statism watch

Dana Gabriel, BeYourOwnLeader
June 11, 2012

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently unveiled a northern border strategy which seeks to address security concerns, while at the same time facilitating the flow of lawful travel and trade. The new plan promotes enhanced shared intelligence and joint law enforcement integration with Canada. It further builds on initiatives included in the Beyond the Border agreement and is part of ongoing efforts to lay the foundation for a North American security perimeter.

On June 5, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the Northern Border Strategy (NBS) aimed at deterring and preventing terrorism, smuggling, trafficking and illegal immigration. In a press release she explained how the new plan, “provides a unifying framework for the Department’s work focused on enhancing the security and resiliency along our northern border while expediting legitimate travel and trade with Canada.” In order to accomplish these objectives, the NBS seeks to, “improve information sharing and analysis within DHS, as well as with key partners. The Department will also enhance coordination of U.S.-Canada joint interdictions and investigations, deploy technologies to aid joint security efforts along the border, and continue to update infrastructure.” The NBS parallels the National Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy issued in January. It also supports goals outlined in the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border action plan which focuses on addressing security threats early, facilitating trade, economic growth and jobs, integrating cross-border law enforcement, as well as improving infrastructure and cyber-security.

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Dana Gabriel, BeYourOwnLeader
May 14, 2012

Through the Beyond the Border agreement released in December 2011, the U.S. and Canada are implementing initiatives that are working towards establishing a North American security perimeter. This includes expanding trusted traveler programs, as well as enhancing integrated law enforcement and information sharing cooperation which has raised many privacy concerns that have yet to be properly addressed.

There are questions surrounding the Conservative government’s Bill C-38, the Budget Implementation Act that also contains changes related to the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border action plan. This includes ratifying and making the Shiprider a legal and permanent program which will require amending the Criminal Code, along with the RCMP and Customs Act. The joint initiative officially known as the Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations first began as a pilot project. It allows RCMP and U.S. Coast Guard officers to operate vessels together and pursue criminals in the waters of both countries. The Council of Canadians reported that the NDP is demanding that the Shiprider policing program be taken out of budget implementation bill. Brian Masse, the NDP border critic is pushing for separate legislation and pointed out that, “it’s totally irresponsible to have it as part of the Budget Implementation Act.” He added, “There’s significant policing issues that really warrant a standalone bill. If it was so important that they did all the fanfare for it, why doesn’t it warrant its own process?” The proposed changes could have serious sovereignty implications with regards to accountability, due process and civil rights and therefore, need to be fully scrutinized.

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by Dana Gabriel, Be Your Own Leader
October 11, 2011

In the last number of years, there has been a dramatic shift in Canadian security and foreign policy with regards to continental, hemispheric and global issues. While Canada is working with the U.S. on a North American security perimeter deal, there are also efforts to strengthen defense relations with Britain and other allies. Canada has also elevated its status in NATO and is playing a more prominent role in military operations overseas.

Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay recently met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to discuss bilateral security cooperation issues. In a news release, Minister Mackay praised the Canada-U.S. partnership as unique and explained, “Our binational command in NORAD, as well as the daily operation between our military and defence teams is a tangible demonstration of how we stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in the defence of North America and in addressing common global challenges.” He went on to say, “We are proud to work alongside our U.S. friends in the Americas, in Libya, in Afghanistan, and as transatlantic partners of NATO.” At a press conference following their meeting, Secretary Panetta acknowledged that both countries are looking to improve their bilateral engagement in the Western Hemisphere. He stated, “If we can develop better capabilities and partnerships throughout the hemisphere, that’s something that I think both of us consider to be a real step forward in our relationship.” Future plans could also include expanding a security perimeter framework beyond North America.

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By Dana Gabriel, BeYourOwnLeader
September 19, 2011

The U.S. and Canada are very close to unveiling a North American perimeter security deal that would promote greater integration between both countries. This includes expanding collaboration in areas of law enforcement and intelligence sharing which could dramatically affect sovereignty and privacy rights. While there is a need for more public scrutiny, incrementalism has been used to advance North American integration. In many ways this has kept the agenda under the radar. Much like NAFTA and the Security and Prosperity Partnership, a U.S.-Canada perimeter security agreement would represent another step in the consolidation of North America.

