CANADA'S LIBERAL PARTY CONVENTION: NO TO MISSILE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000713 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP PGOV MARR PREL CA SUBJECT: CANADA'S LIBERAL PARTY CONVENTION: NO TO MISSILE DEFENSE BUT YES TO INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT REF: OTTAWA 00696 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Both PM Martin and Defense Minister Graham used early speaking opportunities at the Liberal Party Convention to remind delegates that non-participation in the ballistic missile defense program does not preclude Canada,s participation in global security matters. Both leaders sought support from Liberal Party members for increased military spending, while being careful to phrase their program in terms of peacebuilding, not offensive military operations. The reaction of delegates appeared to be supportive. End Summary PM Martin to the Young Liberals -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Poloffs attended a number of sessions in the Liberal Party convention and were struck by how the issue of defense was managed by party leadership. In his first speaking engagement of the convention, PM Martin addressed the Young Liberals on March 3. The Young Liberals of Canada are a large (by some estimates as much as one-third of the convention),boisterous, left-leaning, and very organized group that was extremely prominent at the convention. As an official Liberal Party Commission, the YLC can forward policy resolutions and vote, and it was the Young Liberals of Canada who had successfully lobbied the party to include a policy resolution against BMD participation. ¶3. (SBU) The PM was received with great enthusiasm, and made very brief, complimentary remarks before opening the floor to questions and answers. He adeptly rephrased and redirected questions to get instant feedback from the delegates. In the Prime Minister,s conclusion, he congratulated the YLC for their drive and action on missile defense, but then adopting a more stern tone. He insisted that non-participation in BMD was not a signal that Canada would disengage from international security commitments, and in what could have been a gentle rebuke to the YLC,s focus on internal social and environmental issues, requested the support of the young Liberals in spreading the message that Canada must exert itself outside its own borders. Much like Michael Ignatieff the day prior (reftel),the PM referenced humanitarian aid, peace building, fledgling democracies, and failing states before suggesting a country would have to exist in a &fool,s paradise8 if it thought it was possible to build a hospital or a school before there was peace on the ground. Some delegates bristled slightly at the change in the Prime Minister,s tone, but he was nonetheless again enthusiastic applauded. DEFMIN Graham to the Defense Workshop -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Defense Minister Bill Graham made a similar pitch to an audience of general delegates at the Defense and International resolution policy workshop on March 4. In his brief opening address he asked for the help of the delegates in forwarding the message that Canada needs a strong defense policy and stronger armed forces to both completely participate in the defense of North America and to be able to meaningfully contribute to humanitarian efforts and peace building overseas. When a long-winded delegate asked Graham how he felt about the BMD decision, he conceded that he had lost the policy battle on the issue, but was now looking at the future of Canadian security, not the past. Like the PM, Graham took the opportunity to reiterate the importance of Canada,s defense relationship with the United States and again asked for Liberal Party help in assuring that Canada has a robust defense program. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Though they chose their words carefully, the Prime Minster and the Defense Minister both presented reasoned arguments for why Canada needs a strong defense policy and more robust armed forces. The Prime Minister,s insistence that democracy cannot be developed in a failed state without stability, and the Defense Minister,s point that Canada must meaningfully contribute to North American defense were both arguments that are not commonly heard at Liberal conventions, and were by no means guaranteed a receptive audience. But Liberal Canadians seem to be coming around to the notion that is shared by most Canadians, that Canada can do more in the world but it will need a stronger, more deployable military to make a difference. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa CELLUCCI