LINKS Feb. 18, 2011

Updated 3:44 pm EST

TRADE

Congressmen urge ‘freight fee’ on Canadian imports to pay for US roads [Postmedia News]

Saskatchewan sees no lack of suitors [Financial Post]

BORDER

Travel fees: Obama’s regressive idea [Windsor Star]

US entry fees on Canadians creates uproar [Economic Times]

Obama proposes fee for Canadian visitors in draft US budget [Fairport-East Rochester Post, NY]

Close to 200 people show up for Border Patrol meeting [Blaine, Washington]

Flight fee “ruffles feathers” north of the border [CP]

BC tourism minister weighs in on fee proposal [CKNW Victoria]

Canadians face new US border fee [Toronto Star]

Harper slams US travel fee, say not conducive to economic recovery [Postmedia News]

PM frowns on proposed US travel fee [Globe and Mail]

ENERGY

State Dept. reverses FOIA refusal on Keystone XL [Michigan Messenger]

Pipeline safety, corrosion issues take spotlight in Keystone XL debate [Reuters]

Pipeline opponents take fight to Austin [KYTX - Texas]

Labor, industry oppose bill aimed at mega-loads [Great Falls Tribune - Montana]

Tar sands apologists admit not reading pipeline safety report before slamming it [NRDC.org]

Pipeline Safety Trust reports on transport risks of oils sands crude [Oil & Gas Journal]

The viability of Keystone XL [The energy collective]

SHOUT-OUT

Boston Globe mentions Bilateralist.com [BostonGlobe.com]

Harper’s travel fee comments ‘shrewd’: Boston Globe

February 18, 2011
By Luiza Ch. Savage

At the Boston Globe’s blog, The Angle, Alan Wirzbicki makes a good point about Stephen Harper’s comments on the proposed $5.50 travel fee on visitors to the US from Canada who arrive by air and sea:

Reading between the lines, though, Harper’s statements seem to reflect a shrewd understanding of American politics after the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives. Rather than just opposing the plan, he characterized it as a new tax.

And, as Harper probably knows, that is the magic word du jour, since Republicans have renounced taxes on principle — even, Harper must be hoping, taxes on Canadians.

Harper’s comments, as quoted by PostMedia News:

While he called America’s trillion-dollar-a-year deficit a “horrendous” budgetary situation, Harper noted travel levies run counter to economic recovery efforts.

“We want to ensure trade and travel between our two countries is easier, not more difficult, and we don’t need additional taxes on that kind of economic activity,” he said. “And that’s one of the reasons why this government has been very clear that it’s not raising taxes in the upcoming federal budget.”

After all, Congress controls the purse strings – not Obama.

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You can follow me on Twitter at luizachsavage

(Cross-posted from Savage Washington at Macleans.ca)

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