During his speech at a recent meeting of northern border states, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told participants that the U.S. and Canada are set to launch a pilot project next year which will allow law enforcement officers to operate on both sides of the border. Holder explained that, “the creation of ‘NextGen’ teams of cross-designated officers would allow us to more effectively identify, assess, and interdict persons and organizations involved in transnational crime.” He went on to say, “In conjunction with the other provisions included in the Beyond the Border Initiative, such a move would enhance our cross-border efforts and advance our information-sharing abilities.” The declaration, Beyond the Border: Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness issued by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper last February, identified joint law enforcement operations and information sharing as a high priority. There are already examples of what we could expect from a security perimeter as some Canadians have been denied entry into the U.S. after their records of mental illness were shared with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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by Dana Gabriel, BeYourOwnLeader
September 1, 2011

(Image by Darcy St. Amant and NAUresistance)

Much has been made about the secretive nature and lack of transparency surrounding efforts by the U.S. and Canada to create a North American security perimeter. With several high-level meetings in the last month, not to mention all the behind the scenes negotiations, it is expected that an action plan will be unveiled at some point in September. From a U.S. perspective, it is security which is driving the agenda, while on the Canadian side, facilitating trade and easing the flow of goods across the border is the focal point. Any deal reached will build off of past initiatives and be used to advance economic, energy and security integration between the two countries.

During a bilateral meeting in early August, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird discussed issues pertaining to the Middle East and the Western Hemisphere. Also high on the agenda was U.S.- Canada relations. This included the declaration, Beyond the Border: Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness issued by U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper back in February of this year. At a news conference following her meeting with Minister Baird, Secretary Clinton stressed that, “it’s critical that we ensure our border remains a safe, vibrant connector of people, trade, and energy. And today, the minister and I discussed other ways to expand trade and investment; for example, by reducing unnecessary regulations.” It is interesting that Clinton brought up energy as this is also an integral part of North American integration which is being further advanced through the U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue, as well as other initiatives.

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by Dana Gabriel, BeYourOwnLeader
May 20, 2011

It was surprising that bilateral relations with the U.S. did not play a more prominent role during the recent Canadian election considering that both countries are pursuing a trade and security agreement. In fact, the issue did not really surface until the dying days of the campaign. After winning a much coveted majority government, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives are moving ahead quickly with perimeter security and regulatory harmonization negotiations. NAFTA and the defunct Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) both addressed issues such as regulatory cooperation. The push for a single unified North American business-friendly regulatory regime continues on different fronts.

In the final week of the Canadian election campaign, consumer advocate and four-time candidate for President of the United States, Ralph Nader warned about Canada-U.S. deep integration. In an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, he raised concerns over the lack of transparency regarding talks between the two countries on a trade and border security deal. Nader cautioned that a, “North American Security Perimeter Agreement will wrap many Canadian concerns – your Arctic, water, energy, anti-monopoly and foreign investment reviews – in a bi-national security blanket.” He added, “The corporatist lobbies and what President Eisenhower warned Americans about in his farewell address 50 years ago – ‘the military-industrial complex’ – will favour this lucrative and anti-democratic initiative.” Nader also explained in his letter to Harper, that, “Canada’s prudent bank regulation prevented a Wall Street style collapse of your economy.” North American deep integration is a corporate led agenda designed to foster privatization and deregulation.

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Problem, reaction, solution: globalist bankers have been successful at blowing out the US dollar and the Euro and bringing them to the brink via massive wealth destruction through the sale of fraudulent derivative securities, the monetization of the resultant debt, and “stimulus” inflation. This artificial debt bubble is just about set to pop, and a new solution is being offered by the same people, in much the same way a crack dealer strings along his victims.Want a hit? The first one’s free.

