LINKS Sept. 14, 2011

BORDER

Detroit bridge owner gets Koch help [Bloomberg]

More secure passports coming next year [CP]

US federal prosecutors discuss northern border issues [WSJ]

Holder: Officers from US, Canada will work on cross-border investigations [AP]

Harper, Obama to give details of border security deal [Postmedia News]

Much good has come from tightened border security [Peace Arch News]

TRADE/ECONOMY

Ottawa says it will fight Buy American measures [Toronto Star]

US envoy says trade with Canada is top issue [AP]

Canadians anxious about Buy American provisions in Obama’s jobs bill [CP]

Geithner: Economy in an early stage of crisis [Real Clear Politics]

Obama declares ‘national emergency’ for jobs [Politico]

Strong Cdn dollar not only reason for shopping in US [CBC]

Weak job market has Canadians looking north [Postmedia News]

US media juggernaut still a threat to Canada [Troy Media News]

Cdn doctors still make dramatically less than US counterparts: study [National Post]

DIPLOMACY

Doer says he won’t run for NDP leadership [Toronto Star]

MILITARY

Canada to extend Libya mission by 3 months [CTV]

Canadian companies will benefit from military intervention: Libyan official [Postmedia News]

NATO balks at Libya nation-building, policing [AP]

ENERGY

Oliver stumps for Keystone pipeline in California [CP]

Peter Lougheed opposes Keystone pipeline [CBC]

Yedlin: Lougheed comment sparks pipeline debate [Calgary Herald]

Oil patch steams ahead [Financial Post]

Tar-sands showdown [Wired]

10 reasons why the Keystone pipeline will be built [National Review]

Over 1,200 Keystone protesters arrested [Living on Earth]

***
Twitter/luizachsavage

Category: Today's Links

LINKS Sept. 7, 2011

BORDER

Border agent says there’s nothing to do, money is being wasted [CNN]

Canada dropped $92-billion on security post-9/11 [Postmedia News]

Canadian trucker admits smuggling cocaine from US [AP]

Tragedy forged new reality [CP]

Schumer calls on Feds to move ahead with joint border crossing [newzjunky.com]

Hampson: 9/11 and the Remaking of Canada [iPolitics.ca]

Robertson: The border: The bygone days of ‘pass friend’ [Embassy mag]

After 9/11, border patrol doubles, fewer tourists cross border, more criminals caught [Detroit Free Press]

More Canadian manufacturers encountering difficulty as they try to cross into the US [NB Business Journal]

Georgia man stays in jail after border child porn bust [Winnipeg Sun]

TRADE/ECONOMY

Flaherty wants probe into ‘irritating’ US-Canada price gaps [Postmedia News]

How Canadians get access to US-only deals [Globe and Mail]

Is the US ready for Little Mosque on the Prairie [BBC]

Canadian dealers get ‘carve out’ from US regulations [Financial Post]

MILITARY

Lt. Gen. Bouchard assesses NATO’s mission in Libya [NPR]

Plan would keep small force in Iraq past deadline [NY Times]

ENERGY

Sen. Johannes, second prominent Nebraska Republican opposes Keystone pipeline [Des Moines Register]

Study: Tar sands oil will reach US sans pipeline [Forbes]

Oil sands need US workers: Alberta minister [Bloomberg]

Dalai Lama joins Keystone pipeline opponents [Calgary Sun]

McKibben: What comes next for oil sands action [grist.org]

Nobel Laureates urge Obama to reject pipeline [Huffington Post]

Canada minister ‘increasingly optimistic’ about Keystone approval [Dow Jones]

Cdn ambassador confident pipeline will be approved for jobs [Postmedia News]

Oil-funded study: more drilling would add 1.4 million jobs [Reuters]

Are Canadians growing apathetic about the oil sands? [Huffington Post]

Keystone XL benefactor to send oil overseas [Michigan Messenger]

Letter to Oprah Winfrey on ‘ethical oil’ ads [rabble.ca]

***

Twitter/luizachsavage

Category: Today's Links

Foes praise Mar’s lobbying skill

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Gary Mar recently left his job as Alberta’s envoy to DC to run for the leadership of the Alberta Conservatives. In a piece critical of his lobbying message, his skills as a lobbyist are nonetheless praised. The BC-publication, the Tyee, has been running a detailed series on the oil sands issue in Washington, DC. From the...

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Harper government defeated; election cycle kicks off

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C-SPAN is broadcasting CBC feed. The vote was 156-145. Here is the Globe and Mail’s report. On CBC: “Harper government becomes the only government voted down in Parliament because majority of MPs felt government was in contempt of Parliament” — Peter Mansbridge. Background from CBC here: “I have to inform the House that the Official...

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Canadian to lead NATO in Libya

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  Lee-Anne Goodman of CP reports: A senior White House official says a Canadian will take over command of the NATO mission in Libya. The official says Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, stationed in Naples, has been designated by NATO as head of the alliance’s military campaign in Libya. Lt.-Gen. Bouchard will work with “his naval...

