Canada
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
Statement on Canadian Contributions to US Coalition
September 25, 2001
No two countries work more closely on the common goal of ensuring the safety
of their citizens against terrorism than Canada and the United States.
The RCMP, CSIS, local police, Customs, Immigration and Transport officials work
with their American counterparts every day, 365 days a year.
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Attorney General
Ashcroft recently praised the work of the Solicitor General MacAulay and the
members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their work.
Under the circumstances created by these attacks, the issue is how Canada and
the United States - two of the freest and most open societies in the world -
manage our interdependence here in North America.
We are committed to taking action on the border to ensure public safety and
security, while:
Facilitating $1.3 billion in daily trade;
Facilitating cross border travel by some 200 million people per year;
and,
And maintaining our ability to apply unique Canadian approaches and nurture
unique Canadian values.
We want a shared border that is seamless, secure, but sovereign.
As the Prime Minister has said, "... there is one thing I want to say:
that the laws of Canada will be passed by the Parliament of Canada."
Cooperation since September 11, 2001
Since the attacks, the RCMP has been working with its American counterparts
to provide whatever technical, logistical and other support is necessary to
assist them in their investigation.
Customs officers are maintaining a high state of vigilance. We have increased
the questioning of people and the examination of goods entering the country.
Security measures for air travellers have been increased.
Any assets related to Osama bin Laden or his associates in Canada are frozen.
Canada is moving quickly to ratify and implement the UN Convention for the Suppression
of Terrorism Financing. This is expected in the near future.
A Long Term Partnership
The new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act will strengthen our ability to
keep Canadians safe from undesirable individuals while ensuring that those who
need Canada's help are permitted to enter.
The proposed Charities Registration (Security Information) Act will prevent
tax-assisted donations from being used to support terrorism.
Through the Shared Border Accord (1995), the Cross Border Crime Forum (1997)
and the Border Vision Initiative (1997), both our countries have taken important
steps to streamline and collaborate on border policies and management, expand
co-operation at and beyond the border, and collaborate on common threats from
outside Canada and the United States.
Under the 1988 Joint Declaration on Counter-Terrorism, Canada and the United
States improved their information and intelligence sharing on suspected and
known terrorists for use in the screening of visas and inspections at points
of entry.