Bush takes responsibility for Katrina response!!!

Finally, Bush takes responsibility for something that he could have prevented or rather reduced if not prevented. Who knows, with Bush taking responsibility on this issue, maybe one day he will say sorry for going into Iraq, ah well one can only hope. The following post will be from the ctv.ca website, where it discusses that finally Bush has done the proper thing and has taken the responsibility for the horribly slow response to the Katrina incident.

With much of New Orleans still in disarray, U.S. President George Bush said he takes "full responsibility" for the government's response to hurricane Katrina.
Bush is in New Orleans as the city marks the one-year anniversary of one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.

"I take full responsibility for the federal government's response," he told reporters Tuesday.
His comments come as vigils and memorials were held Tuesday. Bells tolled across the city, marking the moment one of the flood walls was breached and water engulfed the northern edges of the city.

Later, a jazz funeral will float down the city's downtown streets to mark the deaths of more than 1,500 people. Tens of thousands more were displaced in the aftermath of the storm.
It was on Aug. 29, 2005, when Katrina blew into the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm. It left a path of destruction from New Orleans in Louisiana to Mississippi.
In New Orleans, the storm exposed a weak levee system. Water spilling through breached levees flooded 80 per cent of the city -- in some places water was four metres deep.
Mayor Ray Nagin told a crowd gathered at City Hall that today was a hard day for everyone.

"Trust me. We will get through it. We will get through it together," he said.
A year after the storm, roughly a third of the schools, hospitals and libraries remain closed in New Orleans, according to the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank.
Many are still unable to return home and are either living in FEMA trailers or calling a new place home.

Bush, who still faces criticism for the government's slow federal response to the disaster, visited Mississippi on Monday.

A poll in early August showed that two-thirds of Americans still don't approve of the way their president handled Katrina.

However, Bush defended the response, and said New Orleans was recovering.
"Amazing what the world looked like then and what it looks like now," Bush said. "People can't imagine what the world looked like then."
Bush noted that challenges remain, since many homes in the neighbourhood have yet to be rebuilt.

Meanwhile, there are fears that tropical storm Ernesto could strengthen into a hurricane and hit Louisiana. It's expected to make landfall on Florida's west coast by midweek.
The mayor of New Orleans summed up the city's mood at a gathering in the Lower Ninth Ward.
"Ernesto got to go somewhere else," Nagin told the crowd. "We done had our time last year."
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco warned residents to get out of the way if the hurricane swung back towards them, saying they "take no storms for granted."

On Sunday, a memorial unveiled in the Lower Ninth Ward included a blue pole showing the height flood waters reached. It also included the frame of a house with a sign in the window promising to return home.

LIBERALS CAN TALK IN PUBLIC WITHOUT BEING RESTRAINED!!!!

Well, the comment was made and heads have begun to roll, mainly Boris but at least the Liberal Party of Canada is not restricted in any way in what they can say to the media as the blasted Conservatives are.

The following is also from ctv.ca that states exactly that:

Graham issued a statement late Monday that did not refer directly to the Wrzesnewskyj controversy, but affirmed his party's commitment to keeping Hezbollah on the official terror list.
"The Liberal Party of Canada ... originally listed Hezbollah as a terrorist organization under Canadian law and ... we still strongly support keeping Hezbollah on that list," said Graham.
"Any suggestion to the contrary does not reflect the official position of our party.''
But Graham also took a shot at the Conservatives, saying that at least, unlike the government, Liberals are allowed to speak freely.

"You'll be able to go out and interview them... nobody's got them locked up in a bus and thrown away the key, the way (it was done) at a recent caucus of the Conservatives," Graham told reporters Tuesday.

The fact-finding Mideast mission, which was also attended by Bloc Quebecois MP Maria Mourani and New Democrat MP Peggy Nash, was organized by the National Council on Canada Arab-Relations.

It was supposed to be an all-party affair until Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro backed out, citing security reasons.

The MPs visited the Lebanese towns of Qana, Bint Jbeil and Aytaroun. Qana was the scene of the single deadliest attack by Israel. It was hit by a missile which destroyed a building where civilians had been hiding, killing 28.

BORIS COMMENT TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT!!!

I personally have met with Boris and have had a good conversation with him, he is a really smart person who is wise so the comment he made was taken straight out of context as it was understood.

