"Beyond the Border" Update Dana Gabriel: "The End of Canada's Soverignty as a nation state ? Ref to trade corridor

By Dana Gabriel. " Over the past several months, the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border action
plan has taken significant steps forward. This includes efforts to modernize and expand
infrastructure at key land ports. In a move that went largely unnoticed, both countries also
recently agreed on a statement of privacy principles that will guide information sharing across
the border. Meanwhile, a separate joint initiative has been announced which addresses
energy and environmental issues.".

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper launched the U.S.-Canada
Clean Energy Dialogue (CED) in 2009 to promote new ways to reduce greenhouse gases
and combat climate change. The CED Action Plan II released last month, outlines the next
phase of activities both countries will undertake. This includes continued work on carbon
capture and storage, as well as integrating the electricity grid. In a press statement, Canada's
Minister of the Environment Peter Kent explained that the CED, "strengthens our efforts to
collaborate on innovative clean energy solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

He also commented on how "It is our hope that the transformation of our economies and our
joint work will identify clean energy solutions that will contribute to making sustainable energy
a reality for all." Whether real or exaggerated, environmental issues are also advancing North
American integration. If you look at some of the words being used and the goals being
pushed, they are tied to Agenda 21. Under the guise of protecting the environment, many
solutions being offered are in the form of more taxes and control over our lives.

In June, Canada reached an agreement with the State of Michigan to build a second bridge
between Windsor and Detroit which is one of North America's busiest land crossings. A press
release described how, "The new Detroit River International Crossing will facilitate the
movement of people and goods between Canada and the U.S. by ensuring that there is
sufficient border crossing capacity to handle projected growth in cross-border trade and
traffic." It goes on to say that the, "announcement demonstrates that the Government of
Canada is working to advance the goals of the Action Plan on Perimeter Security and
Economic Competitiveness." During a speech, Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the new
bridge, "an investment in the future of the North American economy, of North American trade
and of North American manufacturing." With the existing Ambassador Bridge being privately
owned, motivation for the project is largely based on being able to further control border trade
and traffic in the region. It is also part of the necessary transportation infrastructure needed
for a trade corridor that would span from Windsor, Ontario to southern Mexico.

The U.S. and Canada recently issued a Statement of Privacy Principles that will shape
information sharing arrangements under the perimeter security deal. The charter covers
areas such as oversight, accountability, redress, retention, data quality and information
security. Attorney General Eric Holder acknowledged in a Department of Justice news
release that "These privacy principles reflect the shared commitment of the United States
and Canada to implement our Beyond the Border Action Plan." The Freedom of Information
and Privacy Association warned that, "What the government just announced will certainly
provide more access to Canadians personal information to the U.S. and other governments."
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association have also voiced concerns on privacy safeguard
provisions that were not included which, "may permit the lowest standard between the two
countries to prevail." Ever since the perimeter security action plan was first unveiled in
November 2011, there have been fears associated with personal data collected and
exchanged at the border. This latest announcement has done little to ease these worries with
respect to privacy rights and civil liberties.

As part of their commitment under the Beyond the Border agreement, both countries have
also announced the establishment of Joint Port Operations Committees at eight Canadian
airports that offer U.S. pre-clearance service. The move is designed to, "help facilitate
legitimate cross-border trade and travel and promote collaboration on overall port
management." In June, the Beyond the Border Executive Steering Committee met to oversee
progress on the implementation of the action plan. They announced that in the interest of
transparency and accountability, a joint public report will be issued in December. Public
Safety Minister Vic Toews also recently gave an update on other aspects of the perimeter
security deal. He stated, "We are making great progress. We have, for example, added
NEXUS lanes, made air cargo screening programs mutually recognizable and installed new
passenger screening machines to end duplicate screening in Canadian airports." Toews
added, "More work continues every day to fully implement this new shared vision that
represents the most significant step forward in Canada-U.S. cooperation since the North
American Free Trade Agreement."

Despite some minor setbacks with regards to bilateral relations, Canada has moved closer to
its American partner under Prime Minister Harper. The Beyond the Border deal provides the
essential framework for U.S.-Canada integration with the action plan being incrementally
implemented. This piece by piece approach has allowed many different initiatives to go
unnoticed and fly under the radar. Some of these individual steps may seem insignificant, but
combined together they are further merging economic and security ties between both
countries. This is paving the way for a North American security perimeter which would mean
sacrificing what is left of our sovereignty and independence.

Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization,
sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com. Visit
his blog at beyourownleader.blogspot.com

Dana Gabriel is a frequent contributor to Global Research. Global Research Articles by Dana
Gabriel

The End of Canada's Sovereignty as a Nation State? Towards a U.S.-Canada Economic and
Security Perimeter
Global Research, July 18, 2012
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