Related: RBS tells clients to prepare for ‘monster’ money-printing by the Federal Reserve | The scary euro? Maybe the most frightening monster is the greenback | Germany could cause euro collapse: Soros | Spain could test the euro to its limit | US money supply plunges at 1930s pace as Obama eyes fresh stimulus | Germany’s Merkel Says Euro Is in Danger | Ron Paul: Euro Bailout Will Lead To Currency Collapse | Ontario launches U.S. bond | IMF chief proposes new reserve currency | Man who broke the Bank of England, George Soros, ‘at centre of hedge funds plot to cash in on fall of the euro’ | Collapse of the euro is ‘inevitable’: Bailing out the Greek economy futile, says French banking chief | Euro currency union shows strains | The Federal Reserve as Giant Counterfeiter | Current And Former IMF Heads Call For New Global Currency | George Soros Calls for World Currency and “New World Architecture” | U.S. dollar sags on global financial leaders’ omission | G20 Meet To Finalize Dumping Of Dollar This Weekend? | Dollar Reaches Breaking Point as Central Banks Shift Reserves | Fisk: Nations to hasten demise of dollar in new world order | US dollar set to be eclipsed, World Bank president predicts | Bilderberg Wants Global Currency Now | Dollar to fall under scrutiny at G20 summit | UN wants new global currency to replace dollar | G20 agrees to continue economic stimulus measures; Geithner shops international reserve accord | China Set to Buy $50 Billion in IMF Notes | Medvedev Unveils “World Currency” Coin At G8 | China calls anew for super-sovereign currency | China explores buying $50bn in IMF bonds | Chinese economists deem huge holding of US bonds “risky” as Geithner visits| U.N. panel says world should ditch dollar | IMF may need to “print money”, act as “world’s central bank” as crisis spreads | Globalists Exploit Financial Meltdown In Move Towards One World Currency | World needs new Bretton Woods, says Brown

Gabriella Casanas, Mick B. Krever, CNN
June 29, 2010

The dollar is an unreliable international currency and should be replaced by a more stable system, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs said in a report released Tuesday.

The use of the dollar for international trade came under increasing scrutiny when the U.S. economy fell into recession. “The dollar has proved not to be a stable store of value, which is a requisite for a stable reserve currency,” the report said.

Many countries, in Asia in particular, have been building up massive dollar reserves. As a result, those countries’ currencies have become undervalued, decreasing their ability to import goods from abroad.

The World Economic and Social Survey 2010 is supporting a proposal long advocated by the International Monetary Fund to create a standardized international system for liquidity transfer.

Under this proposed system, countries would no longer have to buy up foreign currencies, as China has long done with the U.S. dollar. Rather, they would accumulate the right to claim foreign currencies, or special drawing rights, or SDRs, rather than the currencies themselves.

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It’s really quite painful and baffling to read this coverage, based as it is on so many utterly false premises. As certain as the sun will rise tomorrow, fundamental economic laws dictate that at some point in the not too distant future, the system must collapse. Macroeconomists can talk all they want about surfing that fine line between Keynesian stimulus and correction, but the economic dynamic that nobody really ever addresses at these talking shops is a lot like a hot air balloon. You can keep pumping it up and skirting the treetops only so long as there is real value to feed into the burner. Once you’ve fully indebted national populations by borrowing against their future and there’s nothing left to tax to hand over to the final creditors, you’re no longer facing a manageable correction. It’s an engineered cataclysm, and your balloon has become the Hindenberg, pregnant with sovereign debt. The world finds itself on the horns of a dilemma for which bad economic theory is primarily responsible. Small wonder it’s referred to as the dismal science.

Oh, and there’s just one more thing – Greenpeace reports it already has a draft copy of the final G8 communique. It seems unlikely a state head will entirely ignore their economic advisors. So if the agreement has been mostly worked out beforehand in broad stokes by (we gather) the bureaucracy and central bank staffers, and if there’s just a few details left to debate, then what’s the point of this whole charade?

