[R-G] MACKAY QUESTIONED ON SECRECY OF CANADA-U.S. MILITARY DEAL

[Anthony Fenton]

http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/defencewatch/ 
archive/2008/02/27/mackay-questioned-on-secrecy-of-canada-u-s- 
military-deal.aspx

MACKAY QUESTIONED ON SECRECY OF CANADA-U.S. MILITARY DEAL

Try as they may yesterday in the Commons, the NDP couldn’t get an  
answer out of Defence Minister Peter MacKay on why his government  
didn’t release details about a new agreement recently signed with  
U.S. military. The agreement puts in place the framework for troops  
from either nation to cross each other’s borders at a time of crisis.  
As I pointed out in my article in last Saturday’s Citizen, the U.S.  
military has been relatively forthcoming about the deal, signed in  
Texas on Feb. 14.


According to what little is known of the agreement (the actual  
document hasn’t been made public and no word if it ever will) it will  
be up to civilian authorities on whether military assistance is  
needed and whether U.S. troops will cross the border to help in  
Canada in the event of a terror attack, flu pandemic, earthquake or  
some other domestic emergency. Same goes if Canadian troops were  
needed in the U.S. to deal with similar situations…..in other words  
it’s not the military making the decision, although, of course they  
would advise civilian leaders.


The story broke in the U.S. and has made the rounds on the internet  
in the last two weeks. DND hasn’t issued any press releases on the  
agreement although a military spokesman said it’s no big deal.


But the agreement has created angst in both leftwing organizations in  
Canada and ultra rightwing groups in the U.S. who question whether  
they are getting the whole story on this. Mr. MacKay didn’t shed any  
more light on the issue as this exchange in the House of Commons on  
Tuesday shows:


“Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the NDP has now  
advocated increased awareness of Canada's emergency preparedness and  
we have called for more transparency when it comes to military  
affairs. Now we learn that the Canadian Armed Forces signed an  
agreement with the United States allowing for interoperability of  
troops during civil emergencies, but no one told Canadians. Why is  
this Conservative government being so secretive about this agreement?  
What does it have to hide?


Peter MacKay: Mr. Speaker, this is actually the formalization of a  
longstanding agreement that has been in place. Basically it allows  
for the formal agreement permitting armed forces from either side of  
the border to render assistance in a time of a civil emergency. This  
is all about ensuring safety on both sides of the border, allowing  
for mutual cooperation to the benefit of the citizens of both Canada  
and the United States. It sounds to me as if those tinfoil hats are  
getting a little tight down there.


Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the minister still  
has not explained why this agreement was kept secret and even if he  
was aware of it. How can the Conservatives be trusted when they keep  
the truth from Canadians? In the event of a civil emergency and the  
agreement is invoked, what process is to be followed to approve the  
deployment of Canadian troops to the U.S. and under whose command  
would Canadians operate? Conversely, who would authorize American  
deployment to Canada and under whose chain of command would the  
Americans operate while in Canada? Why does the minister not answer  
that question?


Peter MacKay: Mr. Speaker, it could not have been very secret if the  
hon. member found out. What would apply at Norad, NATO, but most  
important, any activities that were to take place on Canadian soil  
would be done under the command of Canadian officials, Canadian  
military most particularly. Why have we done this? To exceed and to  
expand upon the necessary actions that occur when people are in  
jeopardy. If there are ships at sea in distress, if there is an  
emergency involving, for example, an avalanche, this is all about  
facilitating the saving of lives. We would think that a member from  
British Columbia would understand that.”


Except for the insults directed toward Libby Davies, Mr. MacKay  
offers nothing new that hasn’t already been in my article or in the  
U.S. press release.


It’s interesting that he states “any activities that were to take  
place on Canadian soil would be done under the command of Canadian  
officials.” That’s not quite the whole story. Under the agreement,  
U.S. troops operating in Canada would be under the tactical control  
of Canadian officers but still remain under overall U.S. command (a  
minor point perhaps).


I’m wondering what the reason is for all the secrecy on this  
agreement on the Canadian end of things? It could be nothing of  
course but it’s interesting that the U.S. military thought the issue  
important enough to make it public.


Did the decision in Canada not to issue a press release on the  
agreement have something to do with the Conservative government (via  
the Prime Minister’s Office and Privy Council Office) trying to  
control the flow of information from DND once again? If that is the  
case then it backfired when the Americans issued their press release.


In any case, the secrecy on the Canadian end has only fueled  
suspicions on the internet that something more is behind this  
agreement than what we’re being told.