Pubdate: Wed, 23 Feb 2005
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2005 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Bruce Cheadle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

CANADA, U.S. 'NEVER MORE DIFFERENT'

OTTAWA (CP)-- Canadians shouldn't worry about their sovereignty because in 
many ways this country and the United States have never been further apart, 
says the next ambassador to Washington.

Frank McKenna was grilled for 90 minutes by the Commons foreign affairs 
committee on Tuesday. And while the session was largely overshadowed by 
controversial comments on continental missile defence, the former New 
Brunswick premier had some interesting and candid insights on his new job.

McKenna thinks the U.S. should back off on criticisms of Canadian marijuana 
decriminalization. He worries about the gulf between Canadian and American 
understanding of one another. And he believes the two countries can't do 
enough to harmonize their shared border.

"I don't think I've ever seen the countries, in many ways, more different," 
McKenna told the committee.

"We're going in a very different direction from the United States of America."

By example, he cited legislative measures such as same-sex marriage, gun 
control and pot decriminalization.

And he said Canada's "whole approach with respect to preserving the social 
structure, social security in Canada, is dramatically different from the 
direction of the United States of America.

"We just seem to be much further apart than we've ever been before. So my 
view is Canadians have done a good job of protecting our cultural integrity 
and our sovereignty."

McKenna made a spirited defence of Canadian independence in matters such as 
marijuana, which many American legislators have sharply criticized.

It has been suggested if Canada decriminalizes pot, it could cause problems 
at border crossings. McKenna said Americans should examine their own lax 
gun laws first.

"One of the biggest problems Canada faces is with respect to guns from the 
United States coming across the border and being used in crimes in Canada. 
So we could make the argument that each of us should be entitled to our own 
domestic policy, even though it has some implications for the other country."

Americans, said McKenna, "are largely indifferent to Canadians" and need to 
be constantly reminded of the importance of Canada's import and export markets.

And Canadians don't appreciate the psychological impact the Sept. 11, 2001 
terrorist attacks had on American society.

Do Canadians "truly understand the sense to which the United States was 
traumatized and the sense to which that has driven their public policy 
since then?" McKenna asked.

"No. I don't think our citizenry overall have understood that."

Security trumps everything else in U.S. policy these days, and McKenna said 
he'd like to see the Canada-U.S. border "as seamless as possible" to assure 
our mutual interests.

But he also said that overly deep integration with U.S. policy could harm 
Canada's sovereignty.

"I think you could reach a stage where it would be a threat," said McKenna, 
citing occasional calls for a common currency.

McKenna was also asked what type of diplomat he'll be in Washington.

Paul Cellucci, the departing U.S. ambassador to Canada, frequently made 
headlines and raised hackles by criticizing Ottawa's domestic policies.

"I liked his style. You always knew where he was coming from," said McKenna.

"I like that kind of candour. I think it's very helpful."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom