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'Lefty' Layton trades jabs with president
SUSAN DELACOURT AND BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH STAFF REPORTERS
OTTAWA—For six minutes last night, while the top layer of Canada's political class schmoozed with cocktails and canapés, New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton told President George W. Bush why a lot of Canadians don't like the idea of a missile-defence shield over North America.
Bush was not moved.
If there were no such thing as North Korea or Iran, Bush reportedly said, then there would be no need for missile defence. He seemed to like Layton's spunk, however.
As Bush started to slide away, to shake more hands among the three dozen or so high-ranking guests invited to the private reception at last night's gala dinner, he smiled and told Layton: "Every country needs a good lefty. ... We even have some in our country."
Layton spoke to the Star last night after what he described as a direct, amiable but ultimately "disturbing" conversation with Bush, which was followed up by longer chats at the private reception with the outgoing and incoming U.S. secretaries of state, Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice. In all, Layton had about half an hour with top U.S. politicians.
He was gratified he got a chance to help explain to Americans what the protests in Ottawa were about yesterday, but he also knows he didn't make a dent in their determination to go ahead with the plan.
"He's a very determined man."
The private meet-and-greet before dinner was arranged by Prime Minister Paul Martin to give Bush a chance for slightly more than fleeting encounters with the key people on the Canadian political stage these days: premiers, select cabinet ministers, and an opposition leader or two.
Manitoba's Premier Gary Doer bent Bush's ear for several minutes on proposed U.S. water diversion in his province; Ontario's Premier Dalton McGuinty was there to impress upon the president how important it is to end the beef ban at the border.
Martin acted as host, guiding Bush from one knot of conversation to the next, hovering a bit worriedly, according to Layton, if the disagreement threatened to get too intense.
At dinner, a wider picture of Canada's political, business and cultural elite was on display for the U.S. president. All were basking in what is supposed to be the new glow of friendship in the Martin-Bush realm, though there were the odd, bracing breezes, such as the one Layton experienced at the reception.
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien, who didn't enjoy particularly friendly relations with Bush or Martin in his final year in office, was among the luminaries in the crowd of about 700 guests. Bush slid right past Chrétien as he entered the hall, pausing to shake hands with someone else at the table, but not the former prime minister.
Overall, though, the night was intended — and mostly came off — as a celebration of Canada-U.S. closeness. Bush got his first big applause of the night when he said: "I was pleased to see when I opened up the menu, that we'll be eating Alberta beef."
Bush used his address, in part, to preview what is expected to be a longer tribute to Canada's friendship when he speaks in Halifax today.
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