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Posted on 01/13/2003 6:21:44 PM PST by Clive
OTTAWA - The Canadian Council of Chief Executives wants to dramatically remake Canada-U.S. relations, calling for the creation of a jointly managed North American perimeter with a common approach to borders, trade, immigration, security and defence.
''What we are really talking about is totally reinventing the border. The border should no longer be seen as a demarcation line between Canada and the United States. It should simply be an internal checkpoint,'' said Tom D'Aquino, president of the CCE, which represents Canada's 150 largest corporations.
''The whole focus on our strategy is homeland security and economic security. The two things are really inseparable.''
He is expected to tomorrow propose jointly managed North American entry points to combat terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal immigration, while opening up most border crossings to the relatively free passage of goods and citizens.
Dismantling the borders would require increased co-operation with law enforcement in both countries and similar policies on travel visas, immigration and refugees.
Mr. D'Aquino, who will unveil the group's blueprint tomorrow, said there is a ''virtual certainty of further terrorist strikes on the North America homeland'' making it imperative for Canada to develop a new security and economic coalition with the U.S or risk a loss of Canadian sovereignty.
''We are not talking about doing it the American way. What we are talking about in some instances are joint institutions, shared responsibility,'' he said.
The CEOs' council is holding a conference in Toronto today and tomorrow featuring keynote speakers Paul Martin, the former finance minister and Liberal leadership front-runner, and Paul Cellucci, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
Mr. D'Aquino would not reveal specific proposals until tomorrow, but said it is also time to move beyond the North American Free Trade Agreement to form a sort of customs union with the United States and Mexico to accelerate trade and address continental security.
This would require common regulatory and administrative solutions that might be unpalatable to Congress. But Mr. D'Aquino said it need not be presented as a treaty but rather a series of initiatives that would not require congressional approval. The CCE has discussed the strategy with its U.S. and Mexican counterparts.
Mr. D'Aquino, who will unveil the group's blueprint tomorrow, said there is a ''virtual certainty of further terrorist strikes on the North America homeland'' making it imperative for Canada to develop a new security and economic coalition with the United States or risk a loss of sovereignty.
''We are not talking about doing it the American way," he said. "What we are talking about some instances are joint institutions, shared responsibility."
The CEOs' council is holding a major conference in Toronto today and tomorrow featuring keynote speakers Paul Martin, the former finance minister and Liberal leadership front-runer, and Paul Cellucci, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
Mr. D'Aquino would not reveal specific proposals until tomorrow, but said it is also time to move beyond the North American Free Trade Agreement to form a sort of customs union with the United States and Mexico to accelerate trade and address continental security.
This would require common regulatory and administrative solutions that might be unpalatable to Congress. But Mr. D'Aquino said it need not be presented as a treaty but rather a series of initiatives that would not require congressional approval. The CCE has discussed the strategy with its U.S. and Mexican counterparts.
Mr. D'Aquino said it is up to Canada to take a lead role in selling Washington on a new continental relationship, because the United States is too preoccupied with the Korean nuclear threat, the prospect of war in Iraq and global terrorism.
''We can't look to the Americans to come forward with a plan. It is our responsibility to do that just exactly what we did in the 1980s with free trade,'' he said. ''If we can do all of that, we'll end up with something that will [be] good for Canada, good for the United States and good for North America.''
Jean Chrétien, the Prime Minister, has been leery about the creation of a common perimeter, fearing a loss of Canadian sovereignty because security and economic decisions would, in some instances, be made jointly with a partner 10 times larger.
But the federal Cabinet is divided on the idea, with many ministers arguing Canada already has a perimeter with the United States in several areas, such as joint responsibility of North American defence through NORAD. Both also share the perimeter concept in pre-clearances at airports and container ships headed to North America.
Bill Graham, the Foreign Affairs Minister, has even mused about expanding North American integration beyond trade and tariffs into social policy.
A recent poll by Michael Marzolini, the Liberal party's pollster, found 66% of Canadians want even closer economic ties to the United States, with only 5% adamantly opposed.
Bugger 'internal checkpoints. That's dictator country and we don't need to start.
Bwahahha! Bwahahah!
Oh, right.
"Immigration" will destroy our health care system, "security" is laughable from the country that knowingly harbored hezbollah, and "defense" is particularly ironic from the people who fought us tooth and nail over SDI.
I seem to remember someone saying New Zeland gives more to NATO than Canada? It's been a while, so I might have that confused.. But there was some little nothing country that did far more than canada, who were basically shirking their responsibility and relying on the watch dog to the south to protect them.
I agree, completely. Once Canada agrees to become the 51st member of the United States of America...
If they don't like such an idea, than they can shut the hell up.
Eh, you Canuck hosers???
FReegards,
but i'm sure others not like-minded on this forum will have something to say.
If people coming from overseas were screened by the same personnel and according to the same criteria whether they arrives at Toronto or Atlanta or New York or Montreal, then the border checkpoints would become customs only checkpoints for those goods not exempted by free trade treaties. The flow of goods and people withing North America would be enhanced and secutity would also be enhanced. US and Canadian Immigration screening would be rationalized.
How is this article very different from what was being proposed by the White House?
Wrong Answer.
In other words, Lets see what kind of FREE STUFF we can get the Rich Americans to pay for.
Hey Canada, BITE ME!
Good objectives. Every one of them.
"How is this article very different from what was being proposed by the White House?"
It is, if anything, a little more ambitious. And that's a good idea for all concerned.
On second thought, F--k EASTERN Canada and the horse it rode in on! The only part of Canada I would EVER accept for a "North American Federation" would be the western provinces.
They haven't asked. For your acceptance, or anybody else's.
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