too, and I certainly wouldn't like other countries thinking a guy like Daschle speaks for me.

In Canada, the Tom Daschole types are running the country, so they do 'speak for the country.'

We should call our Ambassador home for consultations and start requiring visas for Canadians -- obtainable only at the US embassy in Ottawa, or at any post office in the Western Provinces.