TORONTO — Canada’s new prime minister is being called a deficit-slashing, tax-cutting Liberal with conservative views who will patch up strained relations with the White House.
Paul Martin has barely been on the job for a month, but already is being hailed for treating U.S. Republicans with more respect than his predecessor, Jean Chretien.
Canadian newspapers and television networks heavily covered Mr. Martin’s initial meeting with President Bush on Tuesday during the Summit of the Americas in Mexico.
The two looked relaxed, smiled broadly and bestowed compliments on each other — a very different scene from what would have been witnessed while Mr. Chretien was in office.
“It was a PR coup,” said David Welch, a political scientist with the University of Toronto. “It’s a very positive signal and it heralds a general improvement in U.S.-Canadian relations. I think we’ll finally see some of the nonsense disappear.”
Before Mr. Chretien retired last month, the two countries clashed over trade issues, security concerns and Iraq. The relationship hit a low point when Mr. Chretien’s press secretary called Mr. Bush “a moron” at a NATO meeting in November 2002.
Mr. Martin returned home from the summit with some U.S. concessions on border security and an invitation for Canadian companies to bid on Iraq reconstruction contracts.
“I thought that the vibes were very, very good on both sides,” Mr. Martin told reporters after spending 75 minutes with Mr. Bush. “It’s a vital relationship.”
The two leaders also pledged that their countries would continue working together on the mad cow crisis. But Ottawa still has to resolve a long-running dispute over Canadian softwood exports to the United States.
As a former finance minister, Mr. Martin is no stranger to the world stage. He has hobnobbed with leaders of the Group of Eight industrial nations and even rock star Bono.
Now, his first international trip as prime minister is being cited as evidence that he will improve relations dramatically with Washington.
“He’s bent on improving relations with the Americans,” Mr. Welch said. “He’ll be very pragmatic, much more diplomatic. He’ll be more supportive than Chretien ever was.”
Mr. Martin’s government already has indicated it will take part in talks on the planned U.S. missile defense shield, something Mr. Chretien vehemently opposed. It also appears more willing to help the United States implement other continentwide security changes.
The signs of cooperation are being condemned by Canada’s socialist New Democratic Party.
“Paul Martin’s conservative choices in both his government and corporate life do not represent the values of Canadians,” party leader Jack Layton said last month.
“Star Wars missile defense is a profoundly dangerous idea and participating in this destabilizing program speaks volumes about [Mr. Martins] vision for Canada in the world.”
Mr. Martin’s main opposition in Parliament, however, applauds his efforts to defrost chilly relations with Washington.
“My first impression is positive,” said Grant Hill, the interim leader of the newly formed Conservative Party. “But it is a low hurdle that Martin had to jump over.”
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