Please understand that he was just getting tired of not having peace and although I do not agree with his comment, I would like to say that I understand why he would make such a comment, he in no way was signifying that he would like to or the liberal party would like to have negotiations with terrorists as this is not the case, in no way does the Liberal party of Canada want to speak with Al Queda to try and work out some sort of agreement in any way, its non sense that he had to resign but it was imperative he did.

The following is the article from ctv.ca, feel free to check it out and let me know your opnion.

Embattled Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj has resigned as deputy foreign affairs critic following the uproar over his comments suggesting Canada should negotiate with Hezbollah.
Wrzesnewskyj found himself distanced from his own party when he made the statement during a fact-finding mission to Lebanon last week.

"His comments, which were not representative of the Liberal party, caused a lot of concern," Liberal MP Keith Martin told CTV News.

Wrzesnewskyj tendered his resignation on Wednesday and interim Liberal Leader Bill Graham said his resignation was accepted.

After the Toronto MP suggested the Mideast peace process would benefit from Canada being more open to talking to Hezbollah, Liberal leadership hopefuls Scott Brison and Carolyn Bennett had immediately demanded Wrzesnewskyj step down from his post, saying his comments were "unacceptable."

The comments quickly became the central topic of the three-day Liberal caucus retreat in Vancouver, which was supposed to be a strategy session for the upcoming session of Parliament.
All 10 leadership candidates condemned the remarks, including Wrzesnewskyj's preferred candidate Gerard Kennedy.

At a news conference Tuesday, Tory MP Jason Kenney, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, blasted Wrzesnewskyj, calling his comments nothing short of a sign of support for terrorist groups.

"Their idea of a balanced approach is one where Israel is always wrong," said Kenney. "This represents a totally irresponsible approach to foreign security policy."
Wrzesnewskyj, who was one of three opposition MPs on the Mideast mission, said Monday he favoured changing a Canadian law that forbids contact with known terrorist organizations.
He said the law undermines efforts to obtain lasting peace between Israel and Hezbollah fighters.

Wrzesnewskyj denied media reports that claimed he wants Hezbollah taken off Ottawa's official list of terrorist organizations.

"I've said all along that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and will continue to be," Wrzesnewskyj told reporters.

"Where I have difficulty is with the legislation that says a group on the list cannot be communicated with."

TONY CANCELS CONFERENCE!!!

Well, back to the usual tactics of the Conservatives that were used alot during the election campaign. Mainly the Conservatives ducking out on conferences and key events that would show that the Conservatives are horrible in conferences. Tony doing this ducking of the conference clearly shows that Tony was phased last night as he was soundly booed and rightfully so he was!!!!!!

WHERE WAS HARPER?

Well, Harper was not at the Aids conference Toronto, why is it that he thinks that Aids is not one of his key priorities, its a rather shame to see this and all had also noticed that Harper was a no show, my question to all Canadians is simple, can we in Canada support such a heartless person such as this? You all know my answer to that, I am looking forward to hearing any comments on this post, the following will be a direct copy from the ctv website that discusses how Harper did not show up tonight at the Rogers Centre and was quite a shame indeed.

The opening ceremonies of the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto are underway, attended by thousands of researchers, politicians and activists.

Conference co-chairman Dr. Mark Wainberg was one of the first to speak and criticized the prime minister for missing the event.

"We are dismayed that the prime minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, is not here this evening," Wainberg said Sunday.
"The role of prime minister includes the responsibility to show leadership on the world stage.

Your absence sends the message that you do not consider HIV/AIDS as a critical priority, and clearly all of us here disagree with you," he said.
Many in the audience stood up to cheer.
While Harper declined to attend the event, Health Minister Tony Clement was present to deliver a speech. But as he addressed the crowd, a group near the stage stood up and chanted "Where is Harper?"

Clement was preceded by Governor-General Michaelle Jean, who officially opened the conference and told the crowd: "Your efforts will ensure that one day soon, we will put an end to one of the most insidious epidemics of our time."

Billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates spoke before and during the ceremonies by calling on governments around the world to do more in the battle against HIV/AIDS, the planet's No. 1 killer.

"Obviously the AIDS epidemic is going to require all actors, particularly governments, to dig deep and make this a high budgetary priority," Gates said at an news conference before the opening ceremonies.

"The amount of money that's required for universal treatment or the things around prevention far exceed the amount that any individual government, certainly any foundation, can possibly provide."

The response was in answer to a reporter's question about how much money will be needed to
fight the disease.

