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Great White North
Canadian PM Appoints New U.S. Envoy
2005-01-15
Canada's prime minister on Friday named seasoned politician Frank McKenna as Canada's new ambassador to Washington, a move designed to enhance relations between the prickly North American neighbors. McKenna, 46, said his job would be to sell his country to Americans, long perceived by Canadians as indifferent to the people and problems north of the 49th parallel. "I think Canada has something distinctive to sell to the world," McKenna told reporters in Ottawa, shortly after his appointment was made official. "A large part of that world is the United States of America, and I would like the United States to understand us better." McKenna was premier of New Brunswick from 1987 to 1997 and for the last seven years practiced law and served on the boards of General Motors of Canada Ltd., the Bank of Montreal and CanWest Global Communications Corp., where he is chairman.
Posted by:Fred

#30  #27 2x:
some of you believe the US's best allies are Israel or the UK or Australia or Mexico
I think it's safe to say that no one on Rantburg thinks Mexico is an ally, let alone our best one.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2005-01-15 11:22:59 PM  

#29  >Any one of those could change at any time.
Perhaps the imports from SA, Mexico, Venezuela may decrease due to their political instability and with gov'ts ascending that are more anti-American. Canadian imports may increase in that case. Look, whether Canada has a Liberal or a Progressive Conservative party in power, it's a stable democracy, a long standing ally, and it would not seek to subvert the power of the USA by manipulating the price or supply of its oil exports. Whereas, depending who is in power in the other 3 non-democracies, it could impact that country's willingness to supply large quantities of oil to the USA at a competitive price.
Posted by: 2xstandard   2005-01-15 9:22:29 PM  

#28  ..the leading source for oil imports to the USA since 2001 has been Canada. In 2003, we got 17% from Canada, 14.5% from Saudi Arabia, 13% from Mexico, and 11% from Venuzuela.

Any one of those could change at any time.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-01-15 8:56:18 PM  

#27  And related to water, Rafael, both the East and West coast states are very thankful for being able to buy hydro electric power from Canada. Canada exports from 5-10 per cent of its electric power production to the USA.

Honestly, I think both the US and Canada benefit from a good working relationship with one another because each country is the other's best ally. It's a fact- some of you believe the US's best allies are Israel or the UK or Australia or Mexico. No, it's always been Canada and it will always be Canada. Our 2 countries are inextricably joined because of our proximity to one another and our similar population makeup and values, so we share more than just a military alliance. The icy Chretien-Bush relationship hurt both countries. I for one am happy that McKenna has been appointed Canada's Ambassador to the USA so our countries' long standing bonds can be refreshed.
Posted by: 2xstandard   2005-01-15 8:13:24 PM  

#26  2xs, Give us 60 years and the ones we have today will be speaking English. How long will it take before Canada gives up on the frogs?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-01-15 7:44:11 PM  

#25  "I think Canada has something distinctive to sell to the world,"

Yeah, cold, clean, refreshing, all natural.... WATER!!! Shut off the supply and watch them squirm McKenna, Buahahahahahaha
Posted by: Rafael   2005-01-15 7:37:46 PM  

#24  I wasn't smirking, 2x, I was taking a gratuitous swipe at the Quebecois. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2005-01-15 7:11:53 PM  

#23  Fyi,#21, the leading source for oil imports to the USA since 2001 has been Canada. In 2003, we got 17% from Canada, 14.5% from Saudi Arabia, 13% from Mexico, and 11% from Venuzuela. Furthermore, 14% of our natural gas is imported from Canada.
http://www.gravmag.com/oil.html

As for mocking Canada for being a bilingual nation, #20, we have no room to smirk. The USA is a de facto bilingual nation, only in our case it's Spanish and English instead of French and English. Both countries have allowed the tail to wag the dog.
Posted by: 2xstandard   2005-01-15 6:59:46 PM  

#22  just proves that all Frank's aren't intolerant belligerant assholes...just me :-)
Posted by: Frank G   2005-01-15 6:49:23 PM  

#21  Oil, wheat, timber, baby seals. They got lots.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-01-15 6:41:15 PM  

#20  
I would like the United States to understand us better
Au contraire, Frankie-baby - I think we understand you just fine.

