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Bush
congratulates Canada's new conservative leader

Bush
congratulates Canada's new conservative leader

President Bush telephoned Canada's prime minister-designate Stephen Harper on Wednesday to congratulate him on his victory in parliamentary elections as ties between the world's largest trading partners were expected to improve. The Conservative leader's win in Monday's vote ended nearly 13 years of Liberal Party rule that saw strained U.S.-Canada relations as outgoing prime minister Paul Martin and his predecessor, Jean Chretien, opposed the war in Iraq and other Bush administration positions.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush congratulated Harper, but he declined to be more specific about the conversation when asked if the two leaders discussed any specifics, such as the new leader's campaign positions on strengthening the military or reexamining Canada's position on the Kyoto Protocol on limiting greenhouse gas emissions. "The president looks forward to working with him. They had a very good conversation," McClellan said. "We are looking forward to working with the new government and building upon our strong relationship."

Carolyn Stewart-Olson, press secretary for Harper, who is expected to be sworn in within the next two weeks, declined to comment on the phone conservation, saying they would reserve all remarks until a press conference on Thursday.

The Bush administration has avoided sounding overly pleased by Martin's ouster. In reply to another question about whether Bush's relations with Martin were professional but personally cool, McClellan said they had a "very good working relationship" as they addressed issues of mutual concern.

Harper criticized Martin's government for not joining the United States and the United Kingdom in the Iraq war, and his ideology runs parallel to that of the Bush administration. But the 46-year-old economist failed to win a majority and will be constrained in his policies by the need for an alliance to push through legislation, which could limit his ability to move Canada to the right.

His victory was seen largely as a backlash against corruption scandals and a mandate to cut taxes and be tougher on crime and security. Many traditionally liberal Canadians would balk at any attempts to overturn rights to abortion and same-sex marriage or to touch the universal health care system, a hallmark of national pride. Though he's opposed to abortion, Harper has said his party would not propose legislation to overturn it, though he may give parliament another vote on same-sex marriage. (AP)

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