HARPER, BUSH TO MEET JULY 6 ON SECURITY

WASHINGTON -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President George W.
Bush are planning a meeting July 6 where they'll talk about security
and intelligence co-operation.

Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson let word of the get-together slip
during an appearance Thursday at a Capitol Hill hearing where U.S.
legislators heaped praise on Canada for its role in Afghanistan but
showed little interest in a tough security plan that's making people
queasy on both sides of the border.

Wilson called the meeting between leaders, the first since they were
together in Cancun, Mexico, in late March, a sign they're developing
a closer relationship.

"I think that is going to result in a closer working relationship
between our security and intelligence forces," said Wilson.

Canada has been anxious to schedule another face-to-face to cement
perceptions that bilateral ties are on the upswing since a tentative
softwood lumber deal was reached last month.

A White House spokeswoman said she couldn't confirm the date or
location of the Bush-Harper meeting.

But the two countries had tried to work out a time in June for Harper
to visit Washington before running into scheduling problems. There
was concern it might have to wait until the fall.

Wilson, at an unofficial U.S. House of Representatives committee
meeting, emphasized the promise of closer ties under the new
Conservative government, while laying out Canada's concerns about
strict new U.S. identification measures at the border.

But the group, chaired by Republican Dan Burton of Indiana, was much
more interested in talking about Canada's energy resources, its role
in the world, tackling drug trafficking and Conservative security policies.

And Burton, who greeted the ambassador by telling him he looked like
"a movie star," promised the committee's assistance in breaking any
logjam on negotiations over the security ID plan, while admitting he
didn't know where the issue stands in the House.

He did say the plan requires "realistic timetables" and noted the
automotive industry is particuarly worried about timely delivery of
parts amid potential border chaos.

U.S. senators passed an amendment last week to delay the requirements
for 17 months past the Jan. 1, 2008 deadline but it's a long way from
becoming law. There has been no similar move by the House.

The Senate approved another measure Thursday calling for a study of
the ID plan's economic impact, a pilot project to ensure it works and
letting Canadians use high-technology driver's licences to enter the
United States, instead of a special new card like Americans are developing.

"The important thing is the Senate has spoken and that's a very good
message out there," Wilson said after the meeting.

"The administration is not immune to what the House, what the Senate
thinks and they'll be paying attention."

Burton said he asked Wilson to attend the unofficial hearing
primarily to thank Canada for its partnership in the war on terrorism.

He's introduced a resolution in Congress recognizing Canada's recent
vote to extend the Afghanistan mission by two years into 2009.

And he offered condolences on the latest Canadian casualty, Capt.
Nichola Goddard, although he mistakenly said Nicholas before later
correcting himself.

"There's no country in the world that's a better friend than Canada,"
said Burton, who's warm remarks were echoed by others.

"It's like a brother-sister relationship. Without Canada, we would
have a real problem with our northern border."

"You're our safety link."

Committee members also praised Canada's roles in Haiti and the Darfur
region of Sudan, while urging Canada to do more to help impoverished
farmers in South America switch from coca crops -- that are processed
into cocaine -- to coffee.

Asked a couple of times about whether Canada is having more problems
with illicit drugs and whether it would be willing to join the
International Coffee Organization, Wilson said he'd have to get back
to the committee.

"This is not an area I'm very familiar with," he said.

Others wondered about the Canada's declining opinion of Americans in
recent polls.

"Iraq is an issue," Wilson agreed but said Harper would be
"proactive" in promoting the Canada-U.S. relationship.

He also emphasized Harper's decisive action on flashpoints around the
world, like listing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as a
terrorist group under the Criminal Code and cutting off contacts with
the Palestinian Authority after Hamas's election win.

"We're a significant country," Wilson said later.

"Are we a superpower like the U.S.? No."

"Do people listen to us? Absolutely they listen to us."

"So let's take advantage of that. We are making our points of view
hear in a broader way."