cannabisnews.com: Canada Battling 'Weak Link' Perception 





Canada Battling 'Weak Link' Perception 
Posted by FoM on February 18, 2002 at 14:24:44 PT
By Alison Appelbe, CNSNews.com Correspondent
Source: CNSNews.com
While the Canadian government insists it is moving swiftly and decisively to improve border security, and allay U.S. fears that Canada remains a "weak link" in the fight against terrorism, critics remain unconvinced.At the root of the problem is the fact that Canada's economy is hugely dependent on easy, open trade with the U.S., and security procedures that significantly slow daily cross-border traffic of 45,000 trucks and other goods and services raise financial fears here.
In late January, the head of the U.S. Customs Service rejected a joint Canada-U.S. proposal -- part of a 30-point "smart border" declaration to be announced at the G-8 summit in Canada in June -- to allow pre-cleared trucks carrying Canadian-made auto parts to enter the U.S. uninspected."There are at least a certain number of al Qaeda terrorists in Canada," Robert Bonner told the New York Times. "One of them could get a job at one of these (Canadian manufacturing) plants and then you may have nuclear material inserted in the truck."Bonner alleged that Canada is more interested in its own trade than risks to the U.S.: "We're looking at increased security against terrorists at the border, but I don't think the Canadians are looking at it the same way."This is a perception that Canadian politicians and business people -- who routinely point out that none of the 21 terrorists directly involved in the events of Sept. 11 are known to have been in Canada -- are trying desperately to counter.Earlier this year, the Canadian federal government passed a series of laws to improve security at ports and borders, tighten immigration rules, and provide greater powers to police and courts to convict and punish terrorists. It has also budgeted $4.84 billion (U.S.) over five years for airline security, and beefed-up military, intelligence and police support.Yet Canadian critics say it's not enough. An opposition Progressive Conservative member of parliament (MP) argues in the parliamentary newspaper that Canadian military, customs, intelligence, Coast Guard and police services remain chronically under-funded. Jay Hill also points out that the government replaced the Canada Port Police force a few years ago with unarmed security guards, potentially allowing more human and cargo smuggling."Doubts about the government's sincerity in boosting security will persist until these agencies are given the staff, equipment and operational funds to adequately patrol our airspace, border crossings, airports and seaports," Hill wrote on Jan. 21.Canada Customs also recently advertised for students to work part-time at the busy Niagara Falls crossing, near Toronto. These "student customs inspectors" would be given a few weeks training, and an hourly wage of about six dollars an hour."Clearly, Canada's border is badly protected," responded National Post newspaper columnist Diane Francis. "After a dangerous Arab terrorist living as a refugee in Montreal was caught on his way to blow up the Los Angeles airport (in late 1999), Ottawa announced, for the Americans' benefit, that they would give pepper spray and bullet-proof vests to their customs officers. But not guns."Even worse, and unknown to the U.S. administration and Congress, is that nothing has been done since Sept. 11 to protect Canada, and indirectly the United States," Francis wrote.A veteran Canada Customs official told Francis that less than one percent of the 24 million international travelers who pass through Toronto's Pearson Airport annually are physically searched. "We're a porous border," concluded John King.Others disagree. Canada's ambassador to the U.S has interpreted the claim that none of the Sept. 11 terrorists were in Canada as evidence of a secure border. "That's not to say we don't have problems or (terrorist) cells in Canada we have to deal with," Michael Kergin said. "But the perception that there's a porousness of the border has been driven by the media."Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister John Manley told university students in New Brunswick: "It's really in the realm of urban mythology in the United States that somehow Canada is the source of ... threats." At the same time, in referring to trade with the U.S., Manley admitted, "When one customer buys 87 percent of your product, if that customer has a concern, whether you think it's real or not, it's your concern."At the opening of a Canadian marketing centre in New York last week, Ontario Premier Mike Harris expressed fear of border-related economic disruption, and called for a harmonization of customs procedures, and greater emphasis on a new North American security perimeter.But Vancouver-based opposition MP Val Meredith, who has formally proposed a bi-national border management policy, noted impediments to greater co-operation.One, she said, is that U.S. Customs officials believe they "own the border" and are unwilling to cooperate with Canada on new approaches. Another is a lack of co-ordination between law-enforcement and related agencies on both sides of the border.A third, she said, is that special interest groups are trying to capitalize on border problems. In Canada, nationalists argue that greater cooperation weakens Canadian sovereignty; in the U.S., drug-enforcement activists want a tighter border primarily to curtail the traffic in marijuana from Canada.Meredith agreed with Harris that what is needed is a more integrated North American economy with secure outer-perimeter borders. "Do we want a 20-foot wall (at the 49th parallel) with gates? Or do we want to be a North American economy, and I'm including Mexico in this. I think it can be done, but I can sure see a lot of hassles in getting there," Meredith said.Complete Title: Canada Battling 'Weak Link' Perception in Border Security EffortsSource: CNSNews.comAuthor: Alison Appelbe, CNSNews.com CorrespondentPublished: February 18, 2002Copyright: 1998-2002 Cybercast News ServiceContact: shogenson cnsnews.comWebsite: http://www.cnsnews.com/Related Articles:Border Alert Helps Snarl Drug Traffic http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11862.shtmlBush Adds $2-Billion To Border Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11858.shtmlBorder Patrol Takes To The Air http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11708.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by hempity on February 19, 2002 at 15:19:54 PT
SELF HELP IN CASE OF HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS
 Hiya FoM,
Ya I am still streaching the bounds of civility.
here is some stuff out of my email.IDEAS LINK TO DEA SURFACESFrom the beginning, many of us were suspicious that the the DEAD, not
Canadians, were behind the upcoming "IDEAS" conference in Vancouver.Despite their claims that the IDEAS conference was created and is being
hosted by Canadians, we now have a smoking gun to prove that is a lie.During Asa Hutchinson's speech in San Francisco, he unveiled the DEAšs
latest "five-year plan," a program entitled IDEA, an acronym for "Integrated
Drug Enforcement Assistance."
