CANADA: AG MUKASEY'S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000440 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KCRM PTER CA SUBJECT: CANADA: AG MUKASEY'S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY DAY AT THE CROSS BORDER CRIME FORUM, QUEBEC CITY, MARCH 18, 2008 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day reviewed for Attorney General Mukasey on the margins of the Cross Border Crime Forum, Canada's program for border security and law enforcement. In addition to hiring 400 new border guards and arming the border service, Canada has put new resources into improving the technology and hiring 1,000 new federal officers. He stressed the importance of relations to the United States for the government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and expressed the determination to keep open communications with us to ensure no "thickening" of the border. In response to a question, the AG confirmed that, while there are individuals of concern in both Canada and the U.S., there is not a USG perception that terrorists are streaming across the border with Canada. End Summary. THE GOVERNMENT'S LAW AND ORDER AGENDA -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Attorney General Mukasey met with Canadian Public Safety Minister Day on the margins of the Cross Border Crime Forum (septel) in Quebec City March 18. Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Wilson and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Wilkins were also in attendance. Day highlighted that the government under PM Harper came into office in 2006 with a specific focus on law and order. It has pushed through a broad legal and technical border agenda, including 400 new border officers, the arming of the border service, 1,000 more federal law enforcement officers, and significant increases in funding for equipment and improved border technology, Day explained. ¶3. (SBU) Day underscored that Canada highly values its excellent working relationship with U.S. border services and law enforcement agencies and is constantly looking for ways to further improve cooperation. The government, he said, was pleased with the strength of the U.S.-Canada relationship. Day explained that the O'Connor inquiry into the Arar affair had revealed that information shared with the U.S. had not been subject to as careful controls as it should have been, which has made it harder since then for Canada to share information with the U.S. He expressed the belief that our two countries work well operationally, but still need to keep evaluating and improving our system for sharing information. CONCERN OVER BORDER THICKENING -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Day said that there is a general apprehension in Canada about a "thickening" of the border. He reiterated that Canada also wants to keep the border secure, but was concerned with "over-regulation" by the U.S. that could hurt the Canadian economy, which is very dependent on cross border trade. Canadian Ambassador Wilson pointed out that about 40% of the Canadian GDP comes from exports, with 76% of its exports going to the U.S.; a large number of items must cross the border several times in the course of manufacturing. Day commented positively on his discussions on pre-clearance procedures with Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff, noting that Canada understands that, for legal reasons, the U.S. would have a difficult time doing passenger land pre-clearance, but hopes that there will be progress on the commercial side. He welcomed a recent meeting between Canadian officials and National Security Advisor Hadley and other White House officials to discuss the rollout of the Qother White House officials to discuss the rollout of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI),and expressed the hope these meetings will continue on a quarterly basis. NO TERRORISTS STREAMING ACROSS THE BORDER -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Day asked for clarification from the Attorney General on how the USG views the terrorist threat emanating from Canada. Periodically, he said, there is a media reaction in the United States to something like the Khadr case that leads to the image of large numbers of terrorists "prancing around" in Canada uncontrolled. AG Mukasey confirmed that there were some individuals of concern in Canada, just as there are in the United States, but the USG does not believe that terrorists are "streaming across the border." Day stressed the importance of ensuring officials and the public in the U.S. have correct information on this. Day noted that the "less fuel" that is given to certain media outlets in the U.S. on this issue, the better. ¶6. (U) This cable has been cleared by the AG's party. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS