nds76
05-20-2006, 8:33am
WASHINGTON -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper won't be heading to Washington next month to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush as he'd hoped but officials say it's no sign of trouble in Canada-U.S. relations.
Harper was aiming to visit Washington in mid-June but there were scheduling problems with the White House, U.S. and Canadian sources told The Canadian Press.
"There's no acrimony and no issues here," said one source. "These are two busy men. Now everyone's going back to the drawing board on dates."
The meeting could be delayed until the fall, although Canadian officials want it to happen before then, mostly to cement perceptions that bilateral relations are firmly on the upswing.
They point out that Harper and Bush should have time together at the next Group of Eight meeting in St. Petersburg in July.
The two leaders held their first get-together at the end of March in Mexico and have talked by phone. Officials credit their combined push as the spark for a seven-year tentative deal in April on the nagging softwood lumber dispute.
The White House has also been keen to assure Canada that it won't get sideswiped by an emotional election-year debate in the United States on border security and immigration reform.
This week, U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins emphasized there are no plans to deploy National Guard troops along the northern border despite new security efforts at the Mexican line, where agents are grappling with waves of illegal immigrants.
Canada is also taking heart from a key Senate vote Wednesday to delay strict new identification requirements at land border crossings.
Senators approved a measure to delay requiring a passport or high-technology identification card until June 1, 2009, saying the plan will cause havoc at the Canada-U.S. border.
But it hasn't become law and Americans are still working on developing their own new ID card by the original deadline of Jan, 1, 2008.
Canada is seeking concessions on what kind of identity document will be acceptable to enter the United States. Representatives from U.S. Homeland Security and Canada's Public Safety Department are expected to hold their first meeting in Washington on Monday to discuss the issue.
Meanwhile, Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson is hoping to take advantage of gathering U.S. opposition to the border security plan by appearing next week at a House of Representatives subcommittee on international relations.
The relatively rare appearance by a Canadian ambassador was initiated by Dan Burton, a Republican from Indiana.
On Friday, Burton introduced a resolution asking Congress to commend Canada on its commitment to the Afghanistan mission.
Burton wants American legislators to recognize Canada's vote this week to extend the mission by two years into 2009, saying it's a great success story for the U.S.-led war on terror and a telling sign of Canada's enduring friendship with the United States.
Officials say it's unclear what will be on the agenda when Harper does finally get to the U.S. capital. They were originally hoping the two leaders would mark this month's renewal and expansion of the Norad treaty to include defence of sea approaches as well as air and space.
But Canada is intent on holding the meeting as soon as possible to build on momentum from the April 27 framework agreement to end the latest round of the softwood lumber trade war.
The Bush administration heralded the deal as the dawn of a productive new era in bilateral relations.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060519/bush_harper_060519/20060519?hub=Canada
Harper was aiming to visit Washington in mid-June but there were scheduling problems with the White House, U.S. and Canadian sources told The Canadian Press.
"There's no acrimony and no issues here," said one source. "These are two busy men. Now everyone's going back to the drawing board on dates."
The meeting could be delayed until the fall, although Canadian officials want it to happen before then, mostly to cement perceptions that bilateral relations are firmly on the upswing.
They point out that Harper and Bush should have time together at the next Group of Eight meeting in St. Petersburg in July.
The two leaders held their first get-together at the end of March in Mexico and have talked by phone. Officials credit their combined push as the spark for a seven-year tentative deal in April on the nagging softwood lumber dispute.
The White House has also been keen to assure Canada that it won't get sideswiped by an emotional election-year debate in the United States on border security and immigration reform.
This week, U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins emphasized there are no plans to deploy National Guard troops along the northern border despite new security efforts at the Mexican line, where agents are grappling with waves of illegal immigrants.
Canada is also taking heart from a key Senate vote Wednesday to delay strict new identification requirements at land border crossings.
Senators approved a measure to delay requiring a passport or high-technology identification card until June 1, 2009, saying the plan will cause havoc at the Canada-U.S. border.
But it hasn't become law and Americans are still working on developing their own new ID card by the original deadline of Jan, 1, 2008.
Canada is seeking concessions on what kind of identity document will be acceptable to enter the United States. Representatives from U.S. Homeland Security and Canada's Public Safety Department are expected to hold their first meeting in Washington on Monday to discuss the issue.
Meanwhile, Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson is hoping to take advantage of gathering U.S. opposition to the border security plan by appearing next week at a House of Representatives subcommittee on international relations.
The relatively rare appearance by a Canadian ambassador was initiated by Dan Burton, a Republican from Indiana.
On Friday, Burton introduced a resolution asking Congress to commend Canada on its commitment to the Afghanistan mission.
Burton wants American legislators to recognize Canada's vote this week to extend the mission by two years into 2009, saying it's a great success story for the U.S.-led war on terror and a telling sign of Canada's enduring friendship with the United States.
Officials say it's unclear what will be on the agenda when Harper does finally get to the U.S. capital. They were originally hoping the two leaders would mark this month's renewal and expansion of the Norad treaty to include defence of sea approaches as well as air and space.
But Canada is intent on holding the meeting as soon as possible to build on momentum from the April 27 framework agreement to end the latest round of the softwood lumber trade war.
The Bush administration heralded the deal as the dawn of a productive new era in bilateral relations.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060519/bush_harper_060519/20060519?hub=Canada