Gates and his wife Melinda, through their foundation, announced last week they are contributing $500 million over five years to fight AIDS.
"Our belief is that every life on this planet has equal value and we cannot turn our backs on anyone in this disease," said Melinda.

She called for more research on microbicides, saying they would allow women to protect themselves from the virus.

"Today, fewer than one in five people who are at high risk of HIV don't have access to things like condoms, clean needles, HIV testing, and education," said Melinda, adding stigma is a major issue in the epidemic.

Wainberg said those suffering from AIDS around the world need better access to drugs.
"Access to HIV drugs is a right and not a privilege -- at least that is our goal," he said.
"This conference plays such a vital role in combating the spread of HIV."
Wainberg said there will be scientific discussions about new drugs and new drug classes for people living with HIV throughout the six-day event, the largest of its kind.
"It is time now we move from crisis management to long-term sustainable response," said UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot.

Diagnosed with HIV at age 18, Frika Iskandar, from Indonesia, said she represents "the new face of AIDS -- a young Asian woman."

She said she was recently refused treatment by a dentist out of ignorance. "The stigma and discrimination is still there. Nothing has changed," Iskandar said.
About 24,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists have come to Toronto for the now-biennial meeting. The event begun 21 years ago.

The opening ceremonies are being held at Toronto's Rogers Centre, and among guests expected to attend are actor Richard Gere, the Gateses, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, the crown prince and princess of Norway, UN AIDS for Africa envoy Stephen Lewis, and actors Sandra Oh and Olympia Dukakis.

A concert featuring Alicia Keys, Barenaked Ladies, Our Lady Peace, Chantal Kreviazuk, the Blue Man Group and Amanda Marshall is to follow.

About 20,000 tickets have been offered to the general public for the conference that closes Friday, with proceeds going towards numerous AIDS-related groups.
AIDS has killed 25 million people in the last 25 years and infected about 40 million worldwide.

Prime Minister Harper’s Absence from International AIDS Conference ‘Shameful’

Prime Minister Stephen Harpers’ refusal to attend the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto next week is shameful and a slap in the face to the estimated 20,000 global participants attending, Liberal Critic for the Canadian International Development Agency Bernard Patry said today.

“There is no bigger human rights issue right now than the AIDS epidemic ravaging Asia and Africa, yet this government is snubbing the international community as it gathers to fight this plague,“ said Mr. Patry. “We are embarrassed and ashamed that our prime minister can’t squeeze this important event into his summer schedule. All Canadians should be outraged.” AIDS activists, scientists, researchers and people living with HIV/AIDS will attend the conference, being held August 13 to 18.

Liberal Leader, Bill Graham and UN Special Envoy to Africa on AIDS, Stephen Lewis will also attend. “This is an excellent forum for participating nations to examine their responses to this crisis, which claimed 25 million lives last year and left millions of children orphaned. Bill Gates and Bill Clinton both feel this is important enough to attend, but for some reason our own prime minister doesn’t,” said Mr. Patry.

In advance of the conference, Mr. Lewis presented Prime Minister Harper with a four-point platform to stop the disease from spreading and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS, including a call to double research and development funding for tools such as microbicides and vaccines. He appealed to the prime minister to accept these points as “a direct challenge to Canada to move to taking a stand …“In response, Prime Minister Harper has said he will not attend the conference. “The former Liberal government recognized the importance of this issue and, through CIDA, pledged more than $800 million to help fight it.

Canada was also the first country to adopt legislation – Bill C-9 – to enable poor and developing countries access to affordable life saving drugs,” said Mr. Patry. “Now we have a Conservative prime minister who can’t even bring himself to attend a conference. It is appalling,” he said.

Conservatives Force Provincial Governments to go it Alone

The Conservative government is failing Canadians and our post secondary education system, forcing provinces to go it alone and abandoning students across the country, said Geoff Regan, Liberal Human Resources and Skills critic and MP for Halifax West.

“The Conservative government’s failure to make post secondary education a priority is forcing the Québec government to act alone to finance post-secondary education,” said Mr. Regan. “It is only a matter of time before other provinces are forced to follow in Québec’s foot steps.”

In a weekend speech, Québec Premier Jean Charest revealed that his government would move ahead with his commitment to post secondary education despite the lack of federal transfer funding. Québec’s Minister of Education Jean-Marc Fournier announced on Tuesday a $320-million commitment over 3 years going to universities and cégeps.

