Yellowknife (May 14/03) - U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci's recent anger against Canada seems to have faded.

During a speech at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday, Cellucci preached continued friendship and cooperation with his Northern neighbours instead of attacking Canada over its lack of support in the war in Iraq.

U.S. ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci was the guest speaker at a Chamber of Commerce business luncheon on Tuesday. - Yose Cormier/NNSL photo

Instead of continuing with his prior attacks on Canada, he backpedalled, extolling the relationship between the two neighbours, saying how important Canada was to the American energy situation.

For an explanation of the change of tone, look to gas.

"Canada has huge potential. We want reasonably priced natural gas and we will want northwest gas sooner or later, and sooner would be better. Our demand for gas is growing," he said.

The ambassador focused on the possible construction of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, but emphatically pointed out that the U.S. government would allow the market to decide where a new pipeline should be built.

"President George Bush remains neutral on what route a pipeline will follow," he said.

Cellucci mentioned how the NWT could benefit from such a structure but refrained from making a commitment to the North.

"We have excellent relations with the NWT but the issues have to be resolved with the federal government," he said, referring to gas as well as the American missile defence plan.

As for the Iraq situation, he tows the party line where weapons of mass destruction are concerned and is adamant the United States did the right thing.

"Our intelligence is overwhelming. The weapons will be found. We've done a good thing for Iraq. The war on terrorism is helping build democracies. It's not just about defeating the enemy but about rebuilding these countries," he said.

One group of Yellowknifers don't think so and made their views known yesterday. Alternatives North had about a dozen protestors on hand demonstrating against the presence of the ambassador.

"The ambassador should be reprimanded for his previous comments on Canada.

"We are telling him today that Canada has it's own foreign policy," said Frank Cserepy, a member of Alternatives North.

Their message to the ambassador was that Canada is a sovereign nation and that the war in Iraq was unjust.