FREE-FLOW BORDERS FRIGHTEN TOP COP

Stannard Fears Drugs, Weapons Could Enter Canada Unchecked

A free-flowing border between Canada and the U.S. may spell good news for
the economy, but bad news for the streets of Windsor, police Chief Glenn
Stannard said Monday.

"Nobody is talking anywhere here about the movement of guns and drugs," he
said. "They have a whole different attitude in the U.S. about guns.

"It's one thing to have the free flow of trade, but why haven't they talked
about drugs and weapons? It's not even a thought."

An independent tri-national task force said Monday that Canada, the U.S.
and Mexico should become a single trading space surrounded by a strong
security barrier to ensure North America's prosperity.

The task force, which includes former Canadian deputy prime minister John
Manley, said the plan should include a three-country border pass with
biometric identifiers -- such as iris scans or fingerprints -- so people
can move easily between nations by 2010.

"We propose a community based on the premise that each member benefits from
its neighbour's success and is diminished by its problems," said the task
force, also chaired by Pedro Aspe, former Mexican treasury secretary and
former Massachusetts governor William Weld.

Stannard said he has plenty of safety concerns for Windsor under such a
plan. In 2003, 3.25 million trucks and 6.3 million cars crossed the
Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor.

"What about persons with criminal records?" said the police chief. "Does
this mean murderers just come across with no checks?

"What does free-flowing mean? Without knowing whether there would be any
checks at the border and what that will look like, I'd be very concerned."

The federal government "is not involved" in supporting a North American
security perimeter, but is looking to further advance security co-operation
with the U.S. and Mexico, said Alex Swann, spokesman for Deputy Prime
Minister Anne McLellan.

He pointed to the joint meeting March 23 between leaders from Canada, U.S.
and Mexico where he said Prime Minister Paul Martin will pursue "enhanced
co-operation on security" among the three nations, Swann said.

He said Canada's approach on security is being done on a "step-by-step"
basis as illustrated by the Smart Border Accord -- an agreement with the
U.S. introduced in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that
promotes a common approach on several border programs.

"We have reached a good deal of objectives in the short-term," Swann said.

It is hoped Canada can soon develop a similar accord with Mexico, he said.

The local chamber of commerce and the Canada Border Services Agency, which
oversees customs, did not want to comment on the implications for Windsor
of having a North American security perimeter.

MP Brian Masse (NDP -- Windsor West) said the task force "needs to give its
head a shake" in the wake of the trade impasse over softwood lumber and beef.

"We have a bunch of truckers who can't even take their lunch across right
now because of the meat in their sandwiches," Masse said.

"This is a non-starter until they resolve current arguments over softwood
lumber and meat. Why are we moving toward further agreements when there are
no respect from the U.S. for the laws that are in place?"

Masse also expressed concern over Canada becoming involved in "fortress
North America" because "the U.S. is massively in debt" and the Mexican
border with the U.S. presents far different immigration and trade
challenges than the Canadian border.