Source: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazett...7c5153&k=47892
Quebec and NY to exchange border information
KEVIN DOUGHERTY, GAZETTE QUEBEC BUREAU
Published: 13 minutes ago
QUEBEC - Quebec and New York have intensified their battle against terrorism and crime, agreeing to exchange information about people who cross their borders.
"That information needs to flow continuously," Michael Balboni, New York's deputy secretary for public safety, told reporters today. "That is what we are doing."
Balboni explained that U.S border authorities already have the names and destinations of everyone crossing from Quebec into New York State. But the border authorities do not communicate that information to police forces in the state.
"So there is still a compartmentalization of information that comes from the border," he said, and he wants the situation changed.
Jacques Dupuis, Quebec's public security minister, indicated this information is shared in Canada between border authorities and police forces. "Everyone is collaborating" Dupuis said. "I've had discussions with (federal Public Safety Minister) Stockwell Day on those matters."
Dupuis said Quebec is concerned about the illegal flow of weapons and contraband tobacco from south of the border.
The Americans are worried about the smuggling of marijuana and other drugs from Canada.
In addition to terrorism, both sides are concerned about pandemics, such as the possible spread of H5N1 avian flu. "It will arrive like popcorn," Balboni said. "There won't be an epi-centre."
Authorities need information on the spread of this type of disease, he said. It is important to know if there is a case in Plattsburgh, NY, or in Montreal.
Asked if the proposed exchange of information could lead to a repeat of the Maher Arar case, a Canadian citizen who was deported by U.S. authorities to Syria where he was tortured, Dupuis said Arar's case is before the courts so he cannot comment.
But Dupuis did say that, "All these agreements will respect the laws and regulations of the two countries.
"This agreement we are signing today will allow Quebec analysts who analyze the situation of terrorism and criminal matters to have contacts with people in New York state and vice versa."
Federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart wrote in her annual report that she is concerned about travel-related security programs. "Increasingly, Canadians' personal information is being exchanged with law enforcement and security agencies in other countries," Stoddart wrote. "The government has claimed that this transborder flow of information will improve transportation safety and enhance our national security," she added.
"The increased collection of personal information under these programs increases the risk that Canadians will be the victims of inappropriate data matching, intrusive data mining, or the unintended consequences of the disclosure of personal information. This increases the risk of surveillance, rendition and unwarranted attention from law and security enforcement both at home and abroad."
Balboni was impressed by the professionalism of the police in Quebec. "A cop is a cop is a cop," he said. And the two countries have to work more closely together.
"What we have to get to is the concept of one continent, security for one continent, whether it is crime, whether it is terrorism, whether it is disease, so we have this influx and flow of information," Balboni said.
Today's agreement is a step in that direction. "We must respect all the laws as they pertain to civil rights in both countries," he added.
Balboni gave the example of racial profiling, noting that ******** is recruiting "western-looking individuals" to commit terrorist acts. "If they are successful, and that's who they are sending against us, racial profiling is not only wrong it is dangerous," he said.
kdougherty@thegazette.canwest.com
? The Gazette 2008
Quebec and NY to exchange border information
KEVIN DOUGHERTY, GAZETTE QUEBEC BUREAU
Published: 13 minutes ago
QUEBEC - Quebec and New York have intensified their battle against terrorism and crime, agreeing to exchange information about people who cross their borders.
"That information needs to flow continuously," Michael Balboni, New York's deputy secretary for public safety, told reporters today. "That is what we are doing."
Balboni explained that U.S border authorities already have the names and destinations of everyone crossing from Quebec into New York State. But the border authorities do not communicate that information to police forces in the state.
"So there is still a compartmentalization of information that comes from the border," he said, and he wants the situation changed.
Jacques Dupuis, Quebec's public security minister, indicated this information is shared in Canada between border authorities and police forces. "Everyone is collaborating" Dupuis said. "I've had discussions with (federal Public Safety Minister) Stockwell Day on those matters."
Dupuis said Quebec is concerned about the illegal flow of weapons and contraband tobacco from south of the border.
The Americans are worried about the smuggling of marijuana and other drugs from Canada.
In addition to terrorism, both sides are concerned about pandemics, such as the possible spread of H5N1 avian flu. "It will arrive like popcorn," Balboni said. "There won't be an epi-centre."
Authorities need information on the spread of this type of disease, he said. It is important to know if there is a case in Plattsburgh, NY, or in Montreal.
Asked if the proposed exchange of information could lead to a repeat of the Maher Arar case, a Canadian citizen who was deported by U.S. authorities to Syria where he was tortured, Dupuis said Arar's case is before the courts so he cannot comment.
But Dupuis did say that, "All these agreements will respect the laws and regulations of the two countries.
"This agreement we are signing today will allow Quebec analysts who analyze the situation of terrorism and criminal matters to have contacts with people in New York state and vice versa."
Federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart wrote in her annual report that she is concerned about travel-related security programs. "Increasingly, Canadians' personal information is being exchanged with law enforcement and security agencies in other countries," Stoddart wrote. "The government has claimed that this transborder flow of information will improve transportation safety and enhance our national security," she added.
"The increased collection of personal information under these programs increases the risk that Canadians will be the victims of inappropriate data matching, intrusive data mining, or the unintended consequences of the disclosure of personal information. This increases the risk of surveillance, rendition and unwarranted attention from law and security enforcement both at home and abroad."
Balboni was impressed by the professionalism of the police in Quebec. "A cop is a cop is a cop," he said. And the two countries have to work more closely together.
"What we have to get to is the concept of one continent, security for one continent, whether it is crime, whether it is terrorism, whether it is disease, so we have this influx and flow of information," Balboni said.
Today's agreement is a step in that direction. "We must respect all the laws as they pertain to civil rights in both countries," he added.
Balboni gave the example of racial profiling, noting that ******** is recruiting "western-looking individuals" to commit terrorist acts. "If they are successful, and that's who they are sending against us, racial profiling is not only wrong it is dangerous," he said.
kdougherty@thegazette.canwest.com
? The Gazette 2008
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