Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site utcsstat.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsstat!nishri From: @ Newsgroups: can.politics Subject: American view Message-ID: <1781@utcsstat.UUCP> Date: Sun, 18-Mar-84 16:37:48 EST Article-I.D.: utcsstat.1781 Posted: Sun Mar 18 16:37:48 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Mar-84 16:47:17 EST Sender: nishri@utcsstat.UUCP Organization: U. of Toronto, Canada Lines: 36 I was in the U.S.A. recently and happened to read the following article on March 1 in the newspaper , "USA TODAY." It appeared on page 2 and is very revealing about how Canadians are viewed. (It was the only article on Trudeau's resignation.) Canada change may please U.S. By Jim Fox Special for USA TODAY Ottawa - Public opinion polls have long indicated that most Canadians wanted Pierre Trudeau to resign as prime minister, but many Americans may also welcome the departure of the man who led Canada for nearly 16 years. Trudeau, 64, has often been out of tune with Washington, alienating the United States with trade barriers and reduced defense commitment. Major irritants between the two countries -- each of which is the other's largest trading partner -- include acid rain, trade protectionism and taxes. The low point in the Trudeau era came four years ago when major U.S. oil companies complained their large interests in Canada were being hurt by the Trudeau government's decision to nationalize Canada's oil industry and give tax and exploration advantages to Canadian companies. It will be up to Trudeau's successor to decide when the next federal election will be held, but the Liberal Party's term of office expires in February 1985. The current frontrunner to succeed Trudeau is John Turner, 54, a charismatic Toronto lawyer and former Cabinet minister. He is being viewed as an easy victor in a crowded race with as many as 10 candidates. Canadians appear to want the Conservatives -- led by Brian Mulroney, 44, a suave, bilingual Irish-Quebecer -- to form the next government. Mulroney might also be Washington's choice as he favors closer economic and defense ties with the United States. Mulroney, a self-made labor lawyer and corporate president, also shares many of the Reagan administration's views on free enterprise and has indicated that it is more important for Canada to have better relations with the United States than with other countries.