U.S. SAYS CANADA CARES TOO MUCH ABOUT LIBERTIES

Terrorism Report Also Says Too Little Spent On Police

The United States says the lack of funding for police and restrictive
privacy legislation in Canada are frustrating probes of political extremists.

The comments in an annual report on international terrorism were the latest
critical remarks from the U.S. apparently aimed at prodding Canada to bring
its security measures in line.

The State Department report on global terrorism for 2002 suggests that
while Canada has been helpful in the fight against terrorism, it doesn't
spend enough on policing and places too much emphasis on civil liberties.

It says "some U.S. law enforcement officers have expressed concern" about
Canadian privacy laws.

The U.S. officers feel those laws, as well as funding levels for law
enforcement, "inhibit a fuller and more timely exchange of information and
response to requests for assistance," the report says.

"Also, Canadian laws and regulations intended to protect Canadian citizens
and landed immigrants from government intrusion sometimes limit the depth
of investigations."

Under the U.S.-Canada Terrorist Interdiction Program, known as TIP, Canada
records about one "hit" of known or suspected terrorists a week from the
State Department's visa lookout list. The initiative involves software that
enhances the ability of border officials to collect, compare and analyse
traveller data, allowing them to identify and track people of interest.

Spokesmen for the Solicitor General's Department were not available to
comment on the report.

The U.S. observations come amid heightened tension between the two
countries following Washington's public expression of disappointment that
Canadian forces did not join the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

In releasing the report, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said although
there has been great progress in the last year, terrorism still "casts its
grim shadow" across the globe.

The number of terrorist attacks dropped to 199 in 2002 from 355 the
previous year. Still, Mr. Powell noted, assaults occurred in every region
of the world, claiming 725 lives. Terrorist bombings in Bali last fall
killed about 200 people from two dozen countries, including Canada.

Despite the report's criticism of certain Canadian practices, it included
effusive praise for the federal government's overall efforts to work with
the U.S. in the fight against extremism, calling the relationship "a model
for bilateral co-operation on counter-terrorism issues."

Seven American law-enforcement agencies have posted officers to Ottawa and
other Canadian cities, while a number of Canadian personnel are assigned to
the U.S.

The report also notes Canada's passage of anti-terrorism legislation, its
move to create a formal list of terrorist organizations and participation
in various international anti-crime forums.

The comments follow State Department remarks in a March report on narcotics
and money laundering that urged Canada to ensure privacy protection
measures do not prevent the timely sharing of financial information that
might be critical to police investigations.

The same report took issue with Canada's move to make possession of small
amounts of marijuana a ticketing offence rather than a criminal one. "This
will not only harm Canadian society, but have consequences for the United
States as well," the report said.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon reiterated yesterday that legislation to
decriminalize marijuana will be tabled soon, while Canadian Alliance Leader
Stephen Harper said the move would inflame tensions with the U.S.

"Now would not be the time to irritate trade relations and we've already
had plenty of warning that this would do just that."