Martin denies using Clinton to help Liberal campaign

Last Updated: Friday, December 9, 2005 | 5:50 PM ET

CBC News

Prime Minister Paul Martin denied using former U.S. president Bill Clinton to help his election campaign and defended his earlier comments attacking the Bush administration for not doing enough to combat climate change.

Martin met with Clinton, who supports the Kyoto Protocol, in Montreal during an international conference on climate change.

Martin was asked by a reporter if by appearing with Clinton, who is known for disagreeing with Bush on Kyoto, he was campaigning "on the back of the U.S. administration."

Bill Clinton and Paul Martin arrive for a news conference at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal. (CP photo)

"First of all we are here at an international conference which has been in place for some time now before we even though there could be an election called," Martin said.

"Secondly, President Clinton is someone who is well known for policy in terms of fighting climate change. And it's perfectly natural when a former president and someone of his stature comes to a conference such as this that we give him a high profile."

Clinton also denied he was interfering in the Canadian election.

"These issues I've been working on for nearly three decades now, " he said. "I was invited to come and did come and I was glad to have a chance to meet the prime minister . But I'm not involved in your politics. I came because of climate change."

Martin also denied he was electioneering when he criticized the U.S. this week for its attitude on climate change.

"To the reticent nations, including the United States, I'd say this: there is such a thing as a global conscience, and now is the time to listen to it. Now is the time to join with others in our global community," Martin said Wednesday.

Earlier Friday, it was revealed that the White House had officially complained about Martin's comments. Jim Connaughton, chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, told Canadian Ambassador Frank McKenna that Martin's comments are the worst slight against Bush since Germany's Gerhard Schroeder suggested Bush's stance against the Kyoto Protocol was responsible for hurricane Katrina.

Martin told reporters he won't comment on the conversation between Frank McKenna and White House officials.

"I don't make it a habit of commenting on any discussions a Canadian ambassador would have with a foreign country," Martin said.

Martin made it clear he stands by his words that the U.S. needs to have more of a global conscience on climate change.

"As far as my speech the other day, I spoke what I believe, I spoke what I have been saying for quite some time now," Martin said.

"I conveyed this message to the president of the United States, I conveyed it to the president of China, the prime minister of Japan, the president of Russia and in fact every world leader I have met with.

"I believe the position that has been taken by Canada at this conference reflects Canadian interests and Canadian values and, let me tell you as the prime minister of Canada, I am going to speak for Canadian interests and Canadian values."