Hawkish U.S. adviser lashes 'lame duck' Chrétien (Canada)

The Toronto Star ^ | April 3, 2003 | ???

[IvanT]

Perle says French President Chirac, Chrétien 'deserve each other'

OTTAWA (Reuters) — An influential advisor to the U.S. administration used an interview published today to write off Prime Minister Jean Chrétien as "a lame duck" who was giving support to Saddam Hussein, and said Ottawa would pay a price for not sending troops to Iraq.

The comments by Richard Perle were the strongest attack yet by Washington on Chrétien and underline how seriously relations between the world's two largest trading partners have deteriorated in recent months.

Officials say the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is irate over Canada's refusal to send troops to Iraq and a series of anti-American comments by members of the Liberal government.

Perle, a prominent neoconservative who sits on the Pentagon's influential Defense Policy Board, told the National Post that Washington felt Chrétien — who says he will step down in February 2004 — was being irresponsible.

"The Prime Minister is a lame duck. So that may help explain the failure to appreciate the disappointment that would be caused not only by the Canadian government policy on Iraq, but by the cacophony of criticism — much of it ill-informed and much of it simply name-calling," he said.

"There is simply no other way to describe the positions of some countries — not many, but some countries — which is to lend far more support to Saddam Hussein's regime than they may have intended by the positions they have taken."

According to the Post, Perle said the White House was looking forward to dealing with Chrétien's replacement. Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal said last week Bush had failed as a statesman, Toronto-area Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish said she hated the "damned Americans" and called them "bastards."

Chrétien resisted pressure to contribute to the U.S.-led invasion because it had not been sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council.

Perle said the decision not to send troops was "very unfortunate" and "it does have implications for U.S.-Canadian relations," but gave few details.

This is likely to further alarm Canadian business executives already worried about the damage being done to ties with the country's most important trading partner. Some 87 per cent of Canadian exports go to the United States.

Last week U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci said Washington was disappointed in Ottawa and Perle's trenchant comments cast even more doubt on the chances of a planned visit by Bush to Ottawa next month going ahead.

Perle accused Chrétien and French President Jacques Chirac of opposing the war because of "an unwillingness to confront" Hussein and predicted the Canadian prime minister would be embarrassed when weapons of mass destruction are found.

"If Canada wishes to subordinate its moral and political values to President Chirac — so be it. Chirac and Chrétien deserve each other," said Perle, who resigned last month as chairman of the policy board over alleged conflicts of interest. He remains a member of the board.

[IvanT]

I'm loving this. The US is really turning the screws on us up here in Canada. Keep it up lads, we want a severe backlash to brew so we can oust the Liberal barstards...

[IvanT]

Oh, and apologies for redirecting you to that left wing rag of a newspaper.

[Alberta's Child]

A friend of mine with contacts in one of the major ministries in the Canadian government told me that the U.S. began treating Chretien as an irrelevant old fool almost from the moment George W. Bush was inaugurated.

I don't know if anyone else picked up on this, but when the Bush administration hosted that "Energy Summit" in Washington back in early 2001, it was Alberta premier Ralph Klein who was invited to represent Canada, not Jean Chretien.

[TADSLOS]

Hang in there.

[mondonico]

I spent some time in Canada when I was young (in Ontario as exchange student and Nova Scotia for summer camp). Lovely country--wonderful people. In retrospect, perhaps it would have been better to let Quebec secede. (I'm assuming Cretien is Quebecois).

[Fifth Business]

Some 87 per cent of Canadian exports go to the United States

The customer is always right.

[EnnisExile]

I've heard that there are plans to place full-page ads in the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald with names of people who support the USA in this war and requesting J. Chretien to do likewise. My neighbor and I would both like to participate in this action but I don't know how to contact the organizers. Do you or any other Cdn Freepers have any info on this?

[Lucas1]

Quote "Ottawa would pay a price for not sending troops to Iraq. "

Umm sorry to pop the bubble here...but Canada has troops in Iraq...and also has ships helping to escort other ships in and out of the region. They are also battle ready.

It is a lie and a myth that Canada does not have troops in Iraq at this time.

There has been a HUGE stink about this over the past few days up here among those in Government. They want Cretien to quit acting like Canada is not involved in this war.

