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