COMMON MENU BAR BEGINS | DEBUT DE LA BARRE DE MENU COMMUNE
Current Canadian Policy Positions
IPS | Border | Immigration | Trade | Environment | National Security
International Policy Statement
Role of Pride and Influence in the World
"Canada’s International Policy Statement sets out an integrated approach that will guide the next generation of Canadian global engagement. It represents an opportunity for Canada to re-energize its role in the world by bringing together our diplomatic, defence, development, trade and investment strategies to meet international challenges and opportunities." — Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew.
Border
The Critical Partnership of Canadian and US Law Enforcement Agencies
The Big Picture: Created in 1997 by Prime Minister Chrétien and President Clinton as a partnership vehicle for Canadian and US law enforcement agencies, the Forum is a model of law enforcement cooperation that is recognized around the world. While pre-dating 9/11, it has become central to our joint efforts to ensure that our border remains open for business but closed to terrorists and criminals.
Our Shared "Smart Border"
The Big Picture: Canada and the U.S. enjoy the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world. We are each other’s biggest customer - $US1.2 billion in goods and services and 300,000 individuals move across theMarch 2005 border daily. In fact, more trade flows between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan than through any other border crossing in the world. A secure and efficient “smart border”, open for business but closed to terrorism, is key to our mutual economic security.
Immigration Policies
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
The Big Picture: The new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) was introduced less than a year after 9/11. It modernizes Canada’s immigration and refugee programs and also ensures that Canada will not be a safe haven for persons who endanger national security.
Immigration Policies
The Big Picture: Numerous misperceptions exist in the United States regarding Canada’s immigration policies, including the facts and figures relating to immigration and refugee acceptances.
Migration Integrity Officers: Interdicting threats abroad before they reach North America
The Big Picture: Since well before 9/11 Canada has deployed officers abroad to stop improperly documented travelers, including those who pose security risks, before they embark on their flights to Canada. The 45 Migration Integrity Officers (MIO) assigned to 39 key locations outside of Canada interdict thousands of inadmissible persons each year, preventing them from entering North America.
Trade
Byrd Amendment
The Big Picture: Under the Continued Dumping and Offset Act of 2000 (CDSOA), commonly referred to as the "Byrd Amendment", U.S. antidumping and countervailing (AD/CVD) duties are distributed to companies that supported those actions. Those duties were previously deposited in the U.S. Treasury. In January 2003, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled that the Byrd Amendment was inconsistent with U.S. WTO obligations. On November 26, 2004, in the absence of U.S. action to repeal this measure, the WTO authorized Canada, the European Union, Japan, India, Brazil, South Korea, Chile, and Mexico to retaliate against the U.S. The Byrd Amendment undermines the U.S. market-opening objectives, encourages more trade remedy cases, exposes U.S. exporters to WTO-sanctioned retaliation, and harms consumers for the sake of special interests. The Administration has called for repeal of the Byrd Amendment. Canada urges the early adoption of legislation to that effect.
Live Cattle from Canada
The Big Picture: The continued closure of the US border for live cattle and certain beef products from Canada is having a corrosive effect on Canada-US relations. The closure has seriously disrupted the highly integrated and efficient North American beef industry and is causing tremendous harm to Canadian beef producers. Many in Canada believe that the science is taking a back seat to politically active protectionist groups who would benefit from the continued closure of the border. Canada is seeking the immediate opening of the US border to Canadian cattle and beef products.
Country of Origin Labelling
The Big Picture: The lack of a resolution of the long-running wheat trade dispute between Canada and the United States is constraining the ability of U.S. millers from supplying U.S. bakers with the quality and quantity of flour to satisfy U.S. consumers and is having a counterproductive effect on Canada-U.S. relations. Canada is seeking an end to the duties imposed by the Department of Commerce on Canadian hard red spring wheat and an appreciation that Canada's marketing system for wheat, while different from that of the U.S , is fair
Live Swine
The Big Picture: The renewed trade action on Canadian hogs, of the long-running bilateral issue (1985-1999), is having a counterproductive effect on Canada-U.S. relations and is having a counterproductive effect on what has become an integrated and efficient North American pork industry that has increased its combined share of world markets from 25% in 1994 to a forecast 45% in 2004. Canada is seeking an end to the duties imposed by the Department of Commerce on Canadian live swine.
Softwood Lumber
The Big Picture: Canada and the United States are the largest trading partners in the world. While over 96% of our bilateral trade is problem-free, the ongoing softwood lumber dispute costs our countries both jobs and investment. The U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports have led to increased lumber prices in the U.S. and prevented many Americans from owning a home. Canada is seeking an end to the duties imposed by the Department of Commerce, the refund of over $3.4 billion (C$4.25 billion) in collected duties and a durable solution to prevent further disputes in our softwood lumber trade. On November 30, Prime Minister Martin and President Bush agreed on the need to resolve the softwood dispute. Canada is committed to finding a durable resolution to the dispute, and remains open to opportunities for negotiating a mutually beneficial settlement.
Wheat
The Big Picture: The lack of a resolution of the long-running wheat trade dispute between Canada and the United States is constraining the ability of U.S. millers from supplying U.S. bakers with the quality and quantity of flour to satisfy U.S. consumers and is having a counterproductive effect on Canada-U.S. relations. Canada is seeking an end to the duties imposed by the Department of Commerce on Canadian hard red spring wheat and an appreciation that Canada's marketing system for wheat, while different from that of the U.S , is fair
Environment
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Big Picture: Canadian and Alaskan native communities north of the Arctic Circle depend on the Porcupine Caribou Herd for their sustenance and cultural needs. The most successful calving grounds for this migratory herd are in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, but the U.S. Administration and some Members of Congress want to drill there for oil and gas. We have permanently protected from development the lands in Canada used occasionally by the herd for calving and continue to urge that the U.S. do the same. This would be consistent with the commitment to protect and conserve the herd and its habitat in the 1987 Canada-U.S. Agreement on the Conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd.
Great Lakes
What is happening:: Canada is conducting a domestic review of Canadian Great Lakes management, including the St. Lawrence River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the U.S., the Great Lakes states are dissatisfied with the pace and level of funding for clean-up of the lakes, prompting bipartisan bills in Congress that would authorise grant programmes of US$4-$6 billion over the next 5 - 10 years to support coastal and water quality restoration for the Great Lakes and create new institutional arrangements. The Administration is also taking steps to focus and coordinate U.S. Great Lakes programmes at the national and local level.
Transboundary Movement of Waste
The Big Picture: Hazardous and municipal waste flows both ways across the Canada-US border. In 2006, Canada will implement a Canada-US bilateral agreement that creates an environmentally-sound, science-based system for monitoring waste shipments. The Agreement includes requirements for notification and consent. Canada seeks for the US to fully implement this amendment as well.
National Security
Consolidating Security Resources; Protecting the Public
The Big Picture: On December 12, 2003, the Prime Minister of Canada created the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Portfolio, essentially Canada’s equivalent to the Department of Homeland Security, under the direction of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Securing an Open Society
The Big Picture: Canada is #5 on Al-Qaeda’s list of target nations. Protecting Canada is a top priority and we have made significant investments in our security. Canada’s new National Security Policy focuses on three core national security issues:
Tough Legislation Fights Terrorism
The Big Picture: Two new laws, the Anti-terrorism Act and the Public Safety Act, were passed in response to 9/11. They give Canadian law enforcement agencies the tools to deter, disable, identify, prosecute and punish terrorists. These measures form the cornerstone of our anti-terrorism efforts at home.
