Bush to avoid Parliament, will travel to Halifax; no desire to be 'booed'

Beth Gorham
Canadian Press

Thursday, November 25, 2004
WASHINGTON (CP) - President George W. Bush will avoid a potentially hostile reception in Parliament and travel to Halifax next week after his first official trip to Ottawa, White House sources said Wednesday.

Bush's side trip to thank Canadians who helped out after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks will come after a working visit Tuesday with Prime Minister Paul Martin and a dinner reception with hundreds of prominent Canadians. American officials involved in planning the trip were worried about a cranky audience on Parliament Hill, sources said.

"We didn't see the need and, frankly, we didn't want to be booed. There are other, better venues," said one U.S. official.

Last week, the White House brushed off the latest anti-American outburst of MP Carolyn Parrish, who appeared on a comedy show stomping on a Bush doll before Martin turfed her from the Liberal caucus.

Her antics didn't directly contribute to the decision to avoid Parliament, sources said.

But Bush wanted to avoid another embarrassing incident like the one in Australia last year, when he was shouted down by Green party senators while trying to address the parliament in Canberra.

And U.S. officials noted during planning discussions that Ronald Reagan was heckled by New Democrats opposed to his missile defence scheme during that president's 1987 state visit to Canada.

Bush will instead hold a joint news conference with Martin after lunching with him. He'll also offer a toast that night at a gala dinner held at the Museum of Civilization.

It still wasn't clear whether the president would deliver a major address next Wednesday in the Nova Scotia capital or just a few brief remarks before heading home.

"My understanding is that he wants to extend his gratitude to the people of Atlantic Canada for their help in the immediate aftermath of 9-11," Federal Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan said from Ottawa.

Thousands of Canadians opened their homes to Americans when their planes were grounded at several eastern airports following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

In all, 250 aircraft carrying 44,000 people were diverted to Canadian airports. About 13,000 travellers ended up staying in Newfoundland, swamping towns like Gander with a population about half that size.

Bush has travelled to Canada twice before for international gatherings but has never paid an official visit. He cancelled one last year after Canada's decision to stay out of Iraq.

Canadians opposed to the war, Bush's massive missile defence program and his socially conservative views overwhelmingly preferred Democrat John Kerry in the race for the White House.

Although Bush attended the APEC summit in Chile last week, this is his first state visit since winning a second term in the Nov. 2 election that returned bigger Republican majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.

It reflects a commitment to improving ties with Canada after the bitter divide over Iraq and a frosty relationship with former prime minister Jean Chretien.

Bush has already extended a conciliatory hand on the U.S. cattle ban, promising last week to help end it. Washington banned imports of Canadian cattle in May 2003 after a lone Alberta cow tested positive for mad cow, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The ban has cost Canadian producers some $4 billion Cdn over the last 18 months.

A review process started Monday that could take about five months and end with renewed trade in young cattle and more beef products.

Martin will doubtless want to discuss other trade irritants like softwood lumber while Bush may seek more help in Afghanistan and Iraq.

U.S. officials say Bush will also want to discuss border security and the larger war on terror, including the threat of weapons of mass destruction around the globe.

Thousands of peace activists began planning to converge on Ottawa during Bush's visit after it was announced last week. The Halifax side trip came as a surprise.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper says he's "very disappointed" Bush isn't addressing Parliament and blamed Liberals for not ensuring U.S. officials could feel confident of a warm welcome.

"Everything just seems to be happening here on the fly," Harper said in Ottawa. "I find it odd and I find it troubling but hopefully, we can still somehow manufacture the best possible visit."

Regan, the fisheries minister, said he expects Nova Scotians will extend a "gracious" welcome to the president even if they don't agree with his policies.

"If the president wishes to come to express his gratitude, I would want to accept that graciously and highlight the positive relations that we have."

Bill Clinton, in 1995, was the last U.S. president to make a state visit to Canada.
http://www.canada.com/news/world/story. ... e26a8b173f

I hear he is a real tough cookie and in touch with what is going on in the world. Kind of like the people who voted for him. What a tool.

I just hope there's a protest on tuesday night somewhere, the only time i could be there, and i will if there's one.

I won't be travelling for the road trip but my heart will be with anyone and everyone who is protesting that fucking moron.

might have to make my way to halifax. hopefully there won't as "gracious" of a reception as the article states.

What a pussy. Suck it up, Georgie. I'm fairly certain the liberals have been instructed to behave by their master anyway. Who knows about the other parties though.

Well we know Harper would have his lips around Bush's dick faster then he could get the vaseline out to grease up his own ass for Bush. Now the other two major parties would be a bit of a shock to old Georgie boy.

Couldn't you just picture him with the Bloc. "huh, what, huh, what did you say, huh,......" you get the drift. I wonder if he is going to appease the country and try a bilingual speach.

Now THAT would be worth a trip to Halifax!!

lol

yeah right, i'm sure a majority of Americans don't even know about Canada's being a bilingual country .

We must give them a little bit of credit: When they can't make it to France for a vacation they like to think of Quebec as France lite.

Slightly,

Canada is not a bilingual country. There are people speaking two different "official" languages under the same flag...but most people here are not fluent in both english AND french....only a minority is.

I love how Bush gets repeatedly booed, bashed, protested, and laughed at, yet he tells us that he's "standing up for what he believes in."

Seems more like stupidity and arrogance to me.

That's the difference between saying "Canada is a bilingual country" and "Canadians are biligual." If they have two official languages, I'd say it's a "bilingual country."

oops...true.

Officialy Canada is a bilingual country/Officiellement le Canada est un pays bilingue

[Jean Chretien Voice / ON]

Offishely, Kanada is a by-lingooal cunt-ri / Ssske voulez-vous? Officiellement.... le ssskkkkanada est un pays à deux langues....

Now...exkoose me while i take care of my spon-sir-shipppps....

[Jean Chretien Voice / OFF]

I want to join in on this one because, da proof is da proof and you got no proof so der is no proof to proof......that had to be one of the highlights in his sound chip career.

But you have to admit that if Georgie wanted to make a splash he could at least muster a bonjour for the crowd. Do we have French speaking folks outside of Quebec?

It should make for a good couple of days.

heh heh, damn you're sexy when you speak Chretien-ese, Yan.