We have a ideas conference in van on the 1st of march, thinking we can get an enviromental case going aganist having so much crap in one place, gotta be hazardus.
here is a email that should be passed around for us old farts.
Subject: Fw: Self help in case of heart attack
 It originated from the Rochester Hosp. in N.Y.
 
SELF HELP IN CASE OF HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS
What to do if you have a heart attack while you are alone....If you've already received this, it means people care about you.
The Johnson City Medical Centre staff actually discovered this and did an in-depth study on it in our ICU . The two individuals that 
discovered this then did an article on it . . . . had it published and have even had it incorporated into ACLS and CPR classes. It is very true and has and does work. It is called cough CPR. A cardiologist says it's the truth. . . For your info. If everyone who gets this sends it to 10 people, you can bet that we'll save at least one life. Read This. . . It could save your life! Let's say it's 6: 15 p. m. and you're driving home (alone of course),after an unusually hard day on the job. You're really tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. What can you do? You've been trained in CPR but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.
HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, this article seemed to be in order. Without help, the person whose heart is beating properly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating.
The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.
Tell as many other people as possible about this, it could save their lives! From Health Cares, Rochester General Hospital via Chapter 240s newsletter
 "AND THE BEAT GOES ON"
 Mitaoyate,
hempity
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 19, 2002 at 14:12:49 PT
Hiya Hempity
I just saw your comment and it is so good to see you! I hope your health is OK. I'm sorry the way the United States is attacking your beautiful country. Some day we might just move to your country if it gets much worse down here but it sounds like they are trying to make Canada oppressed too. I hate what my country is doing. I just hate it and I'm so very sorry.
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Comment #4 posted by idbsne1 on February 19, 2002 at 09:21:38 PT
hempity...
I'm right there with ya buddy....idbsne1
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Comment #3 posted by hempity on February 19, 2002 at 01:10:32 PT
PEACEFULLY
Hiya P4me,
Terry emailed after the Turmel post and said "that papeers were not properly presented, and so we're off to rectify, and be back with a date."
I really apreciate what Terry and others are willing to give up for the cause, how hard they work, the crap they put up with every waking moment. I walk a tight rope, ready to step off and dive bomb the slimey ones that make them do it. If it were not for the blood the innocents have shed PEACEFULLY on the field of dreams, I would do a RAMBO on the ignorant slimy fuckers, and rip off the foot they have on our necks. However, since it is this way, I will wake tomorrow asking for the day to teach me to be gentle and kind.
Oh yea, smoke the kind that helps me know there is a God and we are only yet children.
Mitaoyate,
hempity
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Comment #2 posted by p4me on February 18, 2002 at 16:53:23 PT
Turmel and Canada
Has anyone read Turmel's message for today at his yahoo messageboard. He submitted notice today that there will be a motion filed on Feb. 21, to end marijuana prohibition in Canada. Here is Turmel's link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MedPot/message/268Below is a few paragraphs from message 268.
         Date: Mon Feb 18, 2002 2:42 am
        Subject: TURMEL: Terry Parker joins Marc Paquette        JCT: Terry Parker is filing motion
        for end to marijuana 
        prohibition at Osgoode Hall, 10:30am
        Monday Feb 18 2002. Then he will 
        attend Cobourg Provincial Court to
        support Marc Paquette's motion for 
        first Exemptee claim on medpot seized
        in raid.         DOCKET: C28732
        COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO
        (Catzman, Charron and Rosenberg
        JJ.A.)
        BETWEEN The Appellant: Her Majesty
        the Queen
        AND The Respondent: Terrance Parker
        AND The Intervener Epilepsy
        Association of Toronto
        --------------------------------
        NOTICE OF MOTION FOR DECLARATION
        --------------------------------
        TAKE NOTICE that the Appellant will make a motion on Thursday Feb 
        21 2002 before this Court at Osgoode Hall in Toronto for a Declaration 
        that the prohibition on the possession of marijuana in the Controlled 
        Drugs and Substances Act to be of no force and effect since Aug 1 2001 
        on the grounds the MMAR has failed to provide adequate access to the 
        Respondent within the required time.
        AND for any Order abridging the time for service and filing of 
        the motion; 
        AND for any Order abridging the time for hearing of the motion;
        AND for any Order amending any defect as to form or content of 
        the motion;
        AND for any Order this Honourable Court may deem just. 
        Dated at Toronto on Feb 18 2002
        For the Respondent: Terrance Parker 
        2209-55 Triller Ave. Toronto, Ontario, M6R-2H6 
        Tel: 416.533.7756 Fax: 613.632.2334
        Email: terryparkerjr s... 
        ---        AFFIDAVIT OF TERRY PARKER         I, Terrance Parker Jr, residing at 2209-55 Triller Ave. in 
        Toronto Ontario make
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Comment #1 posted by mayan on February 18, 2002 at 15:30:22 PT
Harvester of Hatred
The rest of the world doesn't seem to hate Canada like they hate the United States. You reap what you sow & the U.S. has been sowing hatred around the globe for a long time now. What did anyone expect?
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