Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jul 2002
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Webpage: www.mapinc.org/cancom/59E6FD3D-A38B-4282-B5D3-BDB1E297CA0F
Copyright: 2002 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Mark Reid

CANADA, U.S. BOLSTER BORDER SECURITY

Canada and the United States are expanding a special cross-border 
crime-fighting force by five teams -- but none of the new units will be 
located in Alberta.

Indeed, none of a total of 10 Integrated Border Enforcement Teams created 
since last December are based in this province, and Solicitor General 
Lawrence MacAulay can't say when, or even if, a team will be based here in 
the near future.

"There will be four more announced, but it's up to security and police on 
both sides of the border to decide the best place to establish these 
IBETs," MacAulay said.

MacAulay added the lack of a team in Alberta doesn't mean the province will 
become a conduit for cross-border crime or terrorism.

He had a blunt warning for all would-be border criminals: "We are coming 
after them, and we are going to make sure the border doesn't facilitate 
these types of activities."

Ottawa has budgeted $135 million over five years to create a total of 14 
security teams.

The units comprise members from several law enforcement agencies, including 
the RCMP, Canada Customs and Revenue and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Of the five new units, four will be located in Quebec and one in Ontario.

The teams greatly enhance both countries' ability to stop terrorism, drug 
trafficking, and other cross-border crimes, MacAulay said.

"What we have done, and what we continue to do, is to make sure the border 
is as secure as possible," MacAulay said, speaking at the Canada-U.S. Cross 
Border Crime Forum in Banff.

"IBETs are truly the future of cross-border law enforcement co-operation 
and I look forward to announcing more in the months to come."

Teams are currently located only in Ontario, British Columbia, New 
Brunswick and Quebec.

Monday's meeting in Banff was the first official forum on border crime 
since the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

In a speech, Ashcroft praised Canada for its help in the war on terrorism.

Ashcroft also expressed his condolences over the deaths of four Canadian 
soldiers killed recently in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan. The 
four soldiers died after a U.S. fighter pilot mistakenly dropped a bomb on 
them during a live-fire exercise.

"Let me again express our sorrow over the loss of Canadian lives in this 
tragic accident," Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft praised the security expansion as a major step in the fight 
against both terrorism and cross-border crime.

However, he also said Canada and the United States still have much work to 
do to improve overall border security.

One of Ashcroft's key concerns is Canadian law that forces American law 
officials to take "special precautions" with their weapons "if they find 
their duty carries them to the other side of the border."

Ashcroft said a "seamless border" is needed to allow armed American law 
officials to easily enter Canada to apprehend suspects.

Another concern, Ashcroft said, is improving lines of communication between 
Canadian and American law agents.

For example, he said "radio frequencies reserved for law enforcement in one 
country are reserved for commercial purposes in the other. We need to solve 
this problem, so our law enforcement officials can talk to each other.

"We are making great progress, but there is work to be done," Ashcroft added.

"I urge us all to work toward a prompt resolution (of these problems) in 
the interest of our own security."

MacAulay said security teams in Ontario and B.C. have been responsible for 
several major arrests and drugs busts since their creation.

He said Canada will continue to integrate its border security with the U.S. 
but warned that "it takes time to work (border issues) out.

"There's a lot to be done," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth