By IPS Correspondents
OTTAWA, Feb 25 2005 (IPS)

Bowing to pressure from the public and his own parliamentary colleagues, Canada’s prime minister has risked the ire of the George W. Bush administration by rejecting Canadian participation in Washington’s ballistic missile defence (BMD) system.

Prime Minister Paul Martin made the announcement Thursday, although Canadian officials said Bush was informed earlier this week at a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation heads of government meeting in Brussels.

The decision is bound to worsen the relations between Canada and the United States. Both are each other’s largest trade partners, and the U.S. imports more oil from Canada than from any other country.

Canadian-U.S. relations were already strained by Canada’s refusal to join the U.S. in its attack on Iraq. The neighbours have also been locked in trade fights over lumber and beef imports to the U.S.

Polls here show about 70 percent of the Canadian public opposes the proposed BMD system. Martin, who governs with a shaky, informal parliamentary coalition, likely would not have been able to garner enough support, even from members of his own party, for participation in the controversial system.

The prime minister supported BMD during the 2004 election campaign here but says he opposes the weaponisation of space.

Canada and the United States have also coordinated their defences and been allied militarily, for defensive purposes, since 1940. Canadian participation would have given the much-criticised system a public relations boost, and allowed the U.S. to deploy missiles in Canada to shoot down missiles coming over the arctic.

"The worry is that Washington in a way is being told one thing by virtue of our participation in certain elements of the programme while Canadians are being told another," Layton said in an interview.

"Canadians don’t want to be a part of it. We have been telling Mr. Martin that for two years. He has finally come around to our way of thinking on it, at least symbolically and what we have to ensure is that in fact, that wish of Canadians is the case. Right now, we do have serious doubts, given Mr. McKenna’s comments," Layton said.

Martin tried to downplay the rift between Ottawa and Washington.

"Let me be clear: we respect the right of the United States to defend itself and its people," Martin said.

Canada will work with the U.S. for the common defence of North America, but the country’s efforts won’t be concentrated on missile defence, the prime minister said.

"Canada remains steadfast in its support of Norad," said Martin.

The day before the announcement, the government added 10 billion dollars to the military’s budget over the next five years. Canada has been under pressure from Washington to increase its military spending and its capacity in NATO.

The Canadian decision to reject BMD was condemned by Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

"We will deploy. We will defend North America," he said.

"We simply cannot understand why Canada would in effect give up its sovereignty – its seat at the table – to decide what to do about a missile that might be coming towards Canada," said Cellucci.

Pierre Pettigrew, Canada’s foreign minister, said, "Of course, the U.S. is disappointed. They recognise and respect our decision. We will carefully examine all options and pursue our priorities vigorously."

"We will enhance the protection of North America," he said. "We will work closely to build the success of [border agreements] and engage Mexico to trilateralise, to better align our roles, priorities and interests."

Few people inside the government share Pettigrew’s optimism. Last December, during his first visit to Canada, Pres. Bush publicly urged Martin to join the programme. Martin’s officials said before the visit that BMD was not on the agenda.

When he first took office, Martin suggested he supported joining the plan, saying he believed Canada should be at the table when it comes to any discussion of the defence of North America.

Several tests of the system have failed, including one last month that the Pentagon blamed on a minor glitch in computer software. The Pentagon, however, says they may never publicly declare when the shield is fully ready.

Excerpt: