HARPER REBUFFS 'AWKWARD' LAW CHARGES

Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday rebuffed American
suggestions Canada isn't doing enough to stem the flow of drugs,
illegal guns and money-laundering between Canada and the United
States. Harper pledged to review laws that frustrate law enforcement
agencies in the fight against cross-border crime.

"We want to cooperate with American authorities in terms of the flow
of illegal goods both ways. I think it ultimately has to be a
partnership," he told reporters in Vancouver. "Obviously we will also
review our laws if we do have laws that impede our ability to do our
job."

Harper made the comments in the wake of criticism by a top U.S.
official in Canada who said that Canada could do more to share
information and that some of its laws are too restrictive for U.S.
law-enforcement interests.

Terry Breese, deputy chief of mission for the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa,
told The Vancouver Sun's editorial board the two countries work well
together on many law enforcement investigations, especially through
the countries' joint Integrated Border Enforcement Team program.

But he also complained that the U.S. finds some Canadian laws
"awkward."

"It is often awkward or difficult to get cooperation on sharing.
Canada's laws often prevent the sharing of results," Breese said.

Harper said the public wants results, rather than finger-pointing.

"I don't think the public wants to see buck-passing on this and that
it is the fault of one government or the other," the prime minister
said. "Ultimately we have to work together when it involves the flow
of goods and services for good or ill across our borders."

Breese said Canada needs to be more helpful with U.S. investigators.
He cited as an example a lack of Canadian cooperation when the U.S.
discovers undeclared money being smuggled into the U.S. Both countries
require people to declare when they transfer $10,000 or more across
the border, and Canada's Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis
Centre (FINTRAC) analyzes suspicious banking transactions. But getting
access to information from FINTRAC, a Canadian government agency, is
difficult, Breese said. "We would like to know because we'd also like
to find out what has been investigated, who are the connections in the
U.S. Obviously carrying $100,000 cash down to the U.S. has some
purpose," he said.