Lewenza indicated that his union supports concrete measures to speed
traffic flow and decrease congestion at the border. However, he noted
that most of the initiatives and pilot projects announced in the deal
focus on new measures to tighten security and harmonize business
regulations, and that these measures offer no direct benefit for the
efficiency of border traffic.
"The crucial bottlenecks in border traffic stem from a lack of
infrastructure and a lack of resources," Lewenza said. "We need more
bridges, more inspection lanes, and more border guards. But this
agreement is focused on the tighter integration of security information
and policing, and the elimination of business regulations that have no
relationship to the border whatsoever."
Lewenza expressed particular concern about the new Regulatory
Cooperation Council, which will work to harmonize Canadian business
regulations with existing U.S. laws. While this will save money and
inconvenience for corporations selling into the Canadian market, in
some areas (such as food and drug safety) the process may heighten
risks for Canadian consumers.
And he pointed out that the RCC's work has no direct impact on the
efficiency of cross-border traffic. "The regulations being targeted
for elimination have no impact on border delays," he said. "We do not
stop trucks at the border to measure the size of soup tins."
"This is not about a supposed 'trade-off' between border efficiency and
Canadian sovereignty. This is about rewriting Canadian regulations to
make them more convenient to corporations."
A deep and automatic integration of information and security practices
could also pose significant risks to Canadians, said Lewenza. He
stressed that any information sharing procedures must contain "strong
checks and balances" to ensure they are fully consistent with Canadian
privacy standards and Charter rights.
Since the 9-11 attacks, many U.S. security and human rights practices
have become increasingly incompatible with fundamental Canadian rights.
Legislative changes now permit U.S. authorities to conduct widespread
routine surveillance on their own citizens, to arrest and hold
suspected "terrorists" without traditional legal protections, to seize
assets, and other measures unacceptable in Canada.
"Canadians must
absolutely be protected against such abuses, as a number one priority
of our government." Lewenza also urged the federal government to fully
implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation
to Maher Arar before expanding security sharing arrangements with the U.S.
Lewenza said his union would support concrete initiatives to speed
border traffic, including pre-screening of cargos at locations away
from the border, and the expansion of accelerated processing systems
already in use by the auto industry and other major shippers.
However, Lewenza noted that the biggest single contribution to faster
border traffic would be the construction of the proposed second bridge
at Windsor-Detroit. Again, on this crucial issue this week's deal was
silent.
