LINKS March 14, 2011

BORDER

Public consultations to begin on proposed Cnaada-US border deal [Posmedia News]

Better border vital to business, ministers says [QMI]

Canadians asked for plan to improve border with US [CTV News]

Canadians asked to weigh in on border security [Toronto Sun]

Stranded in the US… While trying to get into the US [Grand Forks Herald]

Live carp smuggled into Canada [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

Big changes in store for two border crossings [Leader Post]

Schumer fights for border radar to combat drug smuggling [WCAX - NY]

A new border security program in place – fighting drugs from the north [Daily News Pulse]

DIPLOMACY

Gary Mar has two new advantages as he prepares to enter Alberta Conservative leadership races [rabble.ca]

State Department spokesman quits after criticizing WikiLeaks suspect’s treatment [Washington Post]

Clinton leaves for revolution tour focused on Libya, Egypt, Tunisia [Radio Free Europe]

Clinton urges reform in post-revolt Egypt, Tunisia [AP]

Slaughter: Fiddling while Libya burns [NY Times]

Arab League asks UN for no-fly zone over Libya [Washington Post]

UK and US hail Arab League call for no-fly zone over Libya [Irish Times]

Canada Center opens [AP]

Ivison: Stockwell Day deserves to be remembered [National Post]

Will Wisconsin’s chill on labour move north? [Globe and Mail]

 

TRADE/INVESTMENT

Insights gained on cross-border visits [Buffalo News]

Company threatens to leave Canada over immigration headache [Toronto Sun]

Can-Am Days begin today [Myrtle Beach News]

‘Perfect storm’ for buying US real estates: realtor [Financial Post]

Erie gets a big boost from Up North [Goerie.com]

 

ENERGY

Crude matters to Hollywood: James Cameron backs anti-oil sands documentary [Variety]

Work on Keystone XL oil pipeline infrastructure delayed [AP]

Pipeline power line delayed [Columbus Telegram]

Letter: Support Keystone XL pipeline [Lincoln Journal Star - Nebraska]

If gas prices go up further, blame Canada [Star Tribune]

US nuclear industry faces new uncertainty [NY Times]

Letter: find alternatives to the oil sands [Victoria Times Colonist]

Letter: Canadian oil means jobs, energy security for US [Indystar.com]

Alberta appoints panel for carbon capture review [Calgary Herald]

How oil makes Canada four (or five) different countries [Toronto Star]

CAPP supports robust monitoring in oil sands region [CNW]

 

MILITARY

Canadian Afghan legacy unclear [QMI]

NATO ministers approve six Afghan regions for handover to Afghan [allvoices.com]

 

***

You can follow me on Twitter at luizachsavage

LINKS March 11, 2011

Updated 8:45 am HAWAII-ALEUTIAN STANDARD TIME

 

BORDER

US-Canada unveil joint assessment to combat terrorism threats [BNO News]

US-Canada tourism partners examine border issues [AP]

 

TRADE

Trade surplus points to stronger recovery [Globe and Mail]

Canada’s foreign trade returned to mediocrity in January [Journal of Commerce]

Attracting new visitors goal of two-day tourism conference [The Standard - St. Catherine's, Ont.]

DIPLOMACY

Today is ‘Canada Day’ at North Dakota State Capitol [PR Newswire]

CRIME

Winnipeg man faces drug conspiracy charges [CBC]

ENERGY

Idaho Rivers United files lawsuit over megaloads [KLEWTV Idaho]

Build on Oil Ties [Windsor Star]

***

You can follow me on Twitter at luizachsavage

Myths about Canada-US relations

March 8, 2011
By Luiza Ch. Savage

In a new piece for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a Canadian think tank, Chris Sands of the Hudson Institute highlights several “myths” about the current state of Canada-US relations.

Myth #1, he writes:

• Myth: That Canada is negotiating a new perimeter accord with the United States, and since the United States wants this badly, Canada is in an excellent bargaining position. Facts to consider: There is a de facto perimeter in place today, and the Harper government is hoping to exchange cooperation on entry-exit records to make up for the damage done to Canadian interests when the Chrétien government recoiled at the Bush administration’s offer of a perimeter strategy in 2001. When Canada said no to the perimeter approach in 2001, it forced the United States to invest billions of dollars in upgrading neglected border defenses, and these became the inner ring of a series of concentric cordons protecting U.S. citizens following the September 11 terror attacks. The sunk costs in infrastructure, equipment and new personnel at the U.S.-Canadian border are not going to be negotiated away easily now, and the Obama administration has indicated a willingness to discuss greater efficiency in border operations through such things as data sharing. The “thinning” of the border through a reduction in U.S. security requirements for Canadians or a return to pre-Bush border norms is not on offer.

More myths and the rest of the paper is here:

Myths and Superstitions by Chris Sands

***

You can follow me on Twitter at luizachsavage

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Canada, Canadian, USA, US, U.S., United States, Luiza Savage, Luiza Ch. Savage, Bilateral, Bilateralist, NAFTA, NORAD, border, trade, Ottawa, Washington, oil sands, tar sands, Harper, Obama, Maclean's, Gary Mar, Gary Doer, David Jacobson, Canadian Embassy, perimeter security, North American Union, Keystone XL, diplomacy, foreign policy, northern border, Canadian border, cross-border, Candice Miller, Chris Sands