"We are not joining a coalition of the idiots," Liberal deputy Carolyn Parish, an opponent of Canada's participation in the US missile defense effort, said Wednesday at a party caucus during a discussion of the missile defense program.

"I don't have a comment on it," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said when asked for one. "Frankly, people are welcome to their opinion.

"We believe the missile defense program is something that serves the cause of peace, serves the cause of the United States," he said. "And I would note that there are a number of international partners who we are working with on this program.

"As far as discussions between Canada and the United States go, as we've said before, Canada's decision whether to participate in this program is Canada's decision. And it's up to Canadian authorities to decide whether they feel is in their best interest to do."

He said cooperation and coordination between the two countries were "excellent."

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