Carl Meyer

Big business attends perimeter talks in Washington

2012-02-08T10:47:00.003-05:00

US intel-sharing plans will hit Toews' desk; Harper government to table cross-border policing bill.

New information has emerged on the perimeter security plan between Canada and the United States, with hundreds of government and industry representatives meeting in Washington last week, and the Harper government signalling it will soon table a bill to entrench cross-border policing over water.

On Jan. 30 and 31, representatives from both governments as well as industry officials held talks in Washington on the Regulatory Co-operation Council, one of the two planks of the Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan. (...more)

US, Canada see continental bloc on Arctic Council

2012-02-08T10:46:00.007-05:00

Would create a counterpart to the current Scandinavian bloc.

The United States and Canada should march in lockstep at the Arctic Council, as the US helps to develop natural resources in Canada's North, say Canadian and US officials.

"We look forward to developing a common agenda at the Arctic Council, which we can advance during these four years of a shared North American chairmanship," said Richard Steffens, minister-counsellor for commercial affairs at the US Embassy. (...more)

Canada stays in Syria as other envoys recalled

2012-02-08T10:46:00.001-05:00

As diplomats around the world are recalled from Syria, Canada is, for now, maintaining its ambassador in the country.

Meanwhile, thousands of Canadians remain inside the Arab nation even as violence continues to escalate and their window of opportunity to escape narrows further. (...more)

Canada, India want faster trade deal

2012-02-01T10:45:00.000-05:00

Trade minister reiterates push for long-promised CEO forum.

Canada and India are telling their negotiators to "redouble" efforts towards a trade deal.

Trade Minister Ed Fast and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma made the announcement after they met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 27, Mr. Fast's office confirmed. (...more)

Libyan chargé denies report of his potential recall

2012-02-01T10:44:00.001-05:00

Trade minister plays up economic links during Libyan visit.

Libyan Chargé d'Affaires Abubaker Karmos has denied he is about to leave Ottawa, after a report surfaced that his government may recall former regime envoys.

The Libyan government is moving to recall its ambassadors around the world who have ties with the former regime of Muammar Gaddafi, Reuters reported on Jan. 29. (...more)

Little information so far on perimeter plan progress

2012-02-01T10:44:00.000-05:00

The first deadlines have passed, but neither Canadian nor US governments have announced yet what has been accomplished.

The first batch of dozens of deadlines in the Canada-United States perimeter security plan has come and gone, with neither government responding to questions of progress by press time.

The border action plan announced in December notes that by Jan. 31 the two governments would "determine the way ahead" on how to share intelligence related to national security. (...more)

Iran calls out Harper as Gulf tensions rise

2012-01-25T14:37:00.001-05:00

IAEA chief also raises alarm, but reported Israeli intel, expert analysis paints a more complex picture.

As the United States' navy flexes its muscles in the Persian Gulf, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's statement that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program is being called "uninformed" and "inflammatory" by the Iranian Embassy—while security and disarmament analysts say the truth is more complex than either side is letting on. (...more)

Spy story stumps diplomatic community

2012-01-25T14:37:00.000-05:00

(Bylined with Kristen Shane) 'Usually...you don't have farewell parties if you've been expelled:' Former protocol chief.

Current and former members of the Ottawa diplomatic community were left with more questions than answers after news emerged last week alleging Russian diplomats were expelled in connection with the case of a Canadian naval officer accused of passing secrets to a "foreign entity." (...more)

The competing defence cuts predictions

2012-01-25T14:35:00.000-05:00

In a matter of weeks, Canadians will learn just how much their defence department, their armed forces, and the many billions in promised new military equipment are protected from the Harper government's knife.

Budget 2012, set to be unleashed this spring, will bring the hammer down on at least $4 billion in government-wide cuts by 2014-15, although that could reach $8 billion. These will presumably hit the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. The CBC has reported that the government tapped the department to be hit with faster, deeper cuts.

But just how those cuts will materialize is uncertain. (...more)

Government-wide Afghan Task Force mandate runs out in April

2012-01-18T16:47:00.004-05:00

Top bureaucrat to become CIDA brass; dwindling task force working on last report to Parliament.

The government-wide task force overseeing Canada's mission in Afghanistan is still working on a final report to Parliament until at least April, even as it loses another leader to the top floors of Canada's aid agency.

