U.S. Ambassador To Canada
On April 17, 2001, at the Citadel in Quebec City, Cellucci presented his credentials as the 20th United States Ambassador to Canada to Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.
His four-year tenure would be a historical and controversial period in the United States – Canadian relations. On September 14, 2001, three days after the terrorist attacks on United States soil, Ambassador Cellucci thanked Canada for its overwhelming support and sympathy, including their role in Operation Yellow Ribbon, at a memorial in front of 100,000 people on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. He would mention the operation and the memorial service quite often during the days and months that followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. The months and years that followed the attacks would see extraordinary cooperation between the United States and Canada on the Smart Border Agreement, on their law enforcement and intelligence agencies to stop terrorist attacks in North America, and in Afghanistan in the war against the Taliban.
On March 25, 2003 at a speech to the Economic Club of Toronto, Cellucci faced controversy when he criticized Canadian opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. He argued that America was waging war for its own security, and that the United States would "never hesitate" to support Canada if it faced a security threat . This wording was considered especially unfortunate by some since the United States did in fact delay years before joining the British Empire in both World Wars I and II in Europe. The Globe and Mail reported Cellucci's remarks under the front-page headline U.S. rebukes Canada and Canadian nationalist Mel Hurtig called him "ill-mannered, obnoxious, arrogant".
He also earned the ire of many Canadians for his repeated support for Canada joining the U.S. missile defence program, and for urging Canada to increase defense spending. These statements, frequently perceived as implied trade threats, caused Cellucci to be sarcastically christened "the U.S. ambassador-turned-proconsul" by former Liberal cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy in an opinion piece titled Say no to missile defence published on April 29, 2003 in The Globe and Mail. Canada has since declined to participate in the U.S. missile defence program.
While the frosty relations were due to the Canadian government's opposition to President Bush's policies, there has also been criticism of Chrétien for tolerating anti-American outbursts from his aide, while Martin attempted to paint his opponent as pro-American during the 2004 Canadian federal election.
Cellucci officially resigned his Ambassadorship on March 17, 2005. One indication of opinion in Canada of Cellucci's tenure was provided by CBC Television's resident satirist Rick Mercer who promoted on his program, Monday Report, that week a fictitious Paul Cellucci Farewell Special entitled Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Ass.
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