North American summit

Montebello, Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper politely but firmly laid out his nation’s complaints with the U.S. in a summit meeting with President Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon this week. The three leaders emphasized their common ground on issues such as free trade, but Harper took the opportunity to press Bush on several controversial issues. He said Canada would likely withdraw its 2,500 troops from Afghanistan in 2009, protested America’s recent decision to require passports for people driving across the U.S.-Canada border, and urged Bush to join Canada in affirming that the Northwest Passage, an Arctic waterway, is Canadian territory. Russia recently planted a flag in the region and is claiming the North Pole as its own; the U.S. contends it has rights to portions of the pole, and considers the Northwest Passage to be international waters. “The president came away with a far better understanding of Canada’s position,” said White House official Dan Fisk.

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