Liberal front-runner would support NMD

SIKU CIRCUMPOLAR NEWS NETWORK

If enemy missiles are ever intercepted and shot down over Canadian airspace, Canada will want to be involved – at least if front-running Liberal candidate Paul Martin becomes prime minister in 2004.

Martin recently said his government would participate in the National Missile Defence program that’s designed to knock out missiles before they reach North American targets.

“If a missile is going over Canadian airspace, I want to know. I want to be at the table before that happens…. You want to talk about sovereignty? My sovereignty says you don’t send missiles up over my airspace unless I’m there,” Martin said.

Sheila Copps, the federal Heritage Minister and leadership candidate, said she opposes the NMD because it threatens world peace.

The National Missile Defense debate first surfaced last week when two cabinet ministers said Canada is once again considering some involvement in the NMD.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and Defence Minister John McCallum both said the NMD would be good for Canadian security.

“We have a proud tradition of co-operating with our American allies on the security of the continent,” Graham said.

However, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said Canada hasn’t received a request from the U.S. to participate in the NMD system.

“There is the possibility of a discussion,” Chrétien said last week in Parliament. “We have not started discussing it. We don’t know exactly what will be the requirement.

Perhaps the wise thing to do is to try to find out what they are asking of us – if they ask anything. Let’s wait to know if they are asking something, or nothing.”

The debate continued this week in the House, with cabinet expected to recommend Canadian involvement.