NationStates Jolt Archive

Bush to visit Canada in near future:LWN NSer.
CTV.ca News Staff

U.S. President George W. Bush will be making his first official visit to Canada, possibly within the next several months.

"The exact date and timing haven't been decided, but I have invited him and he will be coming," Prime Minister Paul Martin told reporters in Quebec on Sunday.

The scenario being advanced would see the Republican President come to Canada sometime before his inauguration on Jan. 20.

Bush did visit Canada twice during his first term, but both trips were during summits in Quebec and Alberta and were not state visits.

Bush won re-election last week in a hotly-contested national race against Democratic Senator John Kerry. Bush ended up with more than 50 per cent of the popular vote and Republicans made gains in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.

After that victory, Prime Minister Paul Martin called to congratulate him and to invite him for a visit. The president reportedly accepted, according to a report in the Ottawa Citizen.

The question remaining is: When?

"I think it will be pre-inaugural," Ambassador Paul Cellucci said in an interview with the Citizen.

Bush had been scheduled to come to Canada in the spring of 2003. But that visit was cancelled with the official reason being the war in Iraq. However, some suggested it also had to do with Canada's decision not to send troops to the war.

A month later, in June 2003, CTV News said it was possible Bush would not visit Canada at all until Prime Minister Jean Chretien was out of office.

The move stemmed from controversial remarks Chretien made while travelling to a G-8 Summit in Europe, sources told CTV News. Chretien talked about Bush's fiscal management and also highlighted significant differences between himself and Bush.

No Apologies

"We don't think alike on many issues," Chretien said at the time.

"On social issues, he is a conservative. I am for free choice on abortion. He is not. He is against gun control. I am for it. He is for capital punishment. I am against it. I am a Liberal," he said.

Chretien refused to apologize for the comments, saying people wanted a prime minister who spoke his mind.

Now with renewed talk of a Bush visit, Cellucci says the President wants to work with his allies, including those who have been critical of him.

Cellucci also downplayed recent attention to anti-American remarks by Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish.

Just this past week, the outspoken backbencher told reporters Bush was a "war-like man." She also said she was "dumbfounded" he had won. The next day Martin said Parrish's remarks were "clearly unacceptable."

Cellucci said he believes there is "deep reservoir of goodwill in Canada towards the United States."

On Sunday, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper told CTV's Question Period that Martin must act to end what he calls a "chilly relationship" with the White House.

Harper says until that relationship is fixed, it will be harder to solve complex trade disputes between the two countries.

"A chilly relationship between the Prime Minister and the President has been a problem in resolving these disputes in the past couple of years," Harper said.
===================

I presume there will be demonstrations when he arrives, so I'm not sure how much the relationship will be 'fixed'.

KEEP HIM!!!!! PLEEEEEEZZZZZZZ!!!!! :p :p :p

A group of top lawyers has just warned the PM that meeting the war criminal Brush on Canadian soil will allow him to be tried under many UN and international agreements. Brush has diplomatic immunity but after reverting to an ordinary citizen, he too would be liable for trial in Cananda should he visit. Just like Pinochet in GB. Good.

Technically he isn't even allowed to enter Canada with his previous DUI criminal record. I say we arrest him when he gets here! :D

it would be SO awesome if he was arrested xD

it would be SO awesome if he was arrested xD
I can't see that doing too much to help North-South relations.

A group of top lawyers has just warned the PM that meeting the war criminal Brush on Canadian soil will allow him to be tried under many UN and international agreements. Brush has diplomatic immunity but after reverting to an ordinary citizen, he too would be liable for trial in Cananda should he visit. Just like Pinochet in GB. Good.

It must be possible to arrest him now that the former nation: "the US" is split in Jezusland and The US of Canada (the thinking part). Can't be that hard to arrest a rebell "president" that faked the elections again.

it would be SO awesome if he was arrested xD

I'd prefer if he just stayed on that side of the border rather than getting free room and board in one of our fine prisons. :D

...

