The push appears to be on for the security perimeter.
The Canadian Press reports this evening that, “Former prime minister Brian Mulroney says he believes a new security perimeter arrangement with the US represents no threat to sovereignty but does offer a necessary insurance policy for the Canadian economy.”
“A new perimeter agreement would largely serve to restore the (Canada-US trade) situation to where it stood before 9-11, he said.”
“Although there is no agreement or details about what a perimeter deal would look like, concerns are already being raised by some civil society groups, unions and opposition parties about a possible deterioration of Canadian sovereignty. …Mulroney said he expects concerns over sovereignty to accelerate if a deal is consummated, but added he is not worried that Canada will be any less independent. ‘I’ve seen this movie before,’ he said. ‘You are talking to a guy who was told in the House of Commons…that all I wanted was to make Canada the 51st state.’ …Mulroney says the worth of the agreements can (now) no longer be seriously questioned.”
And last week, Derek Burney, Raymond Chrétien, Michael Kergin, Frank McKenna and Michael Wilson, all former Canadian ambassadors to the United States, wrote in The Globe and Mail that, “Rumours of a new border agreement between Canada and the United States have aroused concerns in some quarters, but let’s be clear: A deal to enhance border security while ensuring more open access for the movement of people, goods and services would be a timely assertion of sovereignty, consistent with decades of common cause on bilateral economic and security issues.”
“Our future economic prosperity relies on an efficient border, and we should welcome any agreement that smoothes the way for jobs and growth while toughening up our borders to security threats against both our countries.”
They add, “Yes, the usual critics will bellyache. But let’s remember that they complained when the historic free-trade agreement was being negotiated between our two countries in the 1980s. Let’s also remember that history has proved that deal to have been of unparalleled benefit to Canada. Knee-jerk anti-Americanism is an indulgence without purpose in today’s interconnected, interdependent world.”
THE COUNCIL OF CANADIANS
The Council of Canadians is demanding that the Harper government immediately release its secret perimeter security deal with the United States, as well as its communications strategy for the deal that names Council chairperson Maude Barlow as a likely critic.
Barlow has stated, “Canadians have a right to know the security deal Mr. Harper has been secretly negotiating with the United States. Harmonization, collaboration and information-sharing with the Department of Homeland Security to promote his trade agenda obviously raises sovereignty and privacy concerns.”
Media reports suggest that under the perimeter security deal Canada and the US would harmonize rules and practices for screening offshore imports and travellers, and more closely collaborate in the areas of immigration, border protection and law enforcement. It would also involve more information-sharing with US law-enforcement agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security.
The Canadian Press article with Brian Mulroney is at http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101221/mulroney-canada-us-perimeter-deal-101221/20101221/?hub=TorontoNewHome. The op-ed by the five ambassadors is at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/a-border-security-deal-is-good-for-canada/article1837982/?.
