Toronto U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was so displeased by Canada's decision to opt out of the missile defence program that she has postponed a visit to Ottawa in mid-April, CTV News reported Monday.
It contradicts Ottawa's official line that U.S.-Canada relations are proceeding smoothly after the federal government announced last week that Canada won't participate in the controversial program.
A senior state department official, who was on a London-bound flight with Rice, confirmed that the cancellation of the visit was a direct consequence of Prime Minister Paul Martin's decision, CTV News reported.
But other Washington officials were more vague about the reasons for the postponed trip.
"There are discussions going about, going back and forth over timing, but it'll happen when the stars are all aligned in the right way," said State Department spokesman Adam Ereli.
Mr. Martin, who had expressed support for the project in his early days as prime minister, has insisted the move would not hurt relations with the U.S.
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew made the official announcement in the House of Commons on Feb. 24, saying that while the U.S. is pressing ahead with the missile system, "Canada ... must act in its own interests and must determine where its priorities lie."
"Obviously on something so serious, people expect you to be truthful or you do pay consequences," said Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.
Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, says he's still stunned at Canada's decision.
"As I said last week, I don't understand why Canada would give up its seat at the table, given our history of working together in the defence of North America, particularly at NORAD. But that was a decision for Canada," he told CTV News.
Ms. Rice is in London at a conference of Palestinian reforms, as is Pettigrew.
Mr. Pettigrew will try to have a private word with Rice and perhaps even extend another invitation to Ottawa, an official in Pettigrew's office told CTV.