I just saw a confirmed date, that being November 30th. The only information that hasn't been confirmed, to my knowledge, is whether Bush will address Parliament.

Parrish got kicked out of caucus, however, she's now sitting as an independent. The Liberal Party is better having lost her.

And, for everyone's information, Celluci is a Republican Party hack with no original ideas. I would know: I've met him.

And as for demonstrations, most definitely. If I can wangle getting out of class that day, you can count on me being there despite the 1.5 hour drive to Ottawa. Expect to see a sign saying "JESUS WOULDN'T GO TO WAR: WHY DID YOU!?" ;)

He can only be arrested after he is no longer presi.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1100517502971

After he gets there, would you KEEP him? Please?

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1100517502971

Informative post, thanks.
But should not we thread war criminals like him like the US threads war criminals or supposed ones? (I don't mean raping or torturing like they do)

I can already see the signs ::

"Bush Go Back!"

*chanted in unison*
:p :p :p

Looks like it'll be to early for Fox News to have an effect :(

Haha Canada.

You guys are getting Bush and Fox News? Welcome to hell.... :D

[QUOTE=Globes R Us]http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1100517502971[/QUOTE
Personally, I think a Bush visit would be good for both countries. Martin, who I believe to be a far better diplomat than Harper(whose party ideals are closer to mine), or Jackass Layton, would hopefully do much to patch up the holes in our relationship with the US. Despite many Canadians not liking Bush,
I think that the indictment theory is alload of inflammatory conspiracy BS, which isn't above the Star.(I, being a Torontonian, realize this. Prefer the Globe & Mail myself).
Oh, and I practically jumped out of sheer unbridled joy whan that malicious old broad Parrish got kicked out of Caucus. YEAH!!!! ;)

You guys are getting Bush and Fox News? Welcome to hell....

We live next door. We know how bad it is. 'Sides, Fox News up here would be more comedy than actual news, laughing at the pure unbridled propaganda spilling forth.

A group of top lawyers has just warned the PM that meeting the war criminal Brush on Canadian soil will allow him to be tried under many UN and international agreements. Brush has diplomatic immunity but after reverting to an ordinary citizen, he too would be liable for trial in Cananda should he visit. Just like Pinochet in GB. Good.
First of all, his name is Bush. When he came here in June 2004 we were told by parts of the law establishent tha Bush could be arrested and questioned in Ireland over the Abu Ghraib scandal. Never happened though, due to lack of evidence that Bush was complicit with the abuse.

...I love that Carolyn Parrish. What a woman. She's no statesman (stateswoman?), but she's a helluva politician. Bush (Brush? I hear 'Shrub' increasingly) will be as welcome here in Canada as raw sewage is...well, anywhere, really (didn't think that one out well enough, I suppose). Ronnie Raygun got a pretty stiff reception from protestors.

I wouldn't put it past Martin to keep protests completely off Parliament Hill altogether for the duration of El Bush's stay. I'm half-expecting our current PM to roll over on inane crap like that missile defense whatsits Herr Bush wants us all to think we need. The warning sign: Comrade Bush is signalling his readiness to let Canadian beef back over the border. How big of him. How very big. I'll guarantee there'll suddenly be progress on softwood lumber at or around the visit - but there'll be hitches, too - most likely to do with the hyperinflated American sense of what they like to call 'security' these days. More likely to do with sovereignty, though. But I wouldn't expect 50% of Americans to define the word, let alone respect, another country's 'sovereignty' these days, anyway.

I would expect that Chairman Bush would need Dick Cheney to read the word aloud for him, however.

Bush to visit Canada in near future:LWN NSer.
CTV.ca News Staff

U.S. President George W. Bush will be making his first official visit to Canada, possibly within the next several months.

"The exact date and timing haven't been decided, but I have invited him and he will be coming," Prime Minister Paul Martin told reporters in Quebec on Sunday.

The scenario being advanced would see the Republican President come to Canada sometime before his inauguration on Jan. 20.

