Russia, Canada want G20 focus on economy despite shadow of Syrian crisis

OTTAWA – Canada may have sharp words for Russia over its stance on Syria, but when it comes to next week’s G20 summit, Stephen Harper and Vladimir Putin appear to be on the same page.

The two leaders are both of the view that the focus of the meeting should be stimulating more world economic and job growth, with Syria only the stuff of side conversations.

Both Canada and Russia would like to see other countries take on more definitive commitments for paying down their debts and deficits, which often translates into deep cuts in social services.

They’d also like to help level the playing field internationally for investors, to help free money for companies who want to participate in huge infrastructure projects.

But all those discussions could be happening at the same time the United States leads an attack against Syria to punish it for using chemical weapons.

Russia says that would be a grave mistake, while Canada says Russia is being an obstructionist at the United Nations for standing in the way of an international response.