Globe and Mail columnist Jeffrey Simpson writes, “(The congressional) deadlock (in the United States) is one reason why the emerging Beyond the Border action plan between Canada and the United States will try, wherever possible, to sidestep congressional approval.”
Simpson notes these obstacles:
1- “It is hard to imagine anything substantial being accomplished by the U.S. Congress before early 2013. Both parties are already in non-stop campaigning mode, gearing up for the November, 2012, presidential election. Whoever wins won’t take office until January, which is also when new legislators arrive in Congress. After that, it will take many weeks or months for legislation to be framed, for presidential appointments to be ratified and for the new administration to set its course. The settling-in process will be shorter if Barack Obama is re-elected, but the very mention of his name so infuriates Republicans that it is hard to imagine compromises unfolding before then in the interests of making Congress work.”
2- “A decade after the 9/11 attacks, there is a fear of terrorism still driving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a behemoth that sees threats everywhere and lacks sensible discretion for dealing with them. Hence, the thickening of the border: passports, more officers (being more officious), plans for more drones circulating overhead, more checking of luggage and freight, pressure on Canadian airport security personnel to operate on a basis of maximum risk rather than sensible risk assessment.”
3- “There is a huge U.S. trade deficit that gives rise to ‘Buy America’ pressures and proposals such as the one to impose charges on containers entering the United States from Canada because Prince Rupert, B.C., is stealing container traffic. (We should remember that while Canadians cry about Buy America, Quebec and Ontario have local purchasing requirements for their renewable-energy industries).”
4- “There is a huge U.S. fiscal deficit that sends departments scurrying to find additional revenue without raising domestic taxes. Hence, the threat of punitive, confiscatory penalties against dual citizens who have not filed U.S. tax returns, a worldwide sweep that hits Canada hardest.”
On Monday, Globe and Mail journalist Barrie McKenna wrote, “No wonder Mr. Harper and Mr. Obama are reportedly struggling to agree on a good time and place to unveil the border pact.”
For Council of Canadians analysis, blogs, actions and media releases related to the ‘Beyond the Border’ talks, please go to http://canadians.org/perimeter-security.
