The American embassy in Ottawa issued a statement Thursday morning saying the country does, in fact, value the “service and sacrifice” of Canadians after a top Trump aide appeared to belittle the hundreds of deaths and casualties incurred during the war in Afghanistan.
“The United States deeply values the service and sacrifice of our Canadian allies in support of the defense of freedom and global security,” said Richard Mills, the embassy’s chargé d’affaires.
The chargé d’affaires is the top-ranking official in the embassy at the moment given Aldona Wos, who was nominated in February 2020 by the president to take over the ambassadorship, is not yet confirmed.
The statement also referenced a quote from Vice-President Mike Pence when he visited Canada last year.
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“The United States and Canada have stood shoulder to shoulder in the defense of freedom for generations. Our ancestors fought side by side in the great conflicts of the 20th century,” Pence said.
“And in recent years, our armed forces have fought against the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism across the Middle East. And both of our nations have endured great sacrifice.
“The United States will always honor this alliance — this alliance for freedom. And we will always honor the sacrifice of soldiers of both of our nations.”
Thursday’s statement is an unusual move by the embassy but one that comes after Peter Navarro, trade advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, was quoted in a new book on the current administration’s foreign policy.
In the interview, he suggested that the reason Canada signed up for the bloody war in Afghanistan was to “curry favour” with the U.S. administration at the time.
“Were they doing us a favour, or were they brought into the idea they needed to do that as part of the global effort against terrorists?” he was quoted as saying.
“I mean, if they were just doing us a favour, maybe their government should have been thrown out of office. I mean, every time that a Canadian shows up in a uniform, it’s doing us a favour? How’s that work?”
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He also added: “What’s good about Canada?”
Over the course of the decade-long war in Afghanistan, 158 Canadian Armed Forces members died.
More than 1,800 others were also injured, and the psychological and physical effects — including stress-related injuries — remain a challenging legacy that both the country and the military continue to work to address.
As well, seven Canadian civilians also died in that conflict: a diplomat, a government contractor, four aid workers and a journalist.
Canadian officials stress ‘sacrifices’, support after 9/11
A senior Canadian government official, speaking on background, described the comments as “disappointing” given the support Canadians offered in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to Washington, posted a tweet that highlighted the sacrifices Canadians have made standing by Americans and other allies in conflicts.
“You’ve left behind sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, to stand by our U.S. partners and allies around the world,” she tweeted.
“Many of your brothers and sisters never returned. We remember your sacrifices. We’re grateful for your service, [Canadian Armed Forces].”
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You’ve left behind sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, to stand by our U.S. partners and allies around the world.
Many of your brothers and sisters never returned.
We remember your sacrifices. We’re grateful for your service, @CanadianForces.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan issued a statement about the comments emphasizing the strong ties and shared sacrifices between Canada and the U.S.
“When our friend and ally was attacked on 9/11, Canada was there for America that day and throughout the entire Afghanistan campaign,” Sajjan said, pointing to the Canadians who made the “ultimate sacrifice in the name of our collective peace and security.”
“Canadians will not forget their sacrifice and having served alongside them, I know the American military and everyday Americans will not forget that Canada was there for them in their time of need.”
He also noted the ongoing military cooperation against ISIS in the Middle East, as well as the Canadians who have fought and died shoulder to shoulder with Americans in Normandy, Korea and other conflicts.
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1:36 Peter Navarro sorry for ‘special place in hell’ comment aimed at Justin Trudeau
Peter Navarro sorry for ‘special place in hell’ comment aimed at Justin Trudeau
It’s not the first time Navarro has launched verbal volleys north of the border.
Following the G7 summit held in Quebec in 2018, Navarro let loose a tirade against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on television, insisting there was “a special place in hell” for the leader of one of America’s longest-standing allies.
He made the comment after the U.S. imposed steep steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada as part of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which prompted Trudeau to say in a press conference when asked about the tariffs that Canada “will not be pushed around.”
Navarro later apologized for his tirade, calling it “inappropriate.”
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
