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)