(For instance, I threw that Phrench in there because I know you all want everything to be bi-lingual.)
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2005-01-15 6:39:10 PM  

#19  Grafix cards and hockey do-dads are not running your car or heating your home.
Posted by: 2xstandard   2005-01-15 5:40:02 PM  

#18  "I think Canada has something distinctive to sell to the world,"

I kinda like ATI grafix cards, and CCM makes excellent hockey stuff, but that's about it tho...
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-01-15 5:32:46 PM  

#17  I think there is a misspelling in the title.... Isn't the last word supposed to be spelled "envy"?

Oops...guess not.
Posted by: Mark E.   2005-01-15 5:16:32 PM  

#16  I think appointing McKenna is a smart move on the part of the Cdn. prime minister. McKenna is a former provincial premier, not a career diplomat, so he has hands on experience re: how good US-Canada political relationships can contribute to good trade policies. The fact that Alberta has vast stores of natural gas and oil is good for the USA- Canada in recent months has overtaken Mexico and Venuzuela for oil and gas exports to the USA.

McKenna is well known in power broker circles in the USA. He's a self-made millionaire and sits on the advisory board of the Carlyle Group and at least 9 other boards of high profile Cdn. institutions so he brings immediate respect for the image of Canada. Many doors in DC will be opened to McKenna and Canada as a result. McKenna is a close family friend of Bush Senior - they've shared fishing and golfing excursions, which probably doesn't hurt Canada's chances to gain a sympathetic ear in GWB's administration.

I disagree with you DD. Canada has been a good ally to the US for the most part. Only two Canadian administrations - Trudeau's and Chretien's - have been anti-American. However, both of them treated Americians no worse than they treated Western Canadians.
Posted by: 2xstandard   2005-01-15 4:49:09 PM  

#15  Make that, canadianistan SUX
Posted by: Dudley Doright   2005-01-15 3:18:40 PM  

#14  canada SUX
Posted by: Dudley Doright   2005-01-15 3:17:34 PM  

#13  "I think Canada has something distinctive to sell to the world,"

I've been drunk on Moosehead enough. Thanks anyway.
Posted by: whitecollar redneck   2005-01-15 1:49:24 PM  

#12  tex - Mebbe excess "legalized" jihadis?
Posted by: .com   2005-01-15 12:57:41 PM  

#11  "Dear Ambassador ...er, checks notes...McKenna. On behalf of Fred Pruitt and the Rantburg community, I would like to invite you to our party at a Irish bar in Chinatown. Please bring fifteen of your deadliest snipers along so we can congratulate them on their contribution to world peace."
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-01-15 12:54:59 PM  

#10  "I think Canada has something distinctive to sell to the world,"

Must be legal "marijuwanna" ......
or glorification for military deserters
Posted by: tex   2005-01-15 12:50:50 PM  

#9  McKenna, 46, said his job would be to sell his country to Americans,

Um, who's buying?
Posted by: John Rambo   2005-01-15 12:47:44 PM  

#8  tell him to bring the snipers - I'd paypal a round or two for them
Posted by: Frank G   2005-01-15 12:46:42 PM  

#7  Sea - Whoa, I din't realize there'd be a back room where we can *torture* people. I'll have to rearrange my schedule, now. There are so many variants that need to be graded on effectiveness. We Rantburgers *are* all depraved torturers, you know. The Heiress sez so. I'll get back to you about this sudden revelatiuon...
Posted by: .com   2005-01-15 12:45:28 PM  

#6  What's his email addy? I'm inviting him to Rantapalooza so he can understand Americans better...
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-01-15 12:40:39 PM  

#5  Seems like a two wrongs make a right argument to me. Expecially using Clinton as justification.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-01-15 9:46:15 AM  

#4  I can't get too worked up about the EU selling China weapons since we (Loral) fixed their ICBM guidance systems. :(
Posted by: Shipman   2005-01-15 9:29:11 AM  

#3  The last thing Canadians should wish is for the U. S. to understand them better. They are rapidly becoming part of the Europe that sells weapons to China.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-01-15 8:45:19 AM  

#2  I'd rather see the Romanian stripper.
Posted by: ed   2005-01-15 3:58:20 AM  

#1  Flush the credentials and hyperbole and soft warm fuzzy-wuzzy statements. There is only one question: Is this one sane - or the usual Kanadian Gov't Official?

Prickly. I'll show you prickly WTOP...
Posted by: .com   2005-01-15 3:11:18 AM  

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