I asked our editor Tõnu Naelapea if he'd send me to Ottawa to cover the U.S. President George W. Bush on his first visit to Canada (as President). This time he laughed loudly. " We have our own Ottawa bureau and our man in Ottawa has the perfect name, Peeter Bush," said Naelapea, adding, " he can pass himself off as a relative of the American president and walk right through the security lines, probably even go to the official dinner and sit at the head table. "

So, hopes dashed, I sat watching the events unfold on CBC television ( I am regionally nationalistic), waiting for the visiting leader to finish talking to the host leader when a guest interviewee caught my attention. Mr. Elliot Feldman, President of the Canadian American Business Association was explaining why certain disputes between Canada and the U.S. had occurred. He was translating it into practical politicalese.

" The problem with most debates is financial. The softwood lumber issue starts with the problem that Senator Max Baucus is the senior member of the Senate Finance Committee ( as well as the Agriculture, Nature and Forestry Committee) . He represents the state of Montana where the main industry is softwood lumber. No matter what Bush (the American) believes, if he wants anything financed he has to agree with Baucus, " said Feldman.

" The relations between Canada and America have never been worse. The issues of contention are not softwood lumber nor beef but Iraq. It wasn't just that Canada didn't participate in the war but that Canada joined France and Germany in vocally opposing the war, " added Feldman.

While many people were expecting President Bush to bring a gift to Ottawa (the resolution of softwood lumber or beef disputes, which he did not), others were certain that the main discussion had to do with missile defense. The main thing was that the leaders were at least talking.

When we are dealing with a main trading partner with whom we are running a trade deficit, it pays to disagree respectfully.

Signing off, writing from Toronto, sadly ....

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