“The Liberal Opposition is disappointed that the Conservatives are continuously dragging their feet on this issue,” said Lucienne Robillard, MP for Westmount-Ville-Marie. ”Canada’s economy depends on a strong post-secondary education system.”

Prior to the Conservatives forcing an election last fall, the Liberals made significant commitments in the November 2005 Fiscal Update including $4.1 billion towards post-secondary education.

The Conservatives, on the other hand, have been silent on this topic since taking office. They set the tone for dealing with the provinces on post secondary education in February by not sending a Minister to the Council of the Federation’s summit on Post Secondary Education and Skills Training.

Conservatives Must Listen to Lumber Industry on Softwood Deal: Liberal Trade Critic

Liberal Trade Critic Dominic LeBlanc today called on International Trade Minister David Emerson to use his upcoming meeting with lumber industry representatives to truly listen to their concerns and work toward a softwood lumber deal that is good for Canada.

“This meeting provides the Conservative government with a rare second opportunity to do what they should have done initially – consult Canada’s softwood lumber producers on a deal that affects their very livelihood,” said Mr. LeBlanc.

“It is shameful that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Trade Minister have completely shut industry representatives out of the process until now. They must use this opportunity to rectify that grave error in judgment – not as a forum for continued threats to withdraw support if the industry refuses to play ball on the flawed deal.”

Minister Emerson will meet with Canada’s top lumber industry CEOs in Toronto next week for what he has termed a “frank discussion” about the contentious softwood lumber deal.

Canada’s softwood producers have strenuously objected to the terms of the current deal, which includes a termination clause allowing the Americans to pull out after two years and leaves $1 billion in tariffs on the table – half of which is set to go to the powerful American lumber lobby whose sole purpose is to fight the Canadian industry.

“The lumber industry was as shocked as the rest of the country when Prime Minister Harper signed the deficient softwood deal under the cover of darkness in a hotel in Geneva on Canada Day. It is now time for this government to step up to the plate, listen to industry representatives and return to the negotiating table,” said Mr. LeBlanc.

“The Conservatives must commit to amending this flawed treaty and working toward a deal that the industry and its workers can support.”

RAW NEEDS TO BE LIVE ON SCORE OR PEOPLE WILL JUST NOT WATCH THE LAST HOUR!!!

The main message behind this post is that The Score better go to 9pm because people like me must have tuned in onto wwe.com to see what had happened in the last hour, basically their would be no apparent reason to watch it then.

My message to all people is to please badger the people at the score who make the executive decisions.

Please go to http://www.thescore.ca and let them know that RAW better be LIVE or people will just not watch the last hour and thus the ratings for the show will take a dramatic hit downwards, please listen to me and make RAW LIVE!!!!!!!!

Tory support slipping over Mideast stance: poll

A new poll suggests Tory support is sliding over voter concern that Canada has become too cozy with the United States on Middle East policy.

The latest results by Decima Research, released to The Canadian Press, put the Conservatives and Liberals in a virtual tie nationally.

The Tories had 32 per cent support compared with 31 per cent for the Liberals and 16 per cent for the New Democrats.

But the Liberals widened their Ontario lead to 42 per cent of voter support compared with 33 per cent for the Conservatives, and have pulled in front of the Tories in Quebec for the first time since last winter's campaign.

The two parties had been neck-neck in Ontario as recently as mid-June.
"When we look at the combination of the alignment of the government with the current U.S. administration policy on the Middle East -- and in particular with respect to the Lebanon-Israel conflict -- it's reasonable to assume it's one of the factors that's driving Conservative support down in the near term," said Decima CEO Bruce Anderson.
"They clearly are encountering some pushback from voters in Ontario and Quebec in particular."

Liberals have also taken the lead in crucial urban ridings by a margin of 35 per cent versus 29 per cent, and are increasingly preferred by women and by voters aged 25 to 34, the poll suggests.

Middle East policy and hefty new defence spending announced by the Tories in June have apparently left some Quebec voters cold, Anderson says.
The province tends to be the most pacifist in Canada. It's also where Harper has invested most of his political capital in a drive for a majority government.
Harper has been vilified by critics for his pro-Israel stance on the latest crisis in Lebanon. But Anderson notes that the Conservative slide started in June before fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began killing hundreds of civilians, many of them Lebanese children.
Anderson cautioned against reading too much into the latest telephone poll of 1,000 Canadians, taken July 27 to 31.

