Katrina and Canada

Martin should get a pass on Katrina delay

Prime Minister Martin is taking some heat for his so-called delayed response to the devastation that was brought to the Gulf coast states by Hurricane Katrina. The storm made landfall a week ago Monday and the next day the levees surrounding New Orleans broke, possibly causing the permanent destruction of that city.

Although Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan issued a statement on the Tuesday, it wasn’t until late Wednesday afternoon that Canadians heard from Martin. The PM issued the standard form condolences that are issued in these types of national disasters and offered assistance by Canada to the United States.

Paul Martin just may go down as the weakest prime minister in Canadian history. About the only consolation that the PM can take is that the country has only been around for 138 years. When it comes to political smarts, he’s no Jean Chrªtien. And when it comes to sheer intellect, he’s no Pierre Trudeau. Come to think of it, he isn’t even a Margaret Trudeau, but I digress. But of all the numerous things that Martin can and is criticized for; his, and Canada’s response to the carnage that was wreaked by Hurricane Katrina isn’t one of them.

The initial condolences were issued shortly after the levees broke. The fact that it was McLellan rather than Martin is really of no consequence. What was important was the offer of assistance that was made. Since the levees of New Orleans were breached there has been nothing but mass confusion between the various levels of governments and agencies in the United States. The situation had to be at least somewhat stabilized before any meaningful aid could be delivered to the Americans. Canadian Red Cross workers were flown into the affected area and put to work relatively quickly. And ships are now en route to the Gulf coast carrying supplies. This was all planned and put into action in a little more than a week. When all is said and done, Canada not only responded but did so rather quickly. Sure Martin could have responded a few hours earlier. So what?

Deputy Conservative Leader Peter MacKay accused the prime minister of dithering. Duh! That’s what he does best. This is what he is best known for. This is why he has been known as Prime Minister Dithers since shortly after he assumed office. But Martin, too his credit, hardly dithered at all when it came to not just mouthing the words, but actually sending help.

There was nothing wrong with MacKay criticizing Martin’s performance. In fact it was refreshing to see someone in the Official Opposition actually officially opposing something that the government did or didn’t do. It was a different tact Stephen Harper often takes in being too quick to agree with major Martin decisions such as the budget, the appointment of the governor general and resistance to any private health care. But if Peter MacKay wants something constructive to do he should be worry about how much Martin would dither if a natural disaster or terrorist attack happened on Canadian soil. MacKay might also want to ponder why his party and his leader are such a poor second to such a ditherer. No, Paul Martin should not be criticized for the way he handled Canada’s response to Hurricane Katrina. There are so many better things to go after Martin on; accumulating vast surpluses while refusing to reduce gasoline taxes being just one of them.

Both MacKay and Toronto Sun columnist Hartley Steward accused Paul Martin of playing politics with the tragedy. Double Duh! That’s what Liberals do. That is why they are usually in power. Of course Paul Martin waited to see if there would be any political fallout from his anti-American supporters. That’s why he’s living in the big house on Sussex Drive.

Many people were quick to criticize not only Martin and but countries for not being quick enough off the mark to offer assistance. But it wasn’t a contest. Kuwait was severely criticized for not being amongst one of the first countries to offer assistance; the same Kuwait that the U.S. saved from Saddam Hussein and that later pledged the greatest amount of aid to the United States – half a billion dollars.

So if Paul Martin was not such a ditherer, Canada would have offered aid and assistance a few hours or a day earlier than it did – big deal.

Arthur Weinreb is an author, columnist and Associate Editor of Canada Free Press. His work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Men's News Daily, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck and The Rant. Arthur can be reached at: aweinreb@rogers.com

Other articles by Arthur Weinreb