CTV Television, Inc.
Canada AM
April 29, 2004
PM Heads to Washington to Meet with US President
Anchor: Seamus O'Regan
Guest: Tom Niles, Former US Ambassador to Canada
O'REGAN: Prime Minister Paul Martin is in Washington today but he is not meeting with US President George Bush just yet. When they do meet tomorrow on the agenda will be -- what else but? -- mending ailing US-Canada relations. Also on the list: Canada's national security, opening up the border to Canadian beef, softwood lumber, Canada's role in Iraq, and fighting terrorism.
At no other time were Canada-US relations stronger than under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. And Ambassador Thomas Niles was US Ambassador to Canada during that time. He joins us now from New York with his review on the Martin-Bush meeting.
Good morning, Mr. Ambassador.
NILES: Good morning.
O'REGAN: Well, as I said, when you were Ambassador there was no other time that our relations were closer. At least in hindsight that's the way it seems. Tell me how you would characterize relations now.
NILES: Well, I think there's a lot of expectation or hope here that we can look ahead toward perhaps better cooperation. I think the idea of a crisis in US-Canada relationship is misguided. There are issues on which we disagree. And of course when I was privileged to be US Ambassador in Canada there were also issues on which we disagreed.
Interestingly enough, some of the issues on the agenda then are on the agenda now. Softwood lumber, for example. Missile defence. One of the first issues I had to deal with when I arrived in Ottawa in August-September of 1985 was the government's decision not to participate in the research phase of SDI. So, some issues never seem to go away.
O'REGAN: Yeah, what was popularly known as Star Wars at the time.
NILES: Well, it was, by some.
O'REGAN: And as you say, things haven't changed.
I wanted to ask you, the President is not entirely popular here in this country, or perceived that way. And one American consultant has characterized it as kind of a Goldilocks thing. The Prime Minister's challenge is not to get too close but not to get too far, he has got to get it just right. I wonder what your thoughts on that are.
NILES: Well, I think that's always been true in US-Canada relations. There is an interest on both sides in a close and cooperative relationship. But in Canada there is always sensitivity about appearing to be too close to the United States. And that was true when I was there and I think it's true today.
O'REGAN: As a former ambassador, or as an ambassador of the day, you would have had at hand in writing the briefing note that the President will look at before that meeting. A note that will characterize the state of relations today and what the President and the Prime Minister hope to get out of this meeting. If you were writing that note right now what would be in it?
NILES: Well, it would be that the visit represents a considerable opportunity for the United States and Canada to look ahead and put some of our past disagreements -- notably on Iraq -- behind us and talk about how we can work to produce a good solution in Iraq, moving toward turnover of authority to the Iraqis on the first of July or 30th of June and what role Canada, with other members of United Nations, can play in facilitating that.
Now, there is also a lot we can do on other issues. Certainly from the point of view of the business community, where I am now, we would like to see a focus on where the United States and Canada can go beyond NAFTA which has been, in our view, a very successful effort involving the three North American partners. Where do we go from here? What opportunities are there out there, perhaps looking toward ultimately a customs union and enhanced cooperation in areas such as energy and the environment. And dealing with our border issues, making sure that while we guarantee or do what we can to guarantee security in North America we don't interfere with the flow of goods and services and people across the border.
O'REGAN: Mr. Niles, lastly, how much does personal style really factor into all of this? I mean, Prime Minister Chretien enjoyed a close relationship with President Clinton. He did not enjoy that relationship with President Bush. Prime Minister Martin meeting now with the President. Do personalities really make a difference here?
NILES: Well, I think they do. They certainly did when I was in Ottawa. And the close friendship between Prime Minister Mulroney and President Reagan was a factor and it assured us that there was an interest, a greater interest perhaps, on the part of the two leaders in making sure that we managed the relationship well. And so, obviously, we hope that Prime Minister Martin and President Bush will hit it off well. They've met before and they'll be meeting again twice in multilateral meetings over the next two months, both the NATO summit in Istanbul and the G8 meeting in Sea Island, Georgia. So, they'll have a good opportunity to get to know each other better and, we hope, well.
O'REGAN: Yes, indeed. Ambassador Niles, thank you very much.
NILES: Thank you.
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