Greta Bossenmaier, currently the deputy minister of the Privy Council Office's Afghanistan Task Force, is moving across the Ottawa River to become the senior executive vice president at the Canadian International Development Agency, the government announced Jan. 12. (...more)

Energy, G20 behind reported new foreign policy plan: Analysts

2012-01-18T16:47:00.001-05:00

The collection of countries named in a December news story as being part of a secret government foreign policy plan were likely picked because of their economic relationships with Canada's oil and mining sectors, with global financial organizations, and because they are pivotal states, say analysts.

According to a Dec. 20 report in the Canadian Press—one the government is refusing to confirm—a new Canadian foreign policy plan is being developed that will list as "priority countries" Turkey, India, China, Indonesia, North Korea, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa. (...more)

New United States military strategy a fork in the road for Canadian Forces

2012-01-11T10:24:00.001-05:00

Should Canada take on more of the traditional US role policing the world?

A new United States military strategy paints a bleak picture of a world threatened by China, Iran, and Al Qaeda and kept stable through the use of armed drones, stealth bombers, missile defence systems, cyber warfare, surveillance—and global policing increasingly shouldered by stalwart allies such as Canada.

The question now is: will Canada embrace that vision? (...more)

Labour, environment still issues in India third round

2012-01-11T10:24:00.000-05:00

Negotiators in the third round of trade talks between Canada and India found themselves still dealing with how to approach their own assignment, as well as how to address looming labour and environment issues, say observers.

The third round of the formal closed-door negotiations for the Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was held from Dec. 13 to 15 in Delhi. It came roughly five months after the second round, held July 4 to 5 in Ottawa. (...more)

The Perimeter Calendar

2011-12-14T16:01:00.001-05:00

The 2011 talks conjured a lengthy succession of deadlines that will, one by one, incrementally change the face of the Canada-United States relationship. The calendar spreads out over several years and involves at least 17 federal departments and agencies on both sides of the border. Here are the dates and commitments that both countries have now put forward, edited for length and style (...more)

Pre-clearance will be major hurdle in Perimeter

2011-12-14T15:59:00.001-05:00

Far from a done deal, border plan must confront law enforcement authority, budget woes, need for political will.

Canada and the United States last week announced a mammoth undertaking to reshape their relationship and build a new bilateral fortress, one that analysts say drives the relationship forward on several fronts, but remains silent on price tags and legal issues surrounding cross-border policing.

"These agreements create a new, modern order for a new century," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Dec. 7 in Washington, alongside US President Barack Obama, as they announced the results of nine months of talks: the Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan, and the Regulatory Cooperation Council Joint Action Plan.

The perimeter plan released to the public establishes commitments and names which departments and agencies are responsible for getting things done. A long list of deadlines runs through the document, reaching forward to 2016 (see page 5). By the end of 2012, dozens of changes to how Canada interacts with the world will be in the pipeline. (...more)

Perimeter deal aims to integrate cross-border policing over land

2011-12-08T11:03:00.000-05:00

Canada, US look to make permanent a marine program tested during the Olympics and G20, and create a land-based version.

Under a new perimeter security plan, Canada and the United States are aiming for police in both nations to be able to permanently cross the maritime border and enforce each other’s laws—and for a new program to permit the same across land.

Shiprider, a marine cross-border law enforcement program that began in 2005 and has involved six pilot projects between the RCMP and the US Coast Guard, is being planned to become a permanent fixture of Canada-US policing by the summer of 2012.

As well, a new land-based version of the program, which the RCMP says could eventually draw in American agents from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Drug Enforcement Administration, could also be floated by next summer in the form of two pilot projects. (...more)

Foreign ownership of oil sands assets steadily rising

2011-12-07T11:02:00.000-05:00

35.3 per cent of the oil and gas extraction and support industry in Canada was foreign controlled in 2009.

On Nov. 28, China's largest offshore energy company spent over $2 billion gobbling up a Calgary-based, Israeli-backed oil sands company.

Opti Canada's sole asset was a minority stake in the Long Lake oil sands joint venture controlled by Nexen Inc., a company that suddenly found itself with a new bedfellow: the China National Offshore Oil Corporation. (...more)

Statistics Canada to make all online data free

2011-11-24T11:43:00.000-05:00

All of Statistics Canada’s standard online products, including the census, socioeconomic and geographic data, will be offered to the public for free starting February 2012, Embassy has learned.

In 2010, the agency was rocked when the government dropped the mandatory long-form census, and its chief statistician resigned in protest. Immigration experts slammed the decision for jeopardizing the targeted delivery of services like languages training and job-search workshops. (...more)

DND: Military's 'values' shape 'Canada's identity'

2011-11-23T11:08:00.001-05:00

Defence analysts say changed role in annual report reflects Conservative 'rebranding effort.'

