Go to article index for other editions of Bob Orrick's IN RE (In the Matter of).
What's in the Water in Mississauga Centre?
By
Bob Orrick
This is a story that simply will not go away.
A week or so ago, Carolyn Parrish, Liberal Member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre, spoke words that ignited a "firestorm." Ms. Parrish foolishly uttered her infamous line, "Damn Americans, hate those bastards," with television cameras recording her every word.
In the interval since she uttered her ill-considered, hurtful words, she has apologised, sort of. She penned some words shortly after the incident and apologised and addressed the House of Commons. Her letter was to USA ambassador Paul Celluci. Then, as if to reveal to all that she has no smarts about her, she then suggested that perhaps she was not so darned sorry after all.
Last week on the Mike Bullard show [does anyone watch it?] Ms. Parrish said, "I can't even guarantee that I won't do it again." [Vancouver Sun, 07 March 2003]
What is in the water in Mississauga Centre?
The Liberal MP's words do nothing to heal a rift between Canada and the USA. Her words are the most recent slurs uttered by a person on this side of the USA-Canada border who claims to be a Canadian. Such persons, Ms. Parrish and Ms. Francoise Ducros - the former director of communications for PM Jean Chretien - claim to be Canadians but from this perspective are nothing but sheep in wolves' clothing. They bleat nonsense while shrouding, and they think protecting, themselves in the armour of taxpayer funds. Such persons are a discredit to Canada.
It is true that Canadians have disagreements with Americans. For those in British Columbia, the softwood lumber issue is a sore point that seems to be stuck in neutral all the while costing British Columbians millions in USA-inspired tariffs. That aside, however, the real damage utterances such as those mouthed by Parrish and Ducros is in the realisation that Canada and the USA do "one million dollars-a-minute worth of business." [ibid.]
"Canada is the best customer for 38 of the 50 states. We are allies and friends. … I certainly don't want to spend my time saying 'It is not true that Canadians hate you.'" So spoke Perrin Beatty, president of the exporters association. He was commenting on the anti-American comments referred to above. His words emphasised the importance of the trading relationship enjoyed between Canada and the United States. Dumb comments such as those uttered by Parrish and Ducros do nothing to enhance that relationship.
The United States is Canada's largest trading partner: more than 85 per cent of Canadian exports head toward the American market. In addition to the 'common market,' it is in Canada's best interest that cordial relationships be maintained with United States if for no other reason than our common security interests.
Ambassador Celluci graciously accepted Ms. Parrish's apology. He said, "When emotions are running high, sometimes people say things that in retrospect maybe would not have been said." [ibid.]
It is clear from Ambassador Celluci's comments that he has far more sense that has Ms. Parrish, Liberal Member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre. He spoke wisdom; Ms. Parrish spoke nonsense.
Bob Orrick is a private tutor of English grammar, literature, poetry and Canadian history to off-shore youngsters. His pupils hail from such places as Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Venezuela. He was previously in international marketing, was a ministerial assistant to a provincial cabinet minister, spent a few years as a reporter then editor of a community newspaper and enjoyed a career in the Royal Canadian Navy.
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