[schaketo]

Here's what I mailed him with 3 U.S. Flag stamps on the envelope. Bastards!

Office of the Prime Minister
Attn: Jean Chrétien, the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A2

Dear Mr. Chrétien,

Just a quick note to ensure you understand millions of Americans will never forget you and your country’s cowardice.

We have always considered you an ally and a friend. That perception has recently shifted for all times. And trust me, it is permanent.

I and millions of other Americans are now encouraging our elected officials, President Bush’s administration and business leaders to change their thinking about Canada. You will see in the future a new punitive approach towards our relationship with your country.

Don’t expect a public announcement regarding this shift. But it will happen.

With friends like Canada who needs enemies. We are quickly discovering who our real friends are. It is not you or your country. I imagine a few years down the road there will be hell to pay for your position in the history books and your political parties future.

We’re tired of your slander and your weak knees.

Yours truly,

[IvanT]

Yep, he's Quebecois alright.

[cksharks]

I have a question for you if you can answer. If you made 1k a week in Canada how much after tax income do you get to keep?

[schaketo]

"Umm sorry to pop the bubble here...but Canada has troops in Iraq..."

What's your source? I've heard this before but it appears to be a weak attempt at a CYA rumor. Not seeing any Canadians pulling up to the line in the march to Bagdad.

[CanadianBacon]

Perle isn't saying anything that many (if not most) Canadians have been saying for the last few years and the numbers and intensity are building.

[IvanT]

There's an article in the Toronto Sun today talking about our Princess Pats having been deployed to guard an airstrip in an unspecified region of the Gulf, where there are currently 1,199 Canadian troops 'working' there, whatever that means.....

Just trying to find the online version of the story, but I'm currently reading the print one on my desk right now....


It's fishy

[sneakers]

"Umm sorry to pop the bubble here...but Canada has troops in Iraq...and also has ships helping to escort other ships in and out of the region. They are also battle ready."

That's true. I had been hearing about it for the last week, at least, from various sources and last night thought I heard that a Canadian aircraft carrier had arrived in the region. I'm sure that Canadian rifle unit is there probably fighting alongside our guys - and they are probably glad to do it!

[IvanT]

I can answer you this:

If you grossed 1600,00 over a 2 week pay period you would be garnished the following in Canada:

Federal Tax -297.33
Employment Insurance -33.60
Canada Pension -72.54

Subtracting those three you would be left with $1196.53 for the two week period, so roughly you are gouged $400.00 if you make that amount in a 2 week period. That's $800.00 a month....

Pathetic.

[cksharks]

There are no taxes for the medical?

[KeyWest]

Any canadian forces are there for the war on terror but not the Iraq war. There is a difference and the Canadian gov is insisting there is.

The Canadian military wants there to be no difference, but is not supported by the Gov.

[thrcanbonly1]

Aboot treefity

[doc30]

Based upon a gross of $16K every two weeks, and $400 in deductions for taxes, that comes out to $866 per month gone to the government.

That pay rate equals about $41600 Cdn ($27040 U.S. at 0.65 on the $) per year with $10400 in tax deductions. In other words 25% gone in federal taxes!

Now, you have to add on the provincial income taxes. Last I lived in Ontario, 9 years ago, that amount was fixed as a percentage of your federal taxes and was 54%. So you also pay out of every paycheck an additional $297x 54% = $160. That's a total of $560 out of $1600 taken just in taxes.

You only have $1040 in Canadian dollars to keep for yourself. That comes out to $676 in U.S. dollars. Now, if you want to spend that money, you have to pay a 7% federal sales tax and an 8% provincial sales tax. Effectively, you have the spending power of $676 x 85% = $575 every two weeks.

In summary, this is the equivalent of a person in the U.S. making roughly $27K per year and paying 35% in sales and income taxes. Also, in Canada, the interest on your mortgage is NOT tax deductible and this does not consider property taxes, too. Moreover, on an item by item basis, Canadian retail prices are higher than they are in the U.S.

Another curious bit of Canadian psychology is that, during tax time, you have to figure out how much money the government lets you keep, in the U.S. you figure how much money the government is taking away from you.