Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05OTTAWA1869
2005-06-21 17:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

CANADIAN REQUEST FOR TRANSIT RIGHTS THROUGH U.S.

Tags:  KCRM EWWT PBTS PHSA PREL CA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

211758Z Jun 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001869 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM EWWT PBTS PHSA PREL CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN REQUEST FOR TRANSIT RIGHTS THROUGH U.S.
WATERS FOR CANADIAN COAST GUARD VESSELS WITH ARMED LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ABOARD


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001869

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM EWWT PBTS PHSA PREL CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN REQUEST FOR TRANSIT RIGHTS THROUGH U.S.
WATERS FOR CANADIAN COAST GUARD VESSELS WITH ARMED LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ABOARD



1. (U) This is an action request: see paragraph 5.


2. (SBU) Embassy Ottawa received a diplomatic note dated
June 20, 2005 from Foreign Affairs Canada. The note provides
details of Canadian plans to deploy three joint RCMP/Canadian
Coast Guard vessels on the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence
Seaway, beginning July 16, 2005. This is part of Canada's
maritime security enhancement program. The ships, which will
carry armed RCMP officers, will be marked as Canadian police
vessels. The note requests USG concurrence allowing the
transit of the three vessels through U.S. internal waters.
It points out that the law enforcement officers seek to
transit U.S. waters only and are not authorized to use their
duty weapons or take law enforcement action while in U.S.
internal waters. The full text of the diplomatic note and
the accompanying attachment with details on the vessels is
provided below.


3. (SBU) (Complimentary opening) and has the honour to seek
the concurrence of the United States Government to allow
joint Royal Canadian Mounted Police/Canadian Coast Guard
(CCG) vessels to transit U.S. internal waters in the Great
Lakes/Saint Lawrence Seaway System while en route to conduct
law enforcement/maritime security patrols in Canadian
internal waters.

The Government of Canada has the further honour to inform the
United States Government of Canada's intent to deploy three
joint RCMP/CCG vessels to begin law enforcement/maritime
security patrols in Canadian waters on the Great Lakes/Saint
Lawrence Seaway between Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Les
Escoumins, Quebec, commencing on July 16, 2005, as part of
Canada's marine security enhancement programme.

Given the geography of the region, the three Canadian vessels
will need to routinely transit U.S. internal waters including
seaway locks, shared rivers, and navigable channels along the
Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes as they move from
one part of Canadian waters to another. The three Canadian
vessels will carry identifiable armed peace officers and be
marked as Canadian police vessels.

The Government of Canada seeks the concurrence of the United

States Government to allow the transit of the three vessels
and the armed Canadian peace officers on board through U.S.
internal waters beginning July 16, 2005. The Government of
Canada notes that the Canadian peace officers do not have any
law enforcement powers outside of Canada and thus, the
Canadian officers are not authorized to use their duty
weapons or take law enforcement action while in U.S. internal
waters. This concurrence is for transit through U.S. waters
only.

Should any further information be required, the Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade remains at the
disposal of the Embassy of the United States of America and
appropriate United States authorities to facilitate any
discussion or technical arrangements. The Government of
Canada further notes that concurrence with this request will
not affect or prejudice broader or more lasting solutions to
marine geographic inhibitors, which are currently being
explored through the Canada-U.S. Cross Border Crime Forum.
(Complimentary closing)


4. (SBU) Begin text of attachment.

Marine Security of the Great Lakes/Saint Lawrence Seaway
System

The Great Lakes/Saint Lawrence Seaway System is a conduit
providing access for the global maritime shipping industry to
the heartland of North America. Canada is committed to
addressing the capacity for on-water response to combat
transnational threats, including terrorism, organized crime
activities such as people and contraband smuggling and
trafficking, within the Great Lakes/Saint Lawrence Seaway
System. As an interim measure, Canada has dedicated three
vessels to begin joint law enforcement/maritime security
patrols between Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Les Escoumins,
Quebec.

These maritime security patrols are a concrete demonstration
of Canada's commitment to contribute effectively to the
enhancement of security of North America. As such, they
represent one more step towards achieving the common security
goals established by President Bush, Prime Minister Martin,
and President Fox in the North American Security and
Prosperity Partnership announced in March 2005.

Vessels and Crew
The CCGC Cape Hurd (Official No: 800748; Port of Registry:
Ottawa; Call Sign: CG2821) will patrol the areas from Lake
Huron to Port Colborne including the waters of the St. Clair
and Detroit Rivers from mid-April to early December. The
Cape Hurd will have a complement of 4 CCG and 2 law
enforcement personnel.

The CCGC Isle Rouge (Official No: 395543; Port of Registry:
Ottawa; Call Sign: CG2637) will patrol the St. Lawrence River
from Cornwall to Les Escoumins from mid-April to early
December. The Isle Rouge will have a complement of 4 CCG and
2 law enforcement personnel.

The Simmonds (The Simmonds is an RCMP vessel which is in the
process of getting registered as a Coast Guard ship, and once
processed, all relevant details will be forwarded to U.S.
officials) will patrol Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence
River to Cornwall from mid-April to early December. The
Simmonds will have a complement of 4 CCG and 2 law
enforcement personnel.

Duration of Law Enforcement/Maritime Security Patrols

These measures will begin July 16, 2005 and will not affect
or prejudice broader or more lasting solutions to marine
geographic inhibitors, which are currently being explored
through the Canada-U.S. Cross Border Crime Forum. (End text
of attachment)


5. (SBU) Action Request: Mission Canada believes that
timely approval of this request is very much in our interest,
but we are not sure what agency in the USG is authorized to
grant this request. We note that, because of the limited
nature of the request, it would not seem to require Title 19
authorization. We therefore ask that the State Department,
after consulting with other interested agencies, provide the
text of a positive reply that we could forward to Foreign
Affairs Canada as a diplomatic note.

Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

RODDY