TORONTO — Although former President George W. Bush has not been popular in Canada, the country on Tuesday became the venue of his first speech since leaving office.

Calgary, Alberta, the site for the speech, is the home of Canada’s oil and gas industry and the power base of the country’s Conservative Party, which counts Prime Minister Stephen Harper among its local members of Parliament.

Rob Saliterman, a spokesman for Mr. Bush, said the location for the speaking debut was mainly a coincidence. The date, along with several other speaking engagements, had been arranged by the Washington Speakers Bureau, whose clients include celebrities and politicians. It signed Mr. Bush last month.

Mr. Bush’s speech was closed to reporters, a decision that Mr. Saliterman said was made by the local organizer, tinePublic, a Canadian events management firm.

“For obvious reasons, it was his first event, you want to work the kinks out, so we thought it best not to invite the press,” said Christian Darbyshire, a partner in tinePublic.

One attendee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the no-press rule, said Mr. Bush appeared to speak without a prompter and only occasionally referred to notes.

His remarks contained few surprises, according to the attendee. Perhaps catering to the local audience, Mr. Bush spoke out against trade protectionism in the United States. While he warned against prolonged government intervention in the economy, he also criticized the financial community, saying, “Wall Street got drunk, and we got the hangover,” according to the audience member.

Mr. Bush said he hoped that President Obama would succeed, adding, “He deserves my silence, and if he wants my help he is welcome to call me.”

Stacey Mastel contributed reporting from Calgary, Alberta.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/world/americas/18canada.html?ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=print

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