Liberals feared too close ties with U.S.: WikiLeaks

As the possibility of a federal election loomed in Canada in early 2010, officials in the United States were getting an earful of what a Liberal campaign might look like.

Aggressively"not the U.S." was their sense of what the Liberal messaging might be if an election was called, U.S. officials remark in diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.

That assessment came after an extended diatribe byMichael Ignatieff's chief of staff Peter Donolo to the U.S. consul general in Toronto, Kevin Johnson.

The political need to distance Canada from its powerhouse neighbour came as no surprise to U.S. officials. Indeed, inanother diplomatic cable, Americans remark on "Canada's habitual inferiority complex."

But it was the sheer "vehemence and length" ofDonolo's "exposition on differing with the U.S." that caughtAmerican officials off guard, a U.S. cable sent from the Toronto consulate on Feb. 2, 2010, shows.

To illustrate his point, Donolo harkened back to the days when he servedas former prime minister Jean Chrtien's communications director.

Herecalled how former U.S. president Bill Clinton a golfing buddy of Chrtien's had made an "over the top" comment praising Chrtien.

Donolo said he called upthen White House press secretary Michael McCurry and asked that the U.S. president be "less generous lest he hurt the PM politically."

"McCurry laughingly said that was the first time a foreign leader had ever asked for 'LESS' love from the President rather than more," the cable says.

Donolo went on about how "important it is to Canadians to be seen as different from Americans," saying it defines Canadians as much as the French-English tension and East-West competition.

Ignatieff the 'most knowledgeable' on U.S.

Relations are easier with a Democrat in the White House,Donolo noted, but stressed that Americans should always remember this "need for difference."

He also speculated that Canada's decision tostay out of the Iraq war helped preserve free trade, suggesting that Canadians find economic integration less threatening if there isless fear of political integration with the U.S., the cable says.

U.S. officials surmised thatthe Liberal vehemence might be linked to past criticism of Ignatieff for using "we" when talking about Americans.

Yettheofficials also saw Ignatieff as the most knowledgeable on American affairs.

The Liberal leader was seen as"more familiar with the United States than any other current (or even former) Canadian political leader," said another cable dated Jan. 23, 2009, and classified confidential by U.S. Embassy's minister-counselor for political affairs Scott Bellard.

The U.S. diplomatic cables about the Liberals directly contrasted Americanimpressions of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Onemissive from the U.S. Embassy In Ottawa describesHarper as a "strong friend of the U.S."

"[We] believe we are better off with him at the helm in Canada," the cable classified confidential and dated May 7, 2007 says.

It notes a key Harper priority has been to enhance Canada's relationship with the U.S. and the U.S. Embassy officials note "an improved willingness" to co-operate on bilateral and international issues.

But, the cable notes, polling suggests public concern that the prime minister aligns Canada too closely with the U.S. foreign policy agenda.

The cables were among a batch of U.S. diplomatic cables released by thewhistleblower website WikiLeaksto CBC News.