SOCIALIST REPELLANT
Posted on 10/24/2005 2:03:44 PM PDT by proud_yank
The United States has an obligation to help work toward stemming the flow of illegal guns into this country, Prime Minister Paul Martin said Monday.
Speaking with reporters in Ottawa, Mr. Martin said the gun issue will be among those on the agenda — alongside softwood lumber and passport requirements — when he meets with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Ms. Rice is in Ottawa on Monday and Tuesday for meetings with Canadian officials. It is her first official visit to this country. A visit in April was cancelled, reportedly because of Canada's decision not to participate in the missile defence plan.
She is scheduled to meet Mr. Martin later Monday.
"The Americans ask us to do things in terms of the border, and the security at the border is important for Canada," Mr. Martin said.
While Canada is ready to work toward a secure border between the two countries, Mr. Martin said, the United States also needs to take action to ensure that illegal guns do not make their way across the border into this country.
"They are asking us to make sure that certain things don't enter their country," he said. "We feel the same way about products coming in from their country. They have a responsibility."
This country's concern about the gun trade has been highlighted by a string of highly publicized shootings in Canada's biggest city, where the number of gun-related homicides hit a record level on the weekend. So far, Toronto has seen 64 homicides this year, a record 44 of those involved guns.
Mr. Martin said Monday that discussions with law-enforcement officials across the country continue to point to the flow of illegal weapons from the United States as a key concern.
"The police associations and the chiefs of police associations are telling us that up to 50 per cent of crimes involving firearms, involve firearms that come from the United States — usually in an illegal fashion," Mr. Martin said. "Obviously we have to work together."
Among the U.S. initiatives is a security plan that will require all Canadians, by 2008, to carry passports when they enter the United States. Americans will also require passports to re-enter their country. Some legislators on both sides of the border have questioned the plan, complaining that it will interfere with trade and travel between the two countries.
Mr. Martin, who vowed when he came to office to improve relations with Washington, insisted Monday that Canada continues to enjoy a "good" relationship with the United States. He pointed to the White House's support for efforts earlier this year to reopen the U.S. border to Canadian beef imports.
"But good relations with the United States does not mean that the prime minister of the country should not defend Canada," he said.
"Good relations with the United States does not mean that the Canadian government should not look to the broader horizon when it looks to Canada's interests."
For example, he said, effort to boost trade with India and China should not be viewed as an "anti-American position."
"That says we are a major exporting nation, we will not have all of the eggs in one basket," he said.
"We will seek out markets where we can increase the value-added of whatever it is we're exporting to the maximum amount possible and we can provide Canadians to a higher standard of living."
On the softwood issue, Mr. Martin also insisted that Canada will not back down on a North American free-trade panel ruling that ordered the United States to pay back billions of dollars in duties it had collected on lumber.
"That is not negotiable," he said.
"We are not going to begin with a negotiation on a win. We won that, and we will pursue our course of action in the courts, if necessary, although we certainly should not have to."
As far as any other elements of the softwood trade dispute, Mr. Martin suggested Canada is still willing to work with the United States to reach a resolution. He added, however, that such a move would also require "a sign" from the United States that it intends to live up to its end of the NAFTA agreement.
"We will be looking for that sign," he said.
In terms of the domestic situation, Mr. Martin also said he plans to meet with NDP Leader Jack Layton later in the week but insisted the discussion won't centre on trying to line up support for the minority Liberals during the fall sitting of Parliament.
Last spring, Mr. Martin's government was able to survive a crucial confidence vote, in part because of the support of the NDP.
"This is not a question of giving or bargaining," Mr. Martin said.
"It is a question of what can we do to make Parliament work. There will be an election. Until such time as there is an election, I think what Canadians want is in fact that the Parliament work and that we make progress." Latest Comments in the Conversation
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Dan Baril from Oakville, Canada writes: "The police associations and the chiefs of police associations are telling us that up to 50 per cent of crimes involving firearms, involve firearms that come from the United States - usually in an illegal fashion..." --- Out of curiosity what about those using the guns...where do they come from and how did they get here?Or, do the answers to these types of questions lead to "profiling" which we can't do because it's politically incorrect?
