Posted on 02/13/2007 11:55:30 AM PST by meg88
OTTAWA - Canadian, U.S. and Mexican politicians discussed using "stealth" to overcome public resistance to the integration of the three countries at a confidential meeting last year, according to documents just released under U.S. Freedom of Information laws.
Top military brass, corporate executives and diplomats also attended the meeting in Banff, Alta., where participants discussed everything from the harmonization of food and drug standards, to common immigration policies, and the pooling of energy resources.
The secret guest list of the North American Forum included then-U.S. secretary of defence Donald Rumsfeld, Canadian Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day, Pengrowth Corp. CEO James Kinnear and Lockheed Martin executive Ron Covais.
Presentation outlines for the forum acknowledge that the concept of North American integration - which some call a "North American Union" - is unpopular, and note that it might be tough to sell as a concept.
"While a vision is appealing, working on the infrastructure might yield more benefit and bring more people on board ('evolution by stealth')," the notes said.
"Evolution by stealth" means using regulatory changes, such as food- and drug-safety benchmarks, which don't require parliamentary approval, to lay the infrastructure for North American integration. This allows for change with little or no public debate, critics say.
Media were excluded from the September forum, and Day, who gave a speech at the event, declined to reveal the contents of his talk.
"It was meant as a private meeting," said Melisa Leclerc, a spokeswoman from Day's office, although she conceded he attended "in his capacity as minister for public security."
"It is not encouraging to see the phrase 'evolution by stealth' in reference to important policy debates such as North American integration," said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a Washington-based conservative watchdog group that obtained the documents last week.
But, former finance minister John Manley, who attended the meeting, said the forum was "not part of a nefarious plan to yield sovereignty to the U.S. .... It was just some informed private citizens and government officials having a conversation" on how best to co-operate to ensure their citizens enjoyed a safe and prosperous future.
In fact, he said, Canada comes out stronger than ever from such meetings, which force "some senior American officials to think about Canada for a few days."
However, Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians said the reference to stealth is "a very telling and important statement."
Many of the politicians who attended the forum have been pursuing "integration by stealth" for the past two years, she said, pointing to a little-known but top-priority agreement called the Security and Prosperity Partnership.
The accord, kickstarted by U.S. President George W. Bush, then-prime minister Paul Martin and former Mexican president Vicente Fox at a 2005 meeting in Waco, Texas, is designed to streamline everything from food and drug safety standards to counter-terrorism measures
Government officials from the three countries are expected to meet in Ottawa later this month. However, Foreign Affairs spokespeople said they did not yet know when it would be held or who would attend.
The partnership's stated goal is to protect North America from security threats such as terrorism and flu pandemics as well as economic threats from new global-market giants such as China.
Many of the accord's measures are not contentious, such as plans to improve water quality, reduce sulphur in fuels, and co-ordinate efforts to fight pandemics and avian flu. But it also covers a host of hot-button issues such as plans to enhance data-sharing on high-risk travellers, revamp safety and environmental regulations, centralize the assessment of new chemicals and rework food safety standards.
Most of the 300 policy recommendations within the accord may not require legislative changes, the Council of Canadians said.
Ottawa Citizen
Most of the 300 policy recommendations within the accord may not require legislative changes, the Council of Canadians said.
In other words, noone except the people on the commission have any say in what they are planning.
Scary stuff.
yikes, more globaloney
Not surprised...
I guess as long as we annex them and they conform to our rule of law...
i.e.: our bill of rights (every single one of them, without amendment)
What will stop this from happening anyway???
Well, I guess the experiment ran long enough...230 years was a pretty good run...
Now now, you can't post stuff like this. It's not happening, we're simply strengthening current alliances.
MUCH smarter people than you and I on this board will soon tell you that you are a conspiracy nut and this is nothing to worry about, just go back to sleep and let uncle sugar take care of you.
After the cold war, the powers that be realized that third world countries in the western hemisphere had to be improved, one way or another in order to prevent future wars and communism. Shipping US manufacturing below the border (NAFTA and CAFTA), didn't work, so they decided to try integration -- cheaper than invasion. The prevailing mindset seems to be that there's something in the air or water that makes Americans hardworking and successful. It will rub off on immigrants, so if they go home, they'll teach their countrymen. Pity we weren't asked if we wanted to do this. A public debate is necessary.
Do you even know what NASCO is?
My point exactly
Judicial Watch Releases Pentagon Records from “North American Forum” Meetings
Defense Secretary, Senior Military and Staff Met with Mexican & Canadian Officials over “Continental Prosperity in the New Security Environment”
(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released documents obtained November 2006 under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) from U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). The documents concern the participation of NORTHCOM Commander, Admiral Timothy Keating, NORTHCOM Political Advisor Deborah Bolton, and Plans, Policy & Strategy Director Major General Mark Volcheff in a meeting of the “North American Forum” at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Canada on September 12-14, 2006. A similar request for records concerning forum participation by then-Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and his entourage is still pending with the Pentagon.
The records include: 1) Proposed comments for Admiral Keating’s speech to the North American Forum; 2) Presentation outlines with handwritten marginal notes and comments from Ms. Bolton; 3) Policy papers; 4) Biographic sketches of participants; and, 5) Notes from Major General Volcheff.
The North American Forum presentations discussed immigration and border enforcement; full economic and energy integration including infrastructure and transportation; a North American investment fund; and common customs and duties. The idea of a carbon tax was raised as a means to combat so-called global warming. References to the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) occur throughout the documents.
The notes for the presentations document the need to overcome popular opposition to North American integration: “To what degree does a concept of North America help/hinder solving problems between the three countries?…While a vision is appealing working on the infrastructure might yield more benefit and bring more people on board (‘evolution by stealth’).”
“It is not encouraging to see the phrase ‘evolution by stealth’ in reference to important policy debates such as North American integration and cooperation,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “These documents provide more information to Americans concerned about the Security and Prosperity Partnership. The more transparency, the better.”
http://www.judicialwatch.org/6123.shtml
I wonder what is the chance of Judical Watch getting Rummy's notes from that meeting, lol?
ping
I don;t see how you can get any say so in those "townhall" meetings anyway...
If you get mad and start cussin' at them for pressing ahead with this you are labled a kook, and a trouble maker etc etc...
The days of revolution and revolt both at the ballot box and other more colorful methods are long gone...
We voted ourselves into this corner, and there is no way out...
There are people like Rick Perry who are tasked with creating this atmosphere, and will fall on their political swords at the absolutel last second to make sure everything still moves forward on this agenda...
Like I said, 230 years was a pretty good run...
Would be nice if SOMEONE got them and plastered them all over the Internet.
Maybe we could setup a reward for them eh? :)
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