M.P. says North American perimeter won’t work

Ken Johnston
Editorial@RainyRiverRecord.com

“It is always hard when one talks about people potentially losing their
lives,” said Kenora-Rainy River Member of Parliament Bob Nault last
Thursday.
Nault said that there was an emergency recall of cabinet last week to
discuss Canada’s contribution to the war on terrorism. While he would not elaborate on the discussions, he said they were very tough, but the outcome was what he felt was appropriate.
“Right now we are preparing to send our men and women (to the allied efforts overseas),” said Nault.
Major Dave Fraser at the Kenora Canadian Forces Armory said that at this time no ground troops have been called and hence no local men are taking part in the Canadian contribution as of yet. He did note that about a dozen men from the region, including a number of Rainy River area men have been overseas to participate in peace keeping missions in Bosnia and Cyprus in the past few years.
Nault noted that while Canada has committed 2,000 personnel and 1/3 of its navy to the attack on terrorism abroad, it has also taken strong steps to protect Canadians at home.
Last week his government announced a cash injection of $280 million to step up security at the Canadian Border. Noting that Canada already had 50% more customs officers on the Canadian-U.S. border before September 11, 2001, Nault said that will include the hiring of about 130 additional customs inspectors to man the border between the U.S. and Canada as well as at airports. Nault did not know if any of those would be added to the Rainy River or Fort Frances ports of entry. However he did note that the Fort Frances port is above average for traffic levels and his assistant Julian Morelli said that plans for the new customs facility there may have to be relooked at to include some of the beefed up security measures. They will include better information systems to connect front-line officers to essential information; more X-ray equipment to facilitate better screening of goods; improved fingerprint technology to improve the Canadian Criminal Records System; more money for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Emergency Response Team to undertake tactical response capabilities.
As for the option of arming Canadian Customs officials, Nault said he does not feel that is necessary. He feels that would in essence create another police force, something he feels Canada does not need. “We need to improve counter intelligence and better track people in Canada who are not citizens.”
As for the idea of creating a North American Perimeter or Fortress North America, Nault does not think that will work. He feels that improved cooperation with U.S. and other intelligence agencies is the answer. He also noted that the Mexican border needs to be tightened up.
Nault also said that the proposal that was on the books to look at automating several border points, including Rainy River will now be put on the back-burner to be reevaluated at a later date.
“I think Mr. Chretien is following the will of the people and that the
government is doing the right things,” concluded Nault.