London Free Press: News Section - McKenna stands up = for Canada in U.S.

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McKenna stands = up for=20 Canada in U.S.

BETH GORHAM, = CP

2005-03-31 = 03:23:21=20 =20

WASHINGTON -- Canada is "not going to = sit back=20 and abandon its farmers" over the mad cow = crisis,=20 even if that means the United States will = lose=20 processing jobs, Ambassador Frank McKenna = told a=20 call-in television show yesterday. = Appearing for a=20 half-hour on C-SPAN, a political cable = channel,=20 McKenna attacked the "urban legend" that=20 terrorists involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, = attacks=20 crossed into the U.S. from Canada, as well = as=20 persistent views that the border is a = major=20 security problem.

And he told one caller with a long list = of=20 grievances about Canada that major policy=20 differences and a few "loose cannons" who = have=20 disparaged the U.S. don't mean the country = is=20 anti-American.

Just a month into the job, McKenna is = fast=20 becoming a strong pitch man for Canadian = interests=20 and is quick to respond to American = criticism.=20

He took issue last weekend with a New = York=20 Times editorial that alleged terrorists = routinely=20 cross the border into the States, firing = off a=20 letter to debunk the claim.

"The northern border, and it's the only = one I=20 can speak about, is not terrorist friendly = at=20 all," McKenna said yesterday. "We've spent = $10=20 billion Cdn ourselves as a country to make = sure=20 the border is safe.

"Don't forget, we've also shown up on=20 al-Qaida's list of countries and we take = our=20 security seriously."

McKenna's remarks about border security = were=20 echoed by the head of Interpol, visiting = Ottawa.=20 Ronald Noble said Canada works hard in the = fight=20 against terrorism and is not a highway for = U.S.-bound terrorists.

Co-operation is the best defence and = Canada is=20 showing the way, Noble said. "As secretary = general=20 of Interpol, whatever you call the highest = category of support and participation we = have,=20 Canada is in that category."

Canadian Embassy spokesperson Bernard = Etzinger=20 said McKenna is serious about engaging = Americans=20 on perceptions of Canada.

"His approach is to be out there with = the=20 facts, to engage, and to be open and talk = about=20 what matters in Canada-U.S. relations," = Etzinger=20 said.

One caller from Arkansas had a litany = of=20 complaints against Canada.

"I don't really think Canada is too = much=20 without America," said the woman. "Without = our=20 trade and without our defence, you guys = would be=20 in a bad spot. It just disgusts me and = makes me=20 sick when I hear these things."

McKenna noted Americans have also said = "some=20 pretty nasty things about Canada" but said = it=20 doesn't reflect badly on relations.

"We have offered support to each other = in so=20 many ways that transcend the narrow and = parochial=20 comments from a few individuals from time = to=20 time."

"We're family and we're friends and = we're=20 colleagues and we're allies. . . . This is = an=20 enduring relationship."