Ottawa
Paul Martin took over as Canada’s new prime minister this week, promising to mend frayed relations with the U.S. The traditionally close allies drifted apart this year after outgoing prime minister Jean Chrétien opposed the war in Iraq. President Bush canceled a trip to Ottawa in May in protest, and the feud intensified when one of Chrétien’s top aides was forced to resign after telling reporters Bush was a “moron.” After taking the oath as Canada’s 21st prime minister, Martin said he would “re-establish the tone” with Washington. His first goal, he said, would be getting Bush to reverse the decision to shut out countries that opposed the war from lucrative contracts to rebuild Iraq. Martin, a former finance minister, has been a powerful figure in the governing Liberal Party for years and is considered slightly more conservative than Chrétien.
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