Posted Oct. 24, 2005 at 2:43 PM EDT Link to Comment kris nanda from ottawa, Canada writes:
Hopefully Climate Change will come up in the discussion and the importance of weaning North Americans from their dependence on fossil fuel -- the recent spate of severe hurricanes this year are just a foretaste of what will come if the US does not take stronger action on climate change.
Posted Oct. 24, 2005 at 2:48 PM EDT Link to Comment Jennifer Forsyth from Fort Nelson, Canada writes:
I think Martin deserves a round of applause for what he is trying to accomplish. It's about time we stopped being so soft with the Americans.
Posted Oct. 24, 2005 at 2:50 PM EDT Link to Comment marjorie carey from surrey, Canada writes: So much for GUN REGISTRY,what a tax grab that is, and a big money waster and another government dept. to spend our hard earned money to supportwith big salaries and bigger pensions and severances.How many more ways can the government think of to WASTE MONEY.
Posted Oct. 24, 2005 at 2:53 PM EDT Link to Comment Morris Dancer from Toronto, Canada writes:
The US has no motivation for stemming the supply of arms into Canada...unless they were european made weapons, then they would be all over it...gotta protect your markets don't ya know.........
The Canada Border Services Agency says it has intercepted 318 guns so far in 2005, below the more than 1,000 seized guns that border guards have averaged annually during the past five years, and far fewer than the 1,500 seized annually in the 1990s.
From the same Socialist Rag
Despite the decline, we are still helping to do something about it!
Ontario politicians, fearing a public backlash over the increased gunplay on Toronto's streets, have attempted to shift the blame south of the border......
U.S. agents are helping with Canadian investigations, are using their technology to trace guns and track bullets, and have offered high-tech tools to the RCMP.
The U.S. is also opening a small office of its Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agency in Toronto.
Yet again, from the same Socialist Rag, the 'Moap and Wail"
And I love the comments about Climate Control. Canada has not passed One, single piece of legislation to implement The Kyoto 'Send your business to China, and re-distribute wealth' Accord. Not one.
Google: "Asia/Pacific Climate Pact"
Google: "C. Hagel AND Climate AND Legislation AND Senate"
Also, for inquiring minds that would like to know...
Google: "Big Lie"
Google: "Sun AND Temperature AND Increasing"
Google: "Mars AND Temperature AND Increasing"
Cut off the border.
Patrol your own border. We're not under any obligation to do it for you.
Always nice to hear from you, Canada. Now go away.
I would like to be the first to tell Mr. Martin to go eff himself.
Excellent point!
I think that is a fair request. I would like to know how many weapons used in crimes in Canada were smuggled north, vs. stolen, legally purchased, etc.
Why? We ask the Mexicans to police their border. (They do - to help the illegals across... oh, well.)
if it were actually true, sure. Read #1.
Those quotes were taken from previous articles from the same garbage commie rag: the Globe and Mail. This is nothing but trying to brew up campaign capital to stay in power and he knows it. "I'm gonna be a big boy and stand up to the Evil US.
The #'s of guns crossing illegally has declined drastically, and the ATF has established an office in Ontario. What more does this weiner want?
The Canada Border Services Agency says it has intercepted 318 guns so far in 2005, below the more than 1,000 seized guns that border guards have averaged annually during the past five years, and far fewer than the 1,500 seized annually in the 1990s.
From the G&M, linked in post #1
Sounds like they are either getting better at smuggling, or that the market is saturated. The need to check the street price. But I want to know how many smuggled weapons were actually used by criminals in shoot outs....
It's not the responsibility of the US to prevent guns from going into Canada; that is the responsibility of Canadian customs. Just as Canada is not responsible for unlicensed hockey sticks or toques coming across our border.
Chardonny swillin', tofu fartin', whinny, liberal, bass-tards!
Too damn bad that they are not half as concerned with stopping illegal ALIENS.
Kind'a like the AIDS tainted blood scandal? Bugger off, as y'all might say, and close the bloody border.
Last week they were threating to sell their oil that they sell to the US to china. Like I said previously they are treading on dangerous ground here. Anything to stick it in the eye of the US is their policy, and millions of other Americans including myself are getting bloody tired of it. Most everyone from Canada always comes on here and makes excuses and apologies for the canadian government well do something more than whine about it, take back your damned country and stop spitting on the US at every turn. God help you all if you threaten the national security of north america.If one day chinese forces are deployed in North America then its time to act.
/rant off
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