RICHMOND, Dec 14: Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin escalated a war of words with the United States on Wednesday, telling Washington not to dictate to him what topics he can raise in the run-up to Canada’s Jan. 23 election.

US Ambassador David Wilkins warned Mr Martin and other Canadian politicians on Tuesday not to bash the United States as part of their campaigning.

But Mr Martin said he was not paying attention.

“When it comes to defending Canadian values, when it comes to standing up for Canadian interests, I’m going to call it like I see it,” he told reporters in a lumber yard in Richmond, British Columbia.

“I am not going to be dictated to as to the subjects I should raise.”

Although Martin came to power in December 2003 promising to repair relations with the United States that were damaged by his predecessor’s decision not to take part in the Iraq War, he has shown little hesitation in attacking Washington.

The two sides are locked in a protracted dispute over the US decision to slap tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber shipments on the grounds they are unfairly subsidized. Canada says its lumber producers are not subsidized.—Reuters