ASHCROFT VISITS OTTAWA THIS WEEK TO TALK TRAFFICKING IN GUNS, DRUGS AT
BORDER

Fighting gun, drug and human trafficking along the Canada-U.S. border will
be key agenda items when U.S. Attorney-General John Ashcroft visits Ottawa
this week to meet with his Canadian counterparts and law-enforcement
officials.

It will be the second visit in less than two weeks from a senior member of
the Bush administration: Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge came last
week.

On his last trip to Canada in July, 2002, Mr. Ashcroft told a gathering in
Banff, Alta., he would like to see Canada loosen restrictions to allow armed
U.S. law enforcement officers to pursue suspects in Canada. Canadian
officials rebuffed the proposal. Another potential issue that could emerge
is the increase in U.S. guns that have turned up in Canada.

Mr. Ashcroft's visit comes as Ottawa prepares to reintroduce legislation to
decriminalize possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana, a move that has
been an irritant in Canada-U.S. relations. Last month, the U.S. took a shot
at the plan, saying lax drug penalties amount to an "invitation" for
organized crime.