Related: The End of The Great Bailouts is Approaching | The Real Meaning of ‘Economic Austerity’: IMF/World Bank devastation | For G20 leaders, fiscal austerity is the new normal | IMF says Spain taking right steps towards stability | Harper urges austerity, Obama stimulus in urge for G20 to boost economic recovery | Carney warns of ‘age of austerity’, global outlook ‘getting worse’ | Spanish bailout readied as EU chief warns ‘democracy could disappear’ in debt ridden states | Europe embraces the cult of austerity — but at what cost? | | British face big spending cuts as coalition shows unity on austerity | Impact of $47B stimulus minimal: Fraser Institute | More stimulus spending coming | Federal budget watchdog disputes Flaherty’s forecasts | Hope keeps Flaherty’s balanced budget afloat | Tories hand out $75 billion worth of ’spending restraint’ | Stimulating our way into debt crises | IMF warns against retreat from stimulus spending | Flaherty’s economic plan blasted as leading to taxation or cuts | Idle job market hurting recovery, Flaherty warns | No new stimulus, economy ’stabilized’: Harper | Lower tax haul helps widen Ottawa deficit, $56.2B shortfall expected | Can’t say if federal stimulus is working: watchdog | Liberals call stimulus numbers ‘fiction’ | Ottawa on track for largest-ever deficit | Flaherty, USA say no to global financial tax, yes to continued ’stimulus’ at G20 | Economic picture still not very bright, and more layoffs are in store, manufacturers say | G20 to pledge continued ’stimulus’, examine international reserve fund | Aspiring government economists must reveal views on stimulus plan | Fund me or axe me, parliamentary budget officer says | Stephen Harper trumpets economic report card | Carney says G20 must stay the course on stimulus | Ottawa’s deficit plan would hike EI premiums | Canada’s $1-trillion debt baby | Flaherty sees deficit, debt, and timetable to return to surplus all expanding | G20 agrees to continue economic stimulus measures; Geithner shops international reserve accord | Federal deficit hits $7.5B in April-May | Budget officer ‘can’t tell’ if stimulus plan working | G8 leaders see no early end to stimulus | Flaherty looks for way to end stimulus | Stimulus cash is flowing — down a hole? | Harper lays out stimulus spending in progress report | ‘Reduced pace of deterioration’ indicates economy on the mend: Flaherty | Federal deficit to top $50B | Stimulus needed now, Bank of Canada says | US Congress reaches deal on economic stimulus package | $12B for infrastructure forms key pillar of stimulus package | Brace for a big, ‘comprehensive’ budget: Harper | Transport Minister Baird calls for dramatic action on stimulus package | Obama calls for ‘dramatic action’ on stimulus package | Flaherty vows short-lived deficit, consults corporate chiefs on spending initiatives | Harper government plans deficits as deep as $30 billion | Britain to introduce massive stimulus package | Deficits ‘essential,’ Harper says | Flaherty eyes sale of Canadian government assets | Flaherty lauds Keynesian global ‘economic stimulus’ strategies

Patrick Wintour, Larry Elliott, The Guardian
June 25, 2010

Apparent rifts add to growing jitters over global stock markets, which have been falling for four days in a row

Signs of deep rifts over how quickly to cut national deficits were emerging as world leaders gathered in Toronto for summits of the G8 and G20 groups of rich nations today.

The divisions added to growing jitters over global stock markets, which have been falling for four days in a row.

The US, led by Treasury secretary Tim Geithner, is resisting moves to cut deficits early, with Geithner warning that growth and confidence are paramount.

There are increasing fears of the risk of a double-dip recession in the US, with house sales falling and a slow pick-up in employment.

But the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and her allies have been insisting that her plans to cut Germany’s deficit by €80bn (£65.8bn) over four years will not stall growth. Merkel has warned that the sovereign debt crisis in Europe requires urgent action.

Admitting that discussions at the summits would be controversial but stressing that deficit reductions needed to be in place now, she said: “I and the EU will argue this position. There are others who are not yet so convinced of this exit strategy.”

