PM looks at tightening Ottawa's ties with U.S.

[Minstrel Boy]

PM looks at tightening Ottawa's ties with U.S.
by Drew Fagan
Globe and Mail

The Martin government is moving toward major new steps to co-ordinate economic and security policy more closely with the United States in an initiative that likely would not get under way until after a federal election.

As Prime Minister Paul Martin gets set to chair the first meeting of his cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations today, federal officials say measures are being examined with Washington ranging from additional steps to jointly fight bio-terrorism and build cross-border infrastructure to closer co-operation in a range of economic areas. These include pharmaceutical oversight, food safety standards and e-commerce regulation.

Ottawa is also discussing ways to build on the North American free-trade agreement by more closely co-ordinating policy with Washington about trade with other countries, and by expanding the range of workers who could be employed in either country.

...

Mr. Martin has been vague about what kind of policy he intends to pursue with Washington, beyond saying he wants a more constructive relationship that avoids the backbiting that occurred toward the end of the Jean Chrétien regime. He has spoken repeatedly about increasing the range of cross-border contacts, including structured meetings of parliamentarians and Congress members.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040224.wxneighbour24/BNStory/Front/

This is very dangerous ground for Martin to tread pre-election. Canadians are extremely suspicious of the Bush regime - only 15% support in a recent poll, and nearly 70% say the US under Bush is acting like a bully - and felt a good deal of pride at how, in his last year, Chretien defied the White House. Couple this with Martin's willingness to head down the star wars road, and US-Canadian relations is likely to be one of the defining issues of the coming election. At least, the NDP will try to make it so.

And in an unrelated, yet related, story:

Halt high-speed cross-border chases, MPs urge Ottawa
by Gloria Galloway
Globe and Mail

Ottawa — The federal government is being urged by MPs in border communities to make it clear to American police that car chases into Canada will not be tolerated after the second such incident in less than a year turned deadly.

A woman was run down in Niagara Falls, Ont., last week by a suspect fleeing police who had tailed him across the border at high speeds from neighbouring Niagara Falls, N.Y. That incident occurred less than a year after plainclothes officers from the Michigan State Police surrounded a car on Canadian soil near a customs inspection station in Windsor, Ont., and arrested a suspect at gunpoint.

A few weeks after that arrest last June, a Detroit officer who was apparently trying to hide a concealed Glock pistol under his front seat during a search by Canadian customs officers at the Windsor border accidentally shot himself in the knee. He was eventually discharged from the force, but Ron Moran, the head of Canada's Customs Excise Union, said the incident is indicative of a disrespect by U.S. police for Canadian law.

"There are two different locations here where there has been a total disregard for sovereignty, so we need to have the ambassador brought in and we need to start talking about this," said Brian Masse, a New Democrat MP from Windsor. He and Joe Comartin, a fellow NDP MP, are urging a public inquiry into the cross-border violations. "There's something systemic here. There is something to be really concerned about," said Mr. Masse, who told the House of Commons yesterday that the death of Lori Bishop, 40, was "a tragedy waiting to happen."
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040224.wxborder24/BNStory/Front/

[Screaming Lord Byron]

1. 'likely would not get under way until after a federal election'

likely not be mentioned until after a federal election, they mean. This is not the way for Martin to win an election. Still, if he wants to do this, I'll gladly take it. The NDP's chances seem to wax.

[Kagemusha]

2. I saw the NY police chief on the news after this.

He was absolutely unrepentant, proud of his officers and said they'd do the same thing again. Bastard.

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. It's the unrelated/related story that makes me worry about the posted

.
.
.

story.

The USA has been quite blatant about it's disrespect for other countries, their sovereignty, their peoples, their financial problems etc., etc.

I do NOT trust the US government, nor will I trust any Canadian government that wants "closer" ties with them.

The USA has had a policy for decades to intervene in other countries affairs when it suits them, especially if it affects a major import/export market such as oil/genetically modified foods. Their tactics range from subversive maneuvers to upset governments, to blatant invasion and occupation.

The fact that we are aware of the instances mentioned above, makes it quite clear that there are many other incidents that we do NOT know of, and quite probably that US officials have taken Canadian citizens back across the border without Canada's knowledge, or simply "dealt" with them in our country.

Canadians would be foolish to assume that the US does not have an extensive spy network within Canada, as the USA's previous "infiltrations" in other countries are continually coming to light.

My personal desire is to retire to a country that the USA has no interest/trade with, ergo it be "safe". It goes without saying that this country would have no oil, no drug trade, no terrorists, or other "targets" that the USA seems to feel it is it's "Manifest Destiny" to control.

Recent developments have already made me decide to never visit the USA again, as much as I like the country and most of it's citizens. Collectively I have spent almost two years in the USA in the past, and had planned to retire there, but that is OUT of my plans now. And I am having strong doubts about remaining in Canada, as our restless neighbor appears more threatening by the day.

