CROSS-BORDER EDUCATION NEEDED

Which nation, Canada or the United States, has more illegal drugs, drug
dealers, murders per capita, cases involving violence, gang activity,
incidents of organized crime, terrorists and terrorist incidents?

It is unlikely anyone here would choose Canada in even one category. But if
we added up the answers this country would come out ahead on just about any
tally sheet.

So, why don't we think about closing our border to Americans?

Why? Because it would be absurd. And it is equally absurd that Americans
are seeing Canada as a breeding ground for crime and terrorism. But that's
what the authors of a report for Congress conclude.

We value the common, so-called "longest undefended border in the world."
Despite our smug attitudes, we do value our relationship with neighbours
south of the 49th parallel. However, some Americans have branded our
country a "favoured destination for terrorists and international criminals."

"Canada has played a significant role as a base for both transnational
criminal activity and terrorist activity," according to a U.S. report
titled Nations Hospitable to Organized Crime and Terrorism.

When the U.S. was attacked by terrorists Sept. 11, 2001, Canadians spent
the day doing two things - helping Americans who couldn't land planes in
their own country and apologizing for allowing terrorists into the States.

In both cases, Canadians ended up getting little recognition. In the latter
case, we were quite wrong. The Sept. 11 Al Qaeda suspects entered the U.S.
from elsewhere. They also spent quite a bit of time roaming that country
freely learning to fly and preparing to attack New York and Washington.

Last time we checked, people linked to the mafia her were reporting to New
York mobsters. And Hells Angels gangs had to have originated in the U.S.
because that is where the bike gangs originated.

So, what makes our country a serious risk?

We have generous constitutional freedoms. We have weak law enforcement. We
have lightly patrolled borders. At least that is according to the report.
On the other hand, most would agree the American constitution has greater
guarantees of freedoms. We have fewer hard core criminals running around.
And our biggest border, by far, links us to the U.S.

We would agree that B.C. bud has potted us a problem. But certainly we
don't hear about an Abbotsford Cartel in the same context as the Medalin
Cartel.

"The issues that we have to deal with are pretty common ones globally,"
says Alex Swann, who speaks for Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan. Most
would agree.

Unfortunately there are a few researchers in the U.S. with an agenda that
needs to be set straight. If the U.S. has solid evidence terrorists and
crime syndicates are increasingly using Canada as a base, why not point to
the cases and the RCMP and CSIS can deal with it.

We have always been willing to work with Americans and being good
neighbours we ought to continue to do so. That may also have to include
setting the record straight.