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PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Twice during a Wednesday appearance in this coastal city close to Canada, Jeb Bush suggested that the U.S. relationship with its northern neighbour is in need of serious repair.

Speaking broadly about the need to remake U.S. foreign policy once President Barack Obama leaves office, the presumed Republican presidential candidate told a crowd of about 60 voters that he would seek to restore relations with allies around the globe.

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“It means stop insulting our neighbour to the north. It’s hard to imagine how we could have a bad relationship with Canada, but under this administration we’ve managed to do it,” he said.

Friction between the two countries is not just focused on disagreements over construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline that would run from Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico, “but across the board,” Bush added.

“Our largest trading partner, our strongest ally, the country that we can count on to be our partner in establishing a safer world, we need to establish stronger relations, not just with Canada, but with Mexico as well. Our neighbourhood should come first.”