Canada's relations with the United States suffered under prime minister Jean Chretien -- even many Liberals have admitted as much. When Paul Martin assumed leadership of the party, he promised to mend the broken fences along the 49th Parallel, calling for a "more sophisticated" relationship between Canadian and U.S. politicians. It would be difficult to imagine any better way to advance this cause than to rid his party's caucus of Carolyn Parrish.