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restoration of good relations with a major Commonwealth
partner and NATO ally after the dangerous passage in our
relationship two years ago when there was very nearly an
unprecedented confrontation over patriation of the
Canadian constitution.
There are no serious problems
between the Canadians and ourselves but both sides may
in Tendancy
have tended to take the bilateral relationship too much
for granted, in the recent past. The Canadians certainly
hold lingering suspicions that in joining the European
Community, Britain turned its back on Canada and the old
Commonwealth. An important purpose of a visit at Prime
Ministerial level will be to demonstrate that this is not
Mrs Thatcher's meetings with federal and provincial
Ministers as well as the two speeches in Ottawa and
Toronto will also give the Prime Minister an opportunity
so.
to promote the image of Britain as a modern
high-technology society and a valuable partner for
Canadian investment and trade.
6. Our objectives on the main subjects which are likely
to come up in the Prime Minister's various meetings are
set out below.
Anglo/Canadian Relations
7.
Neither the Prime Minister nor Mr Trudeau are likely
to spend much time discussing Anglo/Canadian relations as
such though the Prime Minister will wish to emphasise the
importance attached by Britain to trade and commercial
links and draw attention to Canadians restrictions which
them
inhibit it. Specific issues such as the fees charged to
Canadian students in Britain (see Brief No.
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