Canada Panel Wary on ‘Star Wars’ : Comes Within One Vote of Rejecting Research With U.S.

A special parliamentary committee came within one vote Friday of saying that Canada should refuse to take part with the United States in research into the feasibility of the “Star Wars” space defense system. It then decided to make no recommendation.

At the same time, the committee said that Canada should take a cautious approach to developing free trade with the United States. It recommended that preliminary discussions be held on the matter but opposed any immediate negotiations.

The two developments reflect a growing debate here about Canada’s relations with its neighbor and signal a growing wariness about Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s proclaimed desire to develop closer ties with Washington.

The action of the committee, which was appointed by Mulroney and is dominated by members of his Progressive Conservative Party, showed that these doubts are sharpening. Most politicians and other observers had expected the committee to urge increased free trade and some sort of involvement in the space defense system because the prime minister has spoken publicly in favor of such policies.

Attacked by Opposition

But one Conservative committee member voted with the opposition in favor of rejecting Reagan’s invitation to Canada to take part in “Star Wars,” or the Strategic Defense Initiative, its formal title. Others in the majority proposed that Mulroney make the decision, and he said that he will do so by Sept. 9.

Possible Canadian participation in the space defense research has been attacked by both opposition parties, the Liberals and the socialist New Democrats, as well as by major segments of the academic and scientific communities, on grounds ranging from a belief that the program will not work to fears that it will accelerate the nuclear arms race.

The majority report of the committee said it could not reach a decision because it did not have enough information, but some members said there was plenty of clear-cut testimony and information.

Testimony taken by the committee at meetings throughout the country reflected growing concern among Canadians about associating too closely with what many perceive as the overly militant attitude of President Reagan.

Canada’s ‘Arbiter’ Role

Dr. Julius Stoller, president of the British Columbia chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, voiced this concern earlier this month, telling the committee that “Canada’s potential role as an arbiter between the superpowers would be undercut fatally by participation” in “Star Wars.”

Another factor that seemed to weaken the Conservative majority’s willingness to recommend Canadian involvement in “Star Wars” was a series of reports casting doubt on suggestions by Mulroney and some of his supporters that participation would create thousands of new jobs for Canada, which suffers from an unemployment rate of more than 11%.

“The only justification some of us could see for ‘Star Wars’ would be new jobs and increased availability of new technology,” said a committee member who asked not to be identified. He said that the reports were “convincing against both assumptions.”

Reagan invited all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other U.S. allies, including Israel, to take part in the $26-billion research program.

Dissatisfied on Trade

On the subject of U.S.-Canadian trade, the committee said that the present situation--selected free trade in some industries mixed with special arrangements in others--is no longer sufficient but that it could not propose a specific new policy.

It recommended that specific trade irritants be dealt with before serious talks are held on expanding free trade.

Free trade with the United States has been one of the most divisive issues in Canada’s history. Previous moves in that direction have been defeated by forces fearing destruction of local industry and a loss of cultural identity and even of political independence.

Mulroney has said often that he wants freer trade with the United States and that Canada needs to secure its commercial relationship with its southern neighbor.

Opponents, however, say that Canada, which is the United States’ principal trading partner, is overly dependent on the U.S. market, with nearly 80% of its exports going across the border, and needs to seek other customers and protect itself against U.S. competition.

Mulroney said after seeing the committee report that he will decide on a trade approach after meeting in November with the premiers of Canada’s 10 provinces.