"I wouldn't say the Conservatives have fallen into some sort of abyss.
"We're talking about shifts that are significant in terms of whether they portend a Conservative minority or majority -- or even the outcome of an election.

"But people know the election isn't going to be held right now."
Indeed, the popularity plunge is expected to be a hot topic as the Conservative caucus gathers this week for a retreat in Cornwall, Ont.

Talk of the Conservatives engineering their own defeat for a snap election this fall has dissipated as polls continue to suggest momentum is not with the minority government.

The continuing Liberal leadership race is another factor, Anderson says.
"People are seeing evidence of a next generation of leadership hopefuls for the Liberal party. It's making it maybe a little bit easier for people to say: 'I might vote Liberal rather than
Conservative in the next election.'"

The poll is considered accurate to within three percentage points plus or minus, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error is higher for regional breakdowns.

PM resists pressure to call for Mideast ceasefire

Protesters rallying outside the Tory caucus meeting in Ontario Friday accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of toeing the American line by supporting Israel in the Middle East conflict.

Dozens of demonstrators, mostly from Montreal, demanded Harper call for an immediate ceasefire to the hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.

"Harper stop fighting, come out and face the justice," chanted the protesters as they waved Lebanese flags and placards at passing motorists in Cornwall, Ont.

"I'm astounded at the injustice of Harper's position in terms of unconditionally supporting Israel when at this point in time the civilian death count is over 900," protester Jordan Topp, who has lived in Lebanon, told reporters.

"People have been killed across the country in Lebanon, and it's not what he's called a `measured' response."

The Prime Minister is standing firm.

"Are they suggesting Israel unilaterally stop defending itself?" Harper said in an interview to appear on CTV's Question Period on Sunday.

Opposition members have accused Harper of abandoning Canada's role as an honest, neutral broker.

"What happened to Canada's unique role in the world community?" NDP Leader Jack Layton asked CTV News. "Now we just seem to be following along with (U.S. President George Bush) and his policies."

The Prime Minister rejected NDP demands to recall Parliament.
"What is neutrality here?" Harper asked. "Are we neutral with regard to Hezbollah? Are we neutral on a terrorist group? I don't think the Opposition wants to say that."

Harper says Israel is fighting the same brand of terrorism faced by Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and even on Canadian soil.

It's a battle "that we're frankly fighting in this country," Harper said, "with the arrests in Toronto."
The rising death toll in Afghanistan has renewed demands to withdraw before more Canadian soldiers are killed.
"This search and combat mission is not working," said Alexa McDonough, NDP MP for Halifax. "It should absolutely not be extended."

But there will be no early exit from Afghanistan, the prime minister said.

"The people who are taking the risks here are prepared to stick that through," said Harper. "If they are prepared to stick that through, I certainly am going to stick with it."
Conservative support is sliding, particularly in Quebec. Voters appear to be uneasy with the Afghan mission and Canada's Middle-East policy, but Harper says he won't be thrown off course by opinion polls.

So far, the Conservative government has supported a ceasefire in Lebanon only as long as certain conditions are met, such as a halt to attacks by both Hezbollah and the Israeli army.
Harper stuck to that stance when he spoke to reporters outside the caucus meeting on Friday.

"I think the position we have is exactly the position of Canadians," Harper told the Cornwall, Ont. press conference.

"Canadians want to see peace and stability in the Middle East, Canadians are not neutral on terrorism and terrorist groups. The government of Canada is and will be committed to humanitarian efforts in the region."
Canada and diplomacy

Palestinian-Canadian Samah Sabawi said she was "very disturbed" by Canada's position, in particular that of Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay.

"He seemed to justify Israel's action in Lebanon and we would like to have a chance to set the record straight on some issues that he seemed to be misguided on," Sabawi told CTV Newsnet Friday.

"It's very important for Canada to go back to diplomacy. It's unbelievable that our government thinks Israel's actions are justifed. These are war crimes that Israel is conducting and Canada needs to stand up and say this is not acceptable."

Liberal critic for foreign affairs Keith Martin said the situation in Lebanon was "catastrophic."
Appearing on CTV Newsnet Friday, Martin said "humanitarian organizations can't get in and help people in southern Lebanon unless the hostilities stop now.

"Unfortunately the Conservative government has not called for a ceasefire, is not putting their back behind this, and this will not enable them to get this aid on the ground."

