U.S. legislators heap praise on Canada; Wilson lets news of meeting slip

U.S. legislators heap praise on Canada; Wilson lets news of meeting slip
(AP/Lauren Victoria Burke)
BETH GORHAM

WASHINGTON (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President George W. Bush are planning a meeting July 6 where they'll talk about security and intelligence co-operation.

Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson let word of the get-together slip during an appearance Thursday at a Capitol Hill hearing where U.S. legislators heaped praise on Canada for its role in Afghanistan but showed little interest in a tough security plan that's making people queasy on both sides of the border.

Wilson called the meeting between leaders, the first since they were together in Cancun, Mexico, in late March, a sign they're developing a closer relationship.

"I think that is going to result in a closer working relationship between our security and intelligence forces," said Wilson.

Canada has been anxious to schedule another face-to-face to cement perceptions that bilateral ties are on the upswing since a tentative softwood lumber deal was reached last month.

A White House spokeswoman said she couldn't confirm the date or location of the Bush-Harper meeting.

But the two countries had tried to work out a time in June for Harper to visit Washington before running into scheduling problems. There was concern it might have to wait until the fall.

Wilson, at an unofficial U.S. House of Representatives committee meeting, emphasized the promise of closer ties under the new Conservative government, while laying out Canada's concerns about strict new U.S. identification measures at the border.

But the group, chaired by Republican Dan Burton of Indiana, was much more interested in talking about Canada's energy resources, its role in the world, tackling drug trafficking and Conservative security policies.

And Burton, who greeted the ambassador by telling him he looked like "a movie star," promised the committee's assistance in breaking any logjam on negotiations over the security ID plan, while admitting he didn't know where the issue stands in the House.

He did say the plan requires "realistic timetables" and noted the automotive industry is particuarly worried about timely delivery of parts amid potential border chaos.

U.S. senators passed an amendment last week to delay the requirements for 17 months past the Jan. 1, 2008 deadline but it's a long way from becoming law. There has been no similar move by the House.

The Senate approved another measure Thursday calling for a study of the ID plan's economic impact, a pilot project to ensure it works and letting Canadians use high-technology driver's licences to enter the United States, instead of a special new card like Americans are developing.

"The important thing is the Senate has spoken and that's a very good message out there," Wilson said after the meeting.

"The administration is not immune to what the House, what the Senate thinks and they'll be paying attention."

Burton said he asked Wilson to attend the unofficial hearing primarily to thank Canada for its partnership in the war on terrorism.

He's introduced a resolution in Congress recognizing Canada's recent vote to extend the Afghanistan mission by two years into 2009.

And he offered condolences on the latest Canadian casualty, Capt. Nichola Goddard, although he mistakenly said Nicholas before later correcting himself.

"There's no country in the world that's a better friend than Canada," said Burton, who's warm remarks were echoed by others.

"It's like a brother-sister relationship. Without Canada, we would have a real problem with our northern border."

"You're our safety link."

Committee members also praised Canada's roles in Haiti and the Darfur region of Sudan, while urging Canada to do more to help impoverished farmers in South America switch from coca crops - that are processed into cocaine - to coffee.

Asked a couple of times about whether Canada is having more problems with illicit drugs and whether it would be willing to join the International Coffee Organization, Wilson said he'd have to get back to the committee.

"This is not an area I'm very familiar with," he said.

Others wondered about the Canada's declining opinion of Americans in recent polls.

"Iraq is an issue," Wilson agreed but said Harper would be "proactive" in promoting the Canada-U.S. relationship.

He also emphasized Harper's decisive action on flashpoints around the world, like listing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as a terrorist group under the Criminal Code and cutting off contacts with the Palestinian Authority after Hamas's election win.

"We're a significant country," Wilson said later.

"Are we a superpower like the U.S.? No."

"Do people listen to us? Absolutely they listen to us."

"So let's take advantage of that. We are making our points of view hear in a broader way."