Martin says he won't 'be dictated to'
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 | 2:05 PM ET
CBC News
"I am not going to be dictated to as to the subjects I should raise," Martin said at a lumber mill in B.C.
He was responding to comments made by U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Wilkins implicitly rebuked Martin for attacking U.S. policies to score political points, suggesting it could have an effect on the future of the cross-border relationship.
Paul Martin responds to questions during a news conference after visiting a sawmill in Richmond, B.C. (CP photo)
Martin was unapologetic following Wilkins's speech, and came out swinging again on Wednesday. "When it comes to defending Canadian values, when it comes to standing up for Canadian interests, I'm going to call it as I see it," Martin said.
Trumpeting the "modest" progress that has been made recently in the softwood lumber dispute, Martin said those results came from insisting that the United States live up to the North American Free Trade Agreement.
"The progress we have made has been made because we have, in fact, stood up for Canadian rights," he said.
Martin has been critical of U.S. policy, not only in trade disputes, but also on global warming. He denies he is raising these things now as election fodder.
"Those issues predate the election campaign," he said. "But if those issues arise, then I will deal with them as they arise."
Almost simultaneous with Martin's appearance in Richmond, B.C., Wilkins was on CBC Radio in Ottawa.
The ambassador denied he was interfering with the Canadian election. He said the bulk of his speech on Tuesday had been about the positive aspects of the relationship between the two countries.
"What I said was not in any way intended to affect an election," he said.