An annual report from the Department of National Defence says Canadians should appreciate that their values are shaped in part by their military.

That represents a shift from past annual departmental reports that said departmental activities were informed by Canadian interests and values. Now it's the other way around.

On Nov. 17, the department's 2010-11 departmental performance report was released, altering a section that deals with ceremonies, youth programs and military history by introducing a new program activity called "Canadian identity." (...more)

India deal won't study asbestos: Analysts

2011-11-23T11:07:00.003-05:00

But trade in the controversial material also likely won't rise if trade deal is signed, they say.

Canadian exports of asbestos to India won't be examined as part of an environmental assessment recently launched in connection with the Canada-India free trade talks, say experts—and that has some calling on the government to widen its scope.

A Nov. 12 notice in the Canada Gazette, an official federal government publication, announced that Canada is now conducting a strategic environmental assessment as part of ongoing talks launched in September 2010 toward a Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

The government is inviting Canadians to submit their views by Jan. 11 on "any likely and significant environmental impacts" that the proposed trade deal, which enters its third round of talks in Delhi from Dec. 13 to 15, might have on Canada. (...more)

Proposed e-passport prices would see fees jump

2011-11-23T11:07:00.001-05:00

Passport Canada is proposing a new pricing scheme for electronic passports, a delayed program that has seen costs soar, set to be rolled out starting next year.

If the proposed new fees are approved, it would cost more for Canadians to get a passport. The cash boost would shore up an agency that last year spent more than it earned.

The agency announced on Nov. 10 that it is set to introduce its new five-year, 36-page e-passport "before the end of 2012," with the 10-year, 36-page version being offered in "early 2013." E-passports were originally proposed in 2004 by the Liberal government of Paul Martin, and contain a computer chip embedded in the document that the agency says increases the document's security and makes it harder to forge or tamper with. (...more)

Procurement bottleneck no surprise to analysts

2011-11-16T11:06:00.000-05:00

For the first time since Prime Minister Stephen Harper took office, Canada is not officially engaged in a combat mission. From now until the next engagement inevitably arises, one of the military's main concerns will be making sure its procurement projects succeed.

The problem is the Department of National Defence can't spend its own money fast enough. The department lapsed roughly $2.5 billion in unspent cash in 2010-11, according to financial statements reported on by Global News. The reason, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said, was procurement. "We have a very large program going on to rebuild our Canadian armed forces, and [the department has] found—repeatedly, actually—that they can't get as much done in a given year as they perhaps thought they were going to," he said.

It's no surprise that DND is suffering a procurement bottleneck, say defence analysts. Firstly, every department struggles with getting funds out the door before they lapse, said Alan Williams, a former defence official responsible for procurement, and DND is no exception. (...more)

Keystone XL pipeline faces new uncertainties

2011-11-03T09:40:00.001-04:00

Obama says decision is his to make; may stray past initial end-of-year deadline, while Nebraska opens new front

A fresh crop of potential new obstacles have popped up in front of a proposed $7-billion pipeline that would carry oil sands crude from Alberta to Texas, but Canada’s ambassador to the United States is holding firm in his belief in the project.

“The process is proceeding as it should, and jobs, energy security are strong arguments for the project,” Gary Doer told reporters at the Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa on Nov. 2. (...more)

Afghan training mission debated after soldier's death

2011-11-02T16:49:00.003-04:00

Some say Canadians were misled about the level of risk, while others say Afghanistan is never risk-free.

The Harper government lulled the public into a false sense of security over a risky military training mission in Afghanistan, and should now be upfront about its role, say some analysts.

But others argue that anyone who was surprised at the death of the first Canadian in Afghanistan since the country ended its combat mission and shifted to a training role doesn't understand the environment in which military trainers exist. (...more)

Q&A: Aerospace firms see 'challenges' in Euro debt crisis

2011-11-02T16:48:00.004-04:00

Aerospace is a hot topic in Canadian foreign policy. From the Harper government's promise last year to spend billions to buy 65 F-35 fighter jets, to Export Development Canada's declaration this spring that Canada's export growth in 2011 would be led in part by the aerospace sector, high hopes are being pinned on the industry.

The Harper government paid attention, launching a review of its aerospace policy and programs in the 2011 budget that would consult specifically with the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada and its member firms. (...more)