by arthur Weinreb, associate Editor,
October 11, 2004
In the Speech from the Throne that was delivered by the Governor-General last Tuesday, emphasis was put on the need for Canada to improve relations with the United States. Under the heading of "a Role of Pride and Influence in the World", an obvious blast from the past, the government stated that Canada's role in the world must include "a deepening cooperation with the United States on mutual assistance in the event of major natural or human-caused emergencies" (that's one way to describe Islamic terrorist flying planes into buildings). The government further went on to state:
"This new context requires us to manage wisely our relationship with the United States, to know our friends better, and to strengthen our economic and security relations. Our relationship must be built on shared values, on mutual respect, and on a strong and independent voice for Canada."
Mutual respect? It's hard to believe that when it comes from a government that couldn't care less when one of its backbenchers, Carolyn Parrish, goes on one of her anti-american tirades. Recently she continued to perfect her role as the government's designated america-basher when she referred to the United States as a "coalition of idiots" before a small group of protesters and, of course, the media. This followed upon her pre-Iraq war comments when she said, "Damn americans--I hate those bastards".
Parrish's second outburst of anti-american oral diarrhea was not unexpected. after her "bastards" statement last year, she went on television and laughed about her comments. Parrish giggled as she told the audience how upset her mother was that she had used the word "bastards", drawing applause from the youngish U.S.-hating audience. and with a grin on her face, she said that she couldn't promise that she wouldn't do it again. and, of course she did.
What was significant about the latest incident was the reaction of the Prime Minister. Paul Martin "asked" her to apologize, something that Parrish refused to do. Despite her refusal to withdraw or otherwise temper her remarks, Martin refused to take any form of disciplinary action against her. The PM's inability to act makes all the references in the Throne Speech about needing better relations with the U.S. and having "mutual respect" was nothing more than hypocritical political blather.
The matter was raised in Question Period the day after the Speech from the Throne. Conservative Party member Jason Kenney asked how Canadian/american relations can be fixed when the PM allows Parrish "to continue to sit in his caucus and become the de facto Liberal spokesman on U.S. relations.
Minister of Foreign affairs, Pierre Pettigrew, who is destined to go down in history as the worst Foreign affairs Minister since Bill Graham, at first avoided answering about Parrish. after a follow-up question, Pettigrew rationalized Parrish's continual american bashing by saying "those things happen". He turned it around by saying that "some congressmen say outrageous things about Canada". and in true Liberal fashion, the Minister blamed the opposition for not being critical of U.S members of Congress who make anti-Canadian remarks. The reality is that while the Canadian government cannot control what members of the U.S. Congress say or do, they can control what they say and do. This "they did it so we can do it attitude" is childish and it's no wonder that Canada continues to lose respect in the world with people like Pettigrew as the country's spokesman.
If the Prime Minister did not agree with Parrish's remarks he should have disciplined her. The fact that Parrish is known for her rabid anti-americanism leads to the inevitable inference that by leaving her in caucus, Martin is tacitly agreeing with what she says. and all this talk about improving relations and "mutual respect" is just that--talk.
Martin is clearly aware of the importance of the ethnic vote in elections. By throwing Parrish out of the caucus, he risks alienating the voters of Parrish's riding--the large number of Muslim voters who reelected her with a strong majority after her "bastards" statement and who obviously agree with their MP's view of the United States as the cause of all that's wrong in the world.
Martin's wish to improve relations with the United States and increase mutual respect while tacitly standing behind Carolyn Parrish is further evidence that he is an extremely weak leader, who occasionally talks a good game but lacks the intestinal fortitude to make tough or unpopular decisions. It is not insignificant that he earned the designation of "Prime Minister Dithers", early on in his tenure.
Martin can continue to play down his government's anti-americanism by trying to blame the opposition Conservative Party and sending out his Minister of Foreign affairs to say "those things happen". Much like the threat of terrorism and the sad state of Canada's military, it is just more proof that the Martin Liberals govern with their collective heads in the sand.