Canadian Envoy Resigns Over Remarks on Mexico
By Mary Beth Sheridan
Los Angeles Times

MEXICO CITYThe Canadian ambassador to Mexico has been forced to step
down after granting an interview in which he labeled Mexico corrupt and
described its war on drugs as a joke.

"I am an expert on the Middle East, and when I came here I thought I
already knew everything about corruption," the ambassador, Marc Perron,
told a Mexican weekly newsmagazine, Milenio. "But I was mistaken.'

Mr. Perron stepped down after the Mexican foreign minister, Jose Angel
Gurria,called his Canadian counterpart to protest, the authorities said.

Canada is Mexico's No. 3 trading partner, and business between the two
countries has picked up since the North American Free Trade Agreement took
effect in 1994. But unlike the United States, which has a history of
disputes and wars with Mexico, Canada had enjoyed serene relations with its
NAFTA partner.

Mexicans, who are sensitive to what they consider frequent condescending
comments by U.S. officials, were taken aback by the ambassador's
criticism. "It's surprising," said Sergio Aguayo, a political scientist who
writes about U.S.Mexican relations. "The Canadians have been extremely
discreet in their relations with the government."

In the interview, Mr. Perron praised Mexico's transition toward democracy
and its recovery from its economic crisis. But he complained that Canadian
businesses are sometimes at a disadvantage in Mexico because of corruption.

"In Canada things are very clear, there's a law," he said. "But here it's
not like that. It's 'Look, the law says this but if you give me something,
then we'll make a deal.' "

Mr. Perron was critical of Mexico's fight against drug trafficking, noting
that the antidrug czar, General Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, was arrested
after being accused of working for a top drug lord.

"The authorities say, 'Oh, yes, we are working on that,' and then they put
a general at the head of the antidrug fight and it turns out he's a drug
trafficker," said Mr. Perron. "What a joke."
By Mary Beth Sheridan
Los Angeles Times