Baird promises Canadian sovereignty ‘will not be compromised’ by border deal

TORONTO — Canadian businesses are pushing for greater security and economic integration with the United States while individual citizens caution against losing privacy and police independence, the government reported Monday.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird presented two reports on the government’s consultations with Canadians, promised in February after Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister, and U.S. President Barack Obama signed a declaration on integrating security and harmonizing trade rules.

“Improving the movement of goods and people across the border was the number one priority for Canada’s business, industry and trade sector,” the reports say.

“When it came to integrated cross-border law enforcement, there was more interest from individual Canadians than from groups and associations. Many of the submissions from individuals expressed concerns regarding joint law enforcement measures between the two countries.”

Ten years after the 9/11 terror attacks, the two governments are still seeking a better balance at the border, protecting against terrorists and criminals while easing the flow of cross-border traffic for goods and visitors.

The Canadian government separated the issues into two reports, one addressing perimeter security and economic competitiveness and the other regulatory co-operation.

The reports summarize input from consultations throughout the spring and summer with more than 1,000 citizens, including other levels of government, business groups, organized labour, academics and think-tanks.

“Canadians recently gave our government a strong mandate to focus on the economy and secure Canada’s recovery,” Mr. Baird said. “Speeding up legitimate trade and travel between Canada and the U.S. is important in that regard.”

Mr. Baird said the input will help the government develop a border policy.

Appreciation for the push was expressed by several business and trade groups invited to the government’s announcement.

David Goldstein, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, said restrictions have devastated trade in some sectors and frustrated travellers.

“We’re never going to get back to the same pre-9/11 situation but we can get as close as possible to it,” he said. “It is easier to get a box of cherries from California across the border than it is to get a Californian across.”

Mark Nantais, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, said: “Harmonizing regulations and standards make great sense.”

Some concern over what must be given up to obtain smoother trade remain, however. Critics fear the Canadian government, eager to get concessions on cross-border trade, will make too many concessions to the Americans on security-related issues such as immigration, policing and the privacy of Canadians, although none of the groups voicing it were on hand at the announcement.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association expressed concern over cross-border law enforcement, fearing it might fall short of Canadian policing standards and Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It called for independent oversight of joint enforcement as a safeguard.

Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada, called for the government to ensure the highest level of privacy protection be applied to cross-border law enforcement activities.

The fact that Monday’s announcement was only to release a summary of input that will help the government map out an action plan towards enacting a joint border policy demonstrates the difficulty in bringing real change.

In a declaration signed in February at the White House, Mr. Harper and Mr. Obama committed the Canadian and U.S. governments to broad-based talks aimed at integrating continental security and harmonizing trade rules.

Since then, officials from the two countries have been working on the details.

“This report is the beginning of the process, not the end,” the report says.

Opening the border — physically and regulatorily — faces stern challenges in both countries.

In the United States, security concerns feed a mistrust of Canada while in Canada, there are fears that sovereignty is at risk from its much stronger neighbour.

“Our sovereignty cannot and will not be compromised,” Mr. Baird said.

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Source: National Post