Emerson Admits Softwood Deal Can Be Amended

Prime Minister Stephen Harper must amend the softwood lumber agreement after Conservative Trade Minister David Emerson admitted to a parliamentary trade committee today that it is legally possible to do so, said Liberal Trade committee members today.

“The prime minister has either been lying to Canadians or has shown a frightening lack of understanding of this agreement,” said Liberal Trade Critic Dominic LeBlanc following today’s meeting of the Standing Committee on International Trade.

Along with Mr. LeBlanc, Liberal committee members Mark Eyking, Lui Temelkovski and John Maloney spearheaded the call to have the committee recalled to hear from Mr. Emerson and industry representatives who have argued that the Conservative government is not acting in their interest .

Despite the Conservative government’s prior insistence to the contrary, Mr. Emerson today admitted that changes can be made to the softwood deal within 18-month time if there is agreement by both parties.

“It’s time for this government to step up to the plate, listen to what the industry representatives are saying and work towards some very serious amendments to this very bad deal,” said Mr. Maloney.

The Canadian forest industry and lumber-exporting provincial governments have been fuming over the last minute concessions made to American trade negotiators earlier this month. Under the formal text of the agreement, lumber-exporting provinces and producers must abandon all litigation against the United States and give up their claim to the entire $5 billion in illegal duties.

In addition, Canadian softwood producers will have to report every change in forest management practices and taxation to the U.S. government, while American companies will not face the same examination of their practices.

Mr. Emerson also told the committee that if the industry and provinces don’t agree with the deal, it will not be put to a vote in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Harper had previously threatened that a vote on the flawed deal would be treated as a confidence motion.that could potentially bring down the government.

Liberal Associate Trade Critic Mark Eyking welcomed the Conservatives’ decision to back down from their political ultimatum.

“We are pleased that this government has finally seen the light in this regard and is willing to put the softwood industry and its workers ahead of its own political interests,” he said.
Liberal committee members also tabled a motion today calling on U.S. Ambassador Michael

Wilson to go before the committee to explain why the government brokered this disastrous deal for the Canadian softwood industry and its workers.

The motion passed unanimously.
Ambassador Wilson has been closely involved in the negotiations and has taken a prominent role on behalf of the government in the public debate that has ensued.

Mr. Temelkovski argued that Ambassador Wilson must appear before the committee to explain why he has defended the flawed deal.

“For Mr. Emerson to come before this committee and tell us things that are contrary to what his government has been saying all along is proof that we need more clarity here,” said Mr. Temelkovski. “Several crucial questions remain about the devilish details of this agreement, including any amendment clause, and Mr. Wilson is the man to answer them.”

Crisis in the Middle East: Canada’s Potential is Squandered by Conservative Policy Shift

As the world’s leaders strive to find a workable proposal for a cease-fire and peacekeeping mission in the Middle East, Prime Minister Stephen Harper seems increasingly at odds with the global community and with our national character.

While supporters of the Prime Minister’s shift in Canada’s foreign policy claim that Canada has only played a minor role in brokering peace in troubled regions, the fact remains that as more states align themselves with certain powers in the mid-East conflict, there are fewer left who are capable of working with all parties. This position also ignores the tremendous contribution

Canada has made over the past half-century at the United Nations (UN), where we have often exercised a moderating influence on those who would perpetrate unreasonable diplomatic attacks on Israel.

Since its creation in 1948, Canadians have been committed to the existence of an Israeli state. We have also recognized that terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, which use tactics that the global community must condemn, present a threat to the existence of Israel and to a lasting peace in the Middle East. Israel must have the right to defend itself against an enemy implacably opposed to its existence, but the right of self-defence is always subject to international law. In the end, however, there must be moderators who can make a dialogue possible.

On a 2002 visit to Jerusalem undertaken as part of my duties as Canada’s foreign minister, I had the privilege of meeting with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and then Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. I will never forget his words, which to me embody the potential that our nation has to improve the situation in the Middle East. He told me “you don’t make peace with your friends, only with your enemies.”

It is vital for middle-power nations such as Canada to pursue a fair-minded and balanced foreign policy because it preserves our ability to act as an appropriate intermediary, helping to make peace between enemies, rather than simply validating the positions held by any one party. It is only by acting in this way that we can truly help our friends.
In the current situation, the Harper government, instead of encouraging international efforts toward a cease-fire, has taken the position that the violence should run its course, thereby ensuring further civilian casualties on both sides.

