OTTAWA (CP) - Under a Paul Martin government, Canada could become too
cozy with Washington, risking domestic control over the country's military and
even its federal budget, says a former senior Liberal cabinet minister.
Lloyd Axworthy, who was foreign affairs minister under retiring Prime Minister
Jean Chretien, said Martin's support for a proposed U.S. missile defence
system is a very expensive example of how tightly he may tie Canada to
American interests.
And that could end up costing Canadians much more than they expect, Axworthy
said in an interview.
"Once you get tied into that, you surrender your ability to have a
command control system for your own military," said Axworthy, who was
known for his position on the left wing of the Liberal party during his years
in cabinet.
"At that point, you're really part of their (Washington's) military
machine," he added.
"Your spending priorities in your own defence department get skewed . . .
and
the defence department is already spending lots of money getting ready for
this and buying all these new toys."
Martin, who is expected to take over from Chretien in the next few months, has
expressed early support for Washington's proposal to move ahead with a
multibillion dollar missile defence shield over North America.
The program would develop defence missile installations around the continent,
including Canada's North.
Axworthy warned that could soon divert tax dollars away from such meat-and-
potato demands as new vehicles for Canadian peacekeepers serving in
Afghanistan.
The deaths there of two soldiers earlier this month, when their aging Iltis
vehicle drove over a landmine, has raised new questions about when the
military will be able to get replacement vehicles.
"So all of these things happen and once you get locked in, you get locked
in," said Axworthy.
"You've just taken another step in losing your own political space."
A spokesman said Martin hasn't fully endorsed the missile defence proposal
but at this point, merely wants Canada to have an inside seat during its
planning.
"The most constructive way to approach this is to be at the table with a
strong point of view about what Canada's interests are - not to simply refuse
to discuss the subject," said Brian Guest.
No funds have been committed yet to a program still under development, he
added.
Canadian officials have been investigating what role this country could play
in the elaborate North American missile shield proposed by the administration
of U.S. President George W. Bush.
But those talks are happening behind closed doors, which Canadians don't like,
warned Axworthy.
He called for open hearings in Parliament on Canada's role in the military
program so the public knows exactly what Ottawa may be getting the country
into.
Axworthy said it's not necessarily a bad idea for Martin's inner circle to
want closer ties with Washington, so long as Canada doesn't lose its
sovereignty in the process.
"They (Martin's advisors) want to have a better relationship and no one
argues with that in theory," said Axworthy, who just wrote a book on
Canada's international role.
"It's, what do you do to get it?
"And if it means you simply give in to the policy directions of the Bush
administration, it means you will be abandoning a number of very vital
Canadian interests."
Axworthy acknowledged that Martin has a longstanding interest in global issues
and has worked to develop better links between rich and poor states.
"I do think he understands and I think he's committed on development
issues."
But sooner or later, that will likely force Martin to stand up to Washington -
which will actually be to Canada's advantage, he added.
"The more Canada becomes an effective global player . . . an effective
human rights advocate or stop a conflict, it enhances our strength as
Canadians," said Axworthy.
"I've never believed that by simply going along with the U.S., you got
their respect."