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Related: Canwest sells newspapers to creditor group for $1.1B | Shaw buying up CanWest TV assets from Goldman-Sachs | Goldman appeals CanWest, Shaw deal | Shaw Cable moves for acquisition of controlling share in Canwest Global | Tipping point at CanWest | Obama: We Need To Bailout Newspapers To Stop New Media Taking Over | Tech giants respond to Media with ideas on charging readers for news online | Reuters Steps Up; Says Linking, Excerpting, Sharing Are Good Things For The News | Associated Press Tries To DRM The News | Should linking be illegal? | Ottawa considering aid for private broadcasters | The Death of Canadian Journalism | Prepackaged News

Susan Krashinsky, The Globe and Mail
June 23, 2010

The judge ordered the feuding parties to negotiate, and after 16 hours of talks, the sale of the TV stations was reached

It took more than 16 hours of negotiations and $11-million to remove the final roadblock to the purchase of the CanWest TV empire by Shaw Communications Inc. (SJR.B-T19.44-0.20-1.02%) — and to mark the end of the Asper family’s involvement in the broadcasting company Izzy Asper founded with a single TV station in 1974.

An Ontario court approved the sale to Shaw on Wednesday, after the company resolved a dispute with a shareholder group led by the Aspers, who objected to the deal. On Tuesday, Madam Justice Sarah Pepall called the situation “ridiculous” and ordered lawyers to resolve it out of court.

Talks ran through the day on Tuesday until 2 a.m. Wednesday, and resumed in the morning, ending in the settlement.

In February, Shaw won court approval to invest in a restructured CanWest, but encountered resistance from Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which still controlled a group of the company’s lucrative specialty channels. In May, Shaw announced it would pay $700-million for those channels, raising the price of its deal to $2-billion in total, and raising its stake in CanWest to 100 per cent.

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Compare the operations of the (temporary) JIG and (permanent) INSET headquarters to the proliferation of federalized Fusion Centers springing up across the US. Fusion Centers blend the operations of the military, intelligence, and local police – previously firewalled off for reasons of jurisdiction and to necessarily protect the civil liberties of Americans by making a distinction between operational theaters. Clearly, the military is designed to kill and break stuff, while the police are traditionally tasked with upholding the law. The US drive to integration through cross training and shared resources generates justifiable concern, and the US Fusion Centres have come under increasing criticism both for their surveillance capabilities and for singling out political leaders and minority groups outside of the mainstream as threats.

We see an echo of this US federalization under Homeland Security being carried out north of the border with INSET, JIG, and the ISU coordinating. We even have our own Department of Homeland Security, of course, the kinder, more gently named Department of Public Safety. Created in the wake of 9/11 and presently headed by Vic Toews. The Department of Public Safety recently announced a plan to create a new body to increase state oversight and control over ‘critical infrastructure’. The common thread here is centralization of power, and the question Canadians need to ask themselves is, where does the greater risk lie – in the bogeyman of terrorism (you’re more likely to be struck by lightning), or the creation of massive new bureaucracies of control? Even though the officers working away at the old Bemis toilet seat factory up in Barrie may today be the most well intentioned people in the world, history indicates the systemic risk being introduced into the Canadian enforcement system is far more dangerous than any individual ISI patsy, woundup and pointed in our direction from half a world away.

Related: Infrastructure security plan unveiled | Public Safety Canada announces national plan to centralize operations in state of emergency | US Police to get access to classified military intelligence | Ground broken on $3.4 billion Homeland Security complex | Military challenge: Make spy data more accessible | For more, see the G20 Coverage page feature

Michelle Shephard, Tanya Talaga, The Toronto Star
June 22, 2010

If something goes wrong at this weekend’s summit, the call will go to Barrie

If something goes wrong, the Barrie nerve centre will buzz.

The JIG is up, is how the phalanx of Canadian police and security forces converging for the G20 and G8 summits refers to it.

As in, the Joint Intelligence Group for the Integrated Security Unit is up in Barrie, where everyone will turn should any major attack happen during the summits.

Unless the threat is terrorism. And then the unfortunately named acronym of the DIC is in the SOC, as in the Domestic Incident Command is in the Special Operations Centre, applies.

Which means command control goes to Toronto’s RCMP-led terrorism unit that was created after the 9/11 attacks and is known as INSET, or Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.

Their headquarters just north of the city, is supposed to be covert but became a rather poorly kept secret when the ribbon-cutting for the facility included a large contingent of Mounties in red serge posing on the lawn outside.

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