Yellowknife (Nov 12/04) - Canada's minister of national defence made a whirlwind tour through Yellowknife Tuesday, visiting Canadian Forces Rangers by day and answering citizens' questions in a townhall meeting by night.

At a mock camp, complete with tents and sleds, Bill Graham met Canadian Rangers from Fort Providence and spoke to them about the challenges of working in the North.

"They are the eyes and ears out there on the land," said Graham.

"The Rangers are the first-line people that are there in the community; (they) understand it, watch it closely... they're an incredibly valuable asset for the country and for the forces."

But the day was, perhaps, slightly more amicable than the night.

At a townhall meeting with Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Graham was grilled by Yellowknifers over the prospect of Canadian participation in a U.S. ballistic missile defence shield (BMD).

The proposed system would consist of interceptors stationed to shoot down missiles in mid-flight.

Ballistic over missiles

Graham knew what was coming: "there might just be the odd question about BMD out there in the audience," he joked beforehand.

Several audience members did choose to tackle the minister on the issue, probing him on the federal government's commitment to missile defence.

Graham told the audience that there are two "red lines" in the discussion paper, two steps Canada will not support: nuclear interceptors and the weaponization of space.

However, Graham pointed out that, contrary to the assertions of some inquisitors, the current plan does not propose space interceptors.

He added that the U.S. could weaponize space through a different agency anyway.

Graham stressed the two countries' "long history of working together on the defence of North America," as well as the futility of opposing the U.S.

"The most powerful country in the world, our neighbour, is going to do something for the defence of North America that's going to affect us," he said.

"If we don't go into it, you can be darn sure we won't have any control over where they're going to shoot them down."

"We'll have no say about it whatsoever if we don't participate."

One man, who said he had worked in Bosnia, Sudan and Afghanistan, applauded the minister's commitment to a holistic, humanitarian approach to foreign affairs.

However, he wondered if there wasn't a contradiction in engaging other countries while Canada signs on to an insular defence system.

Graham had spoken of getting others "to buy into the fact that we have a common citizenship and we have to work together on solutions."

Graham said he wasn't concerned that Canada would lose its "special niche" in the world by taking part in BMD.

"I don't see us losing our credibility because we build our credibility by our actions abroad," he said. "What we do to defend North America is (of) our own determination."

Graham also told the meeting that a defence review is currently underway -- the first since 1994.