Canada-U.S. border deal marks 'significant step'

[CHIMO]

Source: CBC News

A new perimeter security and trade agreement between Canada and the U.S. aims to make everything from travel to cross-border business easier, co-ordinating regulations to cut red tape that the government estimates costs the economy $16 billion a year.

But in exchange for changes Prime Minister Stephen Harper hopes will smooth trade to Canada's biggest and most important partner, officials have negotiated information-sharing to ease Americans’ security concerns.

The government argues Canada loses no sovereignty in the agreement: both countries retain the power to allow people and products into and out of the country.

It will take months before people see the results of the agreement, but pilot projects will start as soon as April 2012.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/12/07/pol-canada-us-border-perimeter.html

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Dec 7, 2011 7:43 PM ET

It took 200 years, but finally the war of 1812 has the victors taking over the conquered.

With cross-border policing set to expand, Mounties fret over who calls shots

A handful of Canadian police officers are operating as armed federal law enforcement officers in the United States, part of a little-known experiment in cross-border policing that will be widely expanded under the new security plan announced Wednesday.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/with-cross-border-policing-set-to-expand-mounties-fret-over-who-calls-shots/article2263679/

Slow but steady wins the race.

[grasswire]

1. frog in a pot n/t

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

2. The Canada-U.S. border is a technicality of geography

I would expand on this further though to eliminate the need for TN status and the Canadian equivalent for cross-border employment. Canada has unilaterally simplified that on their end and it would be helpful if we did too. I would also expand on the Nexus system to eliminate the need for full immigration inspection for most US and Canadian citizens traveling within North America. Biometric drivers license only.

If your going to smuggle something or are a terrorist or criminal you need to be pretty stupid to try to sneaking through an airport when you can just walk over the border unchallenged and undetected.



This is the border in Glacier National Park,