Bush did visit Canada twice during his first term, but both trips were during summits in Quebec and Alberta and were not state visits.

Bush won re-election last week in a hotly-contested national race against Democratic Senator John Kerry. Bush ended up with more than 50 per cent of the popular vote and Republicans made gains in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.

After that victory, Prime Minister Paul Martin called to congratulate him and to invite him for a visit. The president reportedly accepted, according to a report in the Ottawa Citizen.

The question remaining is: When?

"I think it will be pre-inaugural," Ambassador Paul Cellucci said in an interview with the Citizen.

Bush had been scheduled to come to Canada in the spring of 2003. But that visit was cancelled with the official reason being the war in Iraq. However, some suggested it also had to do with Canada's decision not to send troops to the war.

A month later, in June 2003, CTV News said it was possible Bush would not visit Canada at all until Prime Minister Jean Chretien was out of office.

The move stemmed from controversial remarks Chretien made while travelling to a G-8 Summit in Europe, sources told CTV News. Chretien talked about Bush's fiscal management and also highlighted significant differences between himself and Bush.

No Apologies

"We don't think alike on many issues," Chretien said at the time.

"On social issues, he is a conservative. I am for free choice on abortion. He is not. He is against gun control. I am for it. He is for capital punishment. I am against it. I am a Liberal," he said.

Chretien refused to apologize for the comments, saying people wanted a prime minister who spoke his mind.

Now with renewed talk of a Bush visit, Cellucci says the President wants to work with his allies, including those who have been critical of him.

Cellucci also downplayed recent attention to anti-American remarks by Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish.

Just this past week, the outspoken backbencher told reporters Bush was a "war-like man." She also said she was "dumbfounded" he had won. The next day Martin said Parrish's remarks were "clearly unacceptable."

Cellucci said he believes there is "deep reservoir of goodwill in Canada towards the United States."

On Sunday, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper told CTV's Question Period that Martin must act to end what he calls a "chilly relationship" with the White House.

Harper says until that relationship is fixed, it will be harder to solve complex trade disputes between the two countries.

"A chilly relationship between the Prime Minister and the President has been a problem in resolving these disputes in the past couple of years," Harper said.
===================

I presume there will be demonstrations when he arrives, so I'm not sure how much the relationship will be 'fixed'.




Is it just me or does this article make Bush sound pretty petty. It pretty much states that GW refused to visit his most important trading partner, the people that took all the planes on 9-11, and the first people to join up with him to go to Afghanistan to try and get Bin LAden.... because the country's leader at one time stated:


"On social issues, he is a conservative. I am for free choice on abortion. He is not. He is against gun control. I am for it. He is for capital punishment. I am against it. I am a Liberal," he said.



What the hell is so "contraversial" about that? It just happens to be the truth...


Of course, speaking as someone who will be working a whole block from Parliament Hill during the time of the visit. Let me express my utter joy at the hell that will be my commute for a few days as the security dicks take control of the roads.

After he gets there, would you KEEP him? Please?

Not a chance in hell :-P

If Canada is still as good as it was in WWII, they say nothing until the last moment. When Bush lands they send in the airforce, army and mounties and publicly announce: George Bush, you're under arrest blighter!

If Canada is still as good as it was in WWII, they say nothing until the last moment. When Bush lands they send in the airforce, army and mounties and publicly announce: George Bush, you're under arrest blighter!
If Canada is still as good as if was in WWII, you say? Well, I certainly hope not. It would be pretty embarassing to admit technology hasn't been updated inthe past 50 years.

Pies at the ready! Arm the chicken cannon!

If Canada is still as good as it was in WWII, they say nothing until the last moment. When Bush lands they send in the airforce, army and mounties and publicly announce: George Bush, you're under arrest blighter!

If I've got the gist of your post wrong, I apologise in advance. In WW2, Canada was fighting alongside the Brits from the beginning. And it wasn't cajoled or bullied, It saw what was right and got on with it. Thank you Canada again.