Master of Persuasion by Fen Osler Hampson

Author:Fen Osler Hampson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Published: 2018-04-10T04:00:00+00:00

WASHINGTON VISIT AFTERMATH

After Mulroney returned to Ottawa, he and McMillan emphasized that Canada still wanted an accord on acid rain and had much work to do on that front, but he still considered President Reagan’s endorsement an important milestone. As reported by the Canadian Press, Mulroney told the Commons, “ ‘I never said our position and results on acid rain were a triumph…. They just appear to be a triumph given the lack of progress by the Liberals over five years. What we said is that there was substantial progress made.’ …Mulroney said he had asked Reagan to cut American emissions of acid rain pollution but ‘I can’t persuade the unpersuadable.’ ”307

On April 29, U.S. energy secretary John Herrington told a congressional hearing that the U.S. might never fully implement the report’s recommendations, and that the administration had submitted no budget proposals for the $5 billion commitment.308 The Globe and Mail reported that Mulroney “is confident that Mr. Reagan will ‘deliver the bacon’ when it is time to live up to promises to clean up acid rain. ‘I am in no way perturbed’ by Mr. Herrington’s comments. Mr. Reagan has promised an ‘acid-rain program that is in place and a commitment which will be honored,’ the Prime Minister said.”309

Meanwhile, Washington was riveted by an investigation into lobbyist Michael Deaver, a former White House deputy chief of staff whom Canada had hired as a consultant on acid rain issues. The main question was whether Deaver began his lobbying efforts while still working in the White House. There were concerns that the connection to Deaver would taint Canada and the acid rain debate: “ ‘The whole acid-rain issue is being smeared,’ laments one U.S. environmentalist, reflecting on the exposure given Mr. Deaver’s work for Canada on the subject. ‘There’s a sense the average citizen thinks there is something off-color about the acid-rain debate.’ ”310 Deaver was eventually convicted of perjury.

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