Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
04OTTAWA3366 | 2004-12-15 20:41:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Ottawa |
1. (U) Congressman James S. Sensenbrenner, Jr., Republican Member of Congress from Wisconsin and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, visited Ottawa December 8-10, 2004. He was accompanied by Judiciary Committee Chief of Staff and General Counsel Philip G. Kiko. 2. (U) Congressman Sensenbrenner, who was the principal author of the Patriot Act, maintained a busy schedule that included meetings with Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, and Chairman Colin Kenny and members of the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence to discuss U.S.-Canada border security issues and joint management of the border. Representative Sensenbrenner also met with President Alain Jolicoeur of the Canada Border Services Agency, National Security Advisor Rob Wright and the National Security Secretariat, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Anne McLellan to review implementation of the Smart Border Action Plan. 3. (U) Congressman Sensenbrenner visited Canada's Parliament and attended Question Period in the House of Commons. He met with Leader of the Official Opposition Stephen Harper, as well as Chairman Paul Devillers and staff of the House Committee on Justice, Human Rights, and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. The Ambassador hosted a luncheon for the Congressman and Mr. Kiko with five Members of Parliament serving on the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Committee: Wayne Easter, Marlene Jennings, Peter Stoffer, Lee Richardson, and Greg Thompson. The Deputy Chief of Mission hosted a luncheon with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Harder and Assistant Deputy Minister (Americas) Bill Crosbie, and Assistant Deputy Minister of International Trade and Chief WTO Negotiator John Gero. Prior to his departure from Ottawa's McDonald-Cartier International Airport, Congressman Sensenbrenner met U.S. pre-clearance officials and observed pre-clearance operations for outgoing passengers. 4. (U) Comment: Post believes that Congressman Sensenbrenner's discussions with Canadian officials and Parliamentarians were highly productive in taking stock of improvements the United States and Canada have made in border security--and in identifying what more needs to be done. We anticipate that these these exchanges will prove to be helpful in advancing Mission Canada's priorities regarding border security. Post appreciates the efforts of Congressman Sensenbrenner and Chief of Staff Kiko in moving the ball forward on border security. End comment. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa CELLUCCI |