Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
04OTTAWA3080 | 2004-11-16 14:16:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Ottawa |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 003080 |
1. (C/RELCAN) ON 20041104 CANADA'S CABINET APPROVED
THE EXTENSION OF THE CANADA-U.S. BI-NATIONAL PLANNING GROUP (BPG) UNTIL THE END OF MAY 2006 COINCIDENT WITH THE TERMINATION OF THE CURRENT NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND (NORAD) AGREEMENT. THE EXTENSION NOW ONLY REQUIRES THE FORMALITY OF AN ORDER-IN-COUNCIL TO PASS (EXPECTED MID-NOVEMBER 2004). 2. (U) THE BPG HAS BEEN WORKING VERY EFFECTIVELY SINCE 20021200 TO STUDY AND RECOMMEND NEW AREAS OF POTENTIAL CANUS MILITARY COOPERATION. THEY HAVE INCREASED DIALOGUE AMONG U.S. AND CANADIAN MILITARY STAFFS, ADVOCATED ENHANCED INFO-SHARING, CATALOGUED OVER 350 BINATIONAL MILITARY PLANNING DOCUMENTS, AND STUDIED THE POTENTIAL FOR ENHANCED COOPERATION IN THE MARITIME, CYBER, AND CIVIL SUPPORT DOMAINS. 3. (U) THE BPG WILL CONTINUE ITS CURRENT WORK HIGHLIGHTED BY THE COMPLETION OF THE CANUS DEFENSE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (CDSA); A COMPLETE REWRITE OF THE CANUS BASIC SECURITY DOCUMENT (BSD); A NEW CANUS CRISIS ACTION PLAN (CAP); AND A NEW CANUS COMBINED DEFENSE PLAN (CDP). THESE NEW PLANS WERE WRITTEN TO FACILITATE THE CONDUCT OF JOINT AND COMBINED TRAINING AND EXERCISES IN SUPPORT OF BI-NATIONAL, CROSS-BORDER HOMELAND DEFENSE AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO CIVIL AUTHORITIES (MACA), ALSO KNOWN AS DEFENSE SUPPORT TO CIVIL AUTHORITIES (DSCA). ALL SHOULD INCREASE BI-NATIONAL INTEROPERABILITY. 4. (U) IN ADDITION, SEVERAL NEW MISSION AREAS FOR ENHANCED COOPERATION MAY BE TAKEN ON BY AN EXTENDED BPG: A. (U) JOINT AND COMBINED CANUS EXERCISES; B. (U) MISSILE DEFENSE ARRANGEMENTS (SUBJECT TO CANADA DECIDING TO PARTICIPATE); C. (U) ENHANCED CANUS INTERAGENCY COOPERATION AND COORDINATION; D. (U) INFORMATION OPERATIONS; E. (U) MULTI-NATIONAL DEFENSE AGREEMENTS. COMMENTS: 1. (C/NF) FIELD COMMENTS. THE BPG HAS BEEN VIEWED BY BOTH THE U.S. AND CANADA AS AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. WHILE THE EXTENSION OF THE BPG MANDATE COMES AS NO SURPRISE, IT WAS HELD UP IN GOVERNMENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE THE MARTIN GOVERNMENT SAW THE MISSILE DEFENSE ISSUE AS MORE PRESSING WHEN IN FACT THE BPG EXTENSION WAS THE MORE TIME SENSITIVE ISSUE SINCE IT WAS DUE TO EXPIRE IN 20041200. 2. (C/NF) THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE BPG WILL BE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY AS THE ISSUES AND EQUITIES BECOME MORE AND MORE SENSITIVE WITH MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS AND SECURITY MISSIONS; CYBER SECURITY AND INFORMATION OPERATIONS; AND MISSILE DEFENSE PROTOCOLS SHOULD CANADA DECIDE TO JOIN. THE BPG WILL ALSO HAVE TO PLAN FOR ITS OWN SUNSET IN MAY 2006, FIGURING OUT HOW TO INSTITUTIONALIZE ITS FUNCTIONS AND WHERE THEY SHOULD RESIDE - WHETHER IN NORAD, NORTHCOM, OR ELSEWHERE. 3. (U) SOURCES REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER EXPLOITATION. 4. (C/NF) THIS REPORTING SUPPORTS PRIORITY 3, PARAGRAPH 1D OF THE DAO OTTAWA OPERATING DIRECTIVE. 5. (U) DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS IIR TO DHO-1 AT STU III (703) 907-0541, OR GRAY 981-8236. COLL: (U) AB; AC; AH; AI; DB; MM. INSTR: (U) US NO. PREP: (U) 6-03048. ACQ: (U) CANADA, OTTAWA (20041112). DISSEM: (U) FIELD: AMEMB OTTAWA. WARNING: (U) REPORT CLASSIFIED C O N F I D E N T I A L/NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS. SIPDIS DRV FROM: DO HUMINT SCG SEPTEMBER 2003 DECL ON: X1 |