And if it ever happens that we get USA missiles in Canada?

- I'm outta here !

[pink_poodle]

4. My sentiments exactly! You could not have said it better..............

I really worry about Martin (or other cheap politician like him) selling us all out to America. We are sunk if this guy stays in office much longer.

[pink_poodle]

5. And Martin would know a lot about back-biting, the way...............

he brought down Cretien. Like they are all on the take anyway and Martin is probably a LOT worse than Cretien ever dreamed of being, but he has made a lot of noise for people to look the other way. However, that can only last a short time before all his dirty tricks come back to haunt him. The sooner he is gone, the better for all.

[reprehensor]

6. The Conservatives.

Watch the 'New Conservatives' in Canada. Challenge them, make sure they do not embrace Neoconservativism. If they do, North America is fucked.

Paul Martin is very much a Jr Mulroney, but empowering Neoconservatism in Canada would be the end of Canada's unique identity. Finito.

Mr Martin could probably use a new set of knee pads, he's gonna be doin' a lot of suckin'.

[Minstrel Boy]

7. we're on to them

The neo-cons of the former "Canadian Alliance" are in the final stages of effecting a somewhat hostile takeover of the late, federal Progressive Conservative Party. But even if Stephen Harper is, as is expected, chosen leader of the united right, he'll never be Prime Minister, as he's alienated Atlantic Canada and has zero appeal in Quebec.

Fortunately our choice isn't a bleak either/or, and there's an envigorated party of the left supported by one in five, that hopefully will hold a humbled Liberal Party to account after the next election.

[pink_poodle]

11. I personally thank the French here in Canada for not being..............

so conservative. They would never let a neo-con thing happen here if they could stop it somehow.

[iverglas]

14. Harper on the US

I wasn't paying complete attention to the Conservative debate the other night, but I did catch Stronach's proposal of a North American security perimeter as the solution to all our trade woes with the US.

The co-vivant was saying this morning how Harper had measured his words very carefully in response to that question. Apparently he made his concerns clear, although not specific -- that there were things that were going to have to be considered, etc.

Harper actually is no dummy, unpleasant though he seems to be. And in point of fact, he doesn't have the convergence of personal / familial / corporate interests with US corporate interests that Martin so undeniably has. You never know, if we ended up with PM Harper (not that I think this is remotely likely), we might even be better off, in terms of things like trade relations with the US, than with Martin! After all, it's the West that has been particularly screwed by illegal US tariffs and other barriers to trade, and that would likely stand to lose most in any resource grab from south of the border.

Heck, maybe we could even make a real Canadian Tory out of him eventually. ;) After all, it's not him that Mulroney is backing!

.

[gula]

8. On a lighter note

Is part of the conditions for his visit to the WH that he bring pretty boy Scott with him?

He must know that most Canadians loathe the Bushista regime and that any rapprochement could only hurt the Liberals in the next election. And more and more Canadians are waking up to the fact that even a change of government, although absolutely necessary if the world is going to survive in any reasonable shape, will have a limited impact on many aspects of our relationship, eg trade, softwood lumber did not start with Bush. The same interest groups will still be using their influence, expect the PNACers and the fundies I sincerely hope. Therefore, we will always have to tread warily no matter who is in power in Washington. IMHO the difference comes down to the use of Vaseline.

As for companies coming to Canada anybody see this: we are No. 1
http://www.competitivealternatives.com/highlights/default.asp

[pink_poodle]

13. But there are still a lot of people here who buy into all that............

American red-neck stuff and think that the USA should go kick ass around the world. Honestly - there are probably just as many percentage wise, rednecks here as there are in the US and they have absolutely NO clue whatsoever about what is going on inside the US and what the US regime is doing around the world. As long as they have beer, hockey and sex, they are in heaven.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

9. Vote NDP and let Martin govern with a minority coaltion!

This way, he cannot do too much damage with the NDP keeping him
in line.

[Lisa]

10. I personally would have no trouble ...

... "tightening" our relations with the >25% of Americans who voted for Gore, Nader, etc. in 2000 (+500,000 more than supported Bush!). There are MANY very good people in the States who share the views of Canadians, who have been speaking up on our behalf against the "freedom fries" brigade. (I haven't forgotten the support from New England during the acid rain protests of the 1980s.)

So my reluctance to support Mr. Martin is based on my distrust of George W. Bush and those who manipulate him -- not on anti-Americanism (no matter what David Frum might say!).

[pink_poodle]

12. We need to be stronger here in pointing out that Martin is................

"Bushco neo-con" friendly and what that could mean to our whole structure of life here in Canada. We must never let this happen here and this guy is just the one to sell out.