HANOI, Vietnam (CP) - The Conservative government has introduced a gutsier, pull-no-punches style to its dealings on the international stage, Prime Minister Stephen Harper declared Sunday, suggesting the Liberals had lacked courage in the past.
Harper pointed to a brief, informal meeting he had with Chinese President Hu Jintao at a reception the night before as evidence of his forcefulness. The two leaders were among 21 gathered in Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
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...a distinct impression, if I may say that, that the Chinese aren't used to that from a Canadian government
The prime minister also alluded to his public statements at previous international gatherings. At the Francophonie Summit in September, Harper insisted that the other leaders acknowledge the plight of not just Lebanese citizens embroiled in the Hezbollah-Israeli conflict, but also of Israeli victims
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Meanwhile, our friend Jay Tuch, an Israeli-American blogger, The American-Israeli Patriot, which is "A Middle East Diary That Will Not Submit", has replaced the British flag with the Canadian one on his blog's masthead, inspired by Canada's newfound courage to stand up and do the right thing, particularly for being fair to Israel while much of the rest of the world lacks the moral fortitude to do the same.
The world is taking notice. Canada is making herself heard, thanks to her new leader, Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
I'm hoping that this is an awakening. An awakening of Canada's potential, which is so great that the average person hasn't yet visualized it. Canada can go much, much further as a nation than anyone seems to realize. And that's a good thing, as the world will be better off with a more powerful, more confident and assertive Canada, standing up for all that is right.
It's time for Canada to be all she can be!