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US Farmers move against Keystone XL

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At their convention in San Antonio, Texas last week, the National Farmers’ Union passed a resolution adopting a new pipeline policy in response to concerns in Nebraska about TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Expect the group and other state groups to weigh in with the US State Department against the pipeline, and to put...

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US groups seek injunction against oil sands shipments

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From Tony Iallonardo of the the National Wildlife Federation: “Next week, western groups are expected to seek a court injunction to stop the haul of massive tar sands mining equipment through sensitive areas.  They say the Montana Department of Transportation did not adequately account for environmental impacts that moving mega-loads of equipment from South...

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New bridge would bring $1.8 billion to Detroit-Windsor: Beatty

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Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, will give this speech today to the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, promoting the proposed International Trade Crossing. More coverage here. (Per prepared remarks:) The Ambassador Bridge, all by itself, is the largest bi-national trade corridor on earth. This 82-year-old bridge links highly integrated sectors like...

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25 US mayors ask Clinton for more study of Keystone XL

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Mayors of 25 US cities wrote to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today asking for thorough review of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline’s impact on cities’ clean energy plans: Dear Madame Secretary, We write you today as local government leaders who are gravely concerned about the prospect of expanded imports of tar sands oil...

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Canada-US relations conference opens: webcast available

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    The McGill Institute for the study of Canada is hosting a major conference on Canada-US relations Thursday and Friday. You can access a live webcast on their website. Below is the list of speakers: THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011 (Hotel Omni Mont-Royal) 3:00 p.m. REGISTRATION 4:00 p.m. WORDS OF WELCOME MASTER OF CEREMONIES...

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Obama comments on Libya in El Salvador

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An excerpt from the transcript of the press conference with President Funes at the National Palace in San Salvador, El Salvador. *** MR. CARNEY:  The first question from the White House Press Corps will be from Juliana Goldberg of Bloomberg.   Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you, President Funes. Mr. President, on Libya,...

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White House comments on NATO role in Libya

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THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release                           March 22, 2011     PRESS GAGGLE BY PRESS SECRETARY JAY CARNEY AND DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY...

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A different kind of dirty in the oil sands

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Oh my. Stewardship of Alberta oil sands must remain free of controversy: Paula Simons

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Transcripts of White House briefings on Libya

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[Note: The subject of Libya comes up a quarter of the way down the text. Also, this exchange stood out to me: Q    Ben, do you agree that the need to protect civilians lasts as long as Qaddafi is in power? MR. RHODES:  The need to protect civilians lasts as long as civilians are...

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Michigan governor to unveil legislation for Detroit River crossing

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The effort to build a new bridge at North America’s busiest trade crossing continues. So reports the Windsor Star: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is set to roll out legislation that calls for approval of a Windsor-Detroit downriver bridge within the next two weeks, his office said on Monday. (…) “We are working on language...

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Obama’s remarks on Libya

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Below are the Libya-related excerpts from President Obama’s press conference with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera at La Moneda Palace in Santiago, Chile on Monday at 3:18 pm CT. Q:    Mr. President, Senor Presidente, muchas gracias.  Sir, how do you square your position that Colonel Qaddafi has lost legitimacy and must go against the...

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Text of National Security Advisor’s briefing on Libya

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  THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release                           March 20, 2011     PRESS BRIEFING BY PRESS SECRETARY JAY CARNEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TOM DONILON, AND DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS BEN RHODES ON THE SITUATION IN LIBYA   Press Filing Center Windsor Barra Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...

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Text of Obama letter to Congress on Libya

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President Obama, who is traveling in Latin America today, is being criticized by some lawmakers and others for not consulting Congress not getting Congressional approval before launching attacks on Libya. Today he responded with this letter:   THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release March 21, 2011 TEXT OF A LETTER FROM...

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New border “Operational Integration Center” opens Thursday

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Note: Here is how Rep. Miller described the new center at a committee hearing last week: “The Operational Integration Center, just for the committee to understand, is, again, it’s essentially all of the various stakeholders in that sector, including our Canadian counterparts, state police, local first responders, Air and Marine, the Customs and Border...

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Obama’s remarks on Libya

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THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release                             March 18, 2011     REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE SITUATION IN LIBYA   East Room   2:22 P.M. EDT     THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I want to take this opportunity to update the American people about the situation in Libya. ...

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James Cameron takes on the oil sands

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His new documentary is screening in Venice, California this evening: It’s called the Tipping Point: The Age of the Oil Sands. LAist reports: Cameron’s documentary explores the struggle between the Fort Chipewyan community and the industry exploiting the profits of the Alberta Tar Sands. Directly downstream of the toxic sands, Fort Chipewyan’s residents suffer respiratory...

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USA Today backs Keystone XL oil sands pipeline

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The newspapers’ editorialists write: The State Department — which has the lead because the proposed line would cross an international border —said this week that it would postpone its decision to allow further environmental review. Why? The Keystone expansion would provide an extra 500,000 barrels of oil a day from a secure ally and neighbor,...

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