Josh Pringle
Tuesday, March 1, 2005

U-S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is reportedly so upset over Canada's decision to stay out of the missile defence program that she is skipping a planned trip to Canada. Rice has cancelled her April visit to Ottawa. A senior state department official says the cancellation is a direct consequence of Prime Minister Paul Martin's decision to say "no" to missile defence. Martin and other Canadian officials have insisted the decision to stay out of the missile defence program would not harm Canada-U.S relations.

(update: Rice, Canada to discuss missile shield: report)

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet with Canadian diplomats Tuesday, to discuss Ottawa's decision to stay out of the U.S. ballistic missile defence system.

Canadian diplomats requested the meeting with Rice on the sidelines of a conference in London on Palestinian reform, a Bush administration official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

(hat tip wiz)