US embassy cable - 04OTTAWA2990

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 002990 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
FOR WHA, WHA/CAN/ P (HUNT), E (BORG) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, ETRD, PREL, CA 
SUBJECT: GOC LAYS OUT THEIR PREFERENCES FOR PRESIDENTIAL 
VISIT 
 
 
Classified By: AMB PAUL CELLUCCI, REASON: 1.4(B) & (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary - Canada would welcome a January visit by 
President Bush to set a tone of partnership for the next four 
years, according to Alex Himelfarb and Tim Murphy, the Prime 
Minister,s top aides.  They would like to use the visit to 
emphasize Canada,s commitment to North American security in 
general, to address if possible beef and any of the other 
trade irritants, to underscore our cooperation on a range of 
international issues, such as Haiti and Afghanistan, and then 
finally to launch a &Beyond Smart Borders8 initiative.  End 
Summary 
 
2. (C) On November 8, 2004, Ambassador Cellucci hosted Alex 
Himelfarb, Clerk of the Privy Council and Tim Murphy, Chief 
of Staff, Prime Minister,s Office representing both the 
civil service and political arms of Canada,s executive 
branch.  The two had requested the meeting to discuss initial 
thinking on the invitation to President Bush to visit and, 
connected to that, their plans on the current hot topic of 
Canada,s participation in missile defense. 
 
3. (C) Missile defense ) The government has &gotten itself 
into8 accepting that there will be a vote in parliament on 
whether and/or how Canada will participate in missile defense 
beyond the decision last August to place the early warning 
component under NORAD.  Himelfarb explained that the minority 
government is not sure it has the numbers to win such a vote, 
explaining that the Conservative support is not guaranteed as 
they are concerned about their share of the urban vote in a 
future election.  With his own party split, Himelfarb 
explained they would prefer to hold no timetable for a 
Canadian decision.  With an invitation to the President to 
visit, they would commit publicly to the broad agenda of 
North American security and give private assurances on 
missile defense, but that vote pending the political reality. 
 
4. (C) Presidential visit ) A January timing for the visit 
would better suit the Canadians, to allow more time to 
prepare and to hold the visit while Parliament is not in 
session, thereby precluding a speech before Parliament which 
has its &uncontrollables8.  Himelfarb laid out components 
to the visit: 
 
a. Tone ) Setting a tone of partnership for the coming four 
years. 
b. North American security ) Committing to the broad range 
of security in North America, including NORAD renewal, border 
security enhancement, law enforcement cooperation and with a 
possible Great Lakes security component. 
c. NAI by any other name ) Launching a next phase of 
integration facilitating trade and enhancing security. 
Calling it &Beyond Smart Borders8, we can address the 
package of issues discussed under NAI, but without the name. 
Under this would be -- again with deference to language 
sensitivities ) those items which would &eliminate the 
differences which don,t matter8. 
d.  Trade irritants ) Demonstrating movement towards 
resolution of at the very least the beef issue, and if 
possible any of the other issues of dispute between the two 
countries. 
e.  International, third-country issues - Discussing a broad 
range of global and international issues where Canada and the 
U.S. have worked or can work in lock-step: Middle Ease Peace 
Process, Haiti, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, proliferation, etc. 
 
5. (C) The Ambassador indicated he would seek to get more 
concrete ideas on the timing of a visit this week and that 
the Embassy would begin to work on substance of the meetings 
both with our Washington colleagues and GOC counterparts. 
 
6. (C) Comment ) A year after the Prime Minister announced 
his intention to work more closely and cooperatively with the 
U.S., this visit represents an opportunity, delayed by 
elections here and in the U.S., to put in place practical and 
concrete demonstration of such a relationship.  For some time 
now, the Canadians have been at pains to stress how much on a 
broad range of issues they cooperate with us, despite their 
decision not to have forces on the ground in Iraq.  In 
addition to all the points above, a Presidential visit would 
underline for the Canadians just how important getting it 
right in Iraq is for the international community, for many 
years to come.  We would welcome their expanding their 
support so far ) ships in the gulf, exchange officers on the 
ground, $300 million of reconstruction funding, training of 
Iraqi law enforcement.  End Comment. 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
CELLUCCI