It is now clear that the only way to stop the loss of innocent civilian life and the destruction of critical civilian infrastructure is the cessation of hostilities by all parties. An immediate cease-fire is a mandatory first step before any progress toward a lasting peace can be made.
The continuance of the present violence is detrimental to the long-term security of Israel, and devastating to the possibility of a free and democratic Lebanon, which is vital to future peace in the region.

Any cease-fire put in place will provide a window of opportunity for the global community to move toward a more formal arrangement based on the following fundamental principles.

A lasting peace agreement must ensure the security of both Israel and Lebanon and their citizens. Innocent victims in Israel and Lebanon are not responsible for what is taking place, but they are paying the cost. The loss of innocent life is to be deplored and the international community must work to put an end to civilian deaths and the destruction of civilian infrastructure by all parties.

Any peace agreement must be based on respect for the borders of sovereign nations and international humanitarian law. To that end, the re-establishment of Lebanese sovereignty over the entirety of its territory must be an element of any long-term plan. The present violence is destabilizing any progress that could be made in this area and strengthening radical elements hostile to an eventual peaceful solution by elevating the position of Hezbollah throughout the Arab world.

Over the last forty years, military operations in the region have not brought about lasting peace and security, nor will they in this case – a political solution, not a military one, is needed. Without establishing the goals and principles of a peace agreement, any intervention force will be unworkable.

Until a frame-work for a lasting solution, which enjoys a large consensus among interested parties in the region, is in place the question of sending an intervention force is a moot point: we must have a plan for peace in place before we can bring in peace-keepers to enforce it.

This is why the Harper government’s abandonment of Canada’s historic role as a bridge-builder in the Middle East is so distressing. Having now made our position indistinguishable from that of the Bush administration there is no possibility of an independent and credible Canadian voice to call for positive initiatives from all sides.

In so acting, the Harper government risks not only losing our ability to act as peace-keeper and honest broker internationally, but our domestic harmony as well.
In framing our foreign policy, it is the responsibility of Canada’s leaders to ensure that our policies do not contribute to the import of hatred and violence that plague other regions of the world into Canada’s domestic political context. We have an obligation to all Canadians – particularly those that have come to Canada to seek a more peaceful life – to govern our words and actions to ensure we do not fan the flames of intolerance, here at home, and around the globe.

In justifying their present position, Conservatives deride Canada’s historical contributions to peace, and in doing so they fail to understand an important aspect of our national character.

Liberals continue to believe that we Canadians are uniquely positioned to be able to foster a peaceful dialogue among our many communities in an effort to forge a consensus that not only preserves our domestic peace and security, but may also help to provide a solution to the greater international turmoil.

It would be a tremendous disappointment for Canadians to see Prime Minister Harper squander our historical reputation and our potential for the sake of a misguided short-term political calculus.

Conservatives Oppose Liberal Motion Calling for Middle East Ceasefire

Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Dr. Keith Martin today expressed deep disappointment at the Conservative government’s decision to oppose a Liberal motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.

“It is critical that we advocate for an immediate ceasefire. The Conservatives seem to be suggesting that now is not the right time for a ceasefire, but with the lives of innocent civilians at stake, the majority of Canadians disagree,” said Dr. Martin.

“The ‘sustainable cease fire’ that Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay is willing to wait for cannot be achieved during times of violence – it can only be obtained through peaceful negotiation.”

The Conservatives were the only party to oppose the motion, which was introduced by Dr. Martin during yesterday’s emergency session of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee and passed with the support of all opposition parties.

Last week, Dr. Martin wrapped up an extensive series of meetings in Geneva where he met with several United Nations (UN) organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Committee for the Red Cross, to work toward a solution to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.

Over the last 16 days the humanitarian situation in the region has deteriorated quickly. Aid has been arriving slowly to some areas, but the request for aid far outpaces the ability to deliver it.

“An immediate ceasefire would accomplish two important goals – it would provide a window of opportunity for the global community to move toward a more formal arrangement, and allow much needed aid into the hardest hit areas in Northern Israel, Southern Lebanon, and Gaza,” said Dr. Martin.

“The rocket attacks, bombing and shelling must be halted to facilitate the distribution of desperately needed humanitarian supplies. At the end of the day it will be negotiations that end this crisis, not more fighting.”