Bush calls Canada’s Harper after election win

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush called
Canada’s Prime Minister-elect Stephen Harper on Wednesday to
congratulate the Conservative leader over his win in a campaign
which included calls for improving strained ties with
Washington.

Bush looks forward to working with Harper and the two
leaders had a “very good conversation,” White House spokesman
Scott McClellan said.

Harper beat Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin in Monday’s
election.

During the campaign Martin said if Harper won, the new
Conservative government’s foreign policy would be dictated by
Washington. He had also likened Harper’s agenda to the “extreme
right” of the U.S. conservative movement.

Harper has said that he intended to put relations with
Washington “back on track” but differed with U.S. conservatives
on many issues.

Outgoing Prime Minister Martin’s government had differed
with the Bush administration on issues such as softwood lumber,
missile defense and global warming.

The U.S. ambassador to Canada went so far as to make a
public speech calling for an end to America-bashing.

Pressed on whether the White House believed the
Conservative victory would lead to closer relations with
Ottawa, McClellan said he would “take issue” with those who
would suggest that the ties with Martin were strained.

“The president met with him on a number of occasions,”
McClellan said. “The president wishes him well. They had a very
good working relationship. I know, I’ve seen them together
addressing issues of mutual concern.”

A spokesman for Harper declined to comment when asked about
the phone call with Bush.