Jeffrey LewisHose off, eh?

Canada has decided not to participate in the Ballistic Missile Defense System.

The Canadian press reports that the decision began to take shape in mid-February as Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin began to shape his defense budget request.

The original strategy envisioned Martin making no decision at all. Instead, the Canadian government would state that Canada was already participating in missile defense. That strategy fell apart after remarks to that effect by Frank McKenna, Canada’s ambassadorial appointee to the United States, were interpreted as too supportive of missile defense.

I was fortunate to be at the champagne celebration with Steven Staples, Thomas Graham, Peggy Mason, Ernie Regehr and others at McGill University.