A US-Canada fence? Loonie-cy
Canadian politicians are rightfully annoyed by an amendment in the border security bill (Amendment #113, by Reps. Hunter, Dreier, Royce and Goode) passed by the House on Friday night that proposes a study of building a security wall along the US-Canada border:
The study “on the use of physical barriers” was slipped into an amendment to a bill on border security and illegal immigration passed Friday by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The amendment, sponsored by California Republican Duncan Hunter, also approved building security fences with lights and cameras along more than 1,000 kilometres of the U.S.-Mexico border in four states to keep out illegal aliens and drugs.
The move comes amid heightened bilateral tensions arising from Canada’s election campaign. But U.S. sources said it was prompted by southern U.S. politicians anxious to assure constituents they’re not penalizing one border over another.
Alex Swann, spokesman for Canada’s Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan, said the U.S. administration has never discussed the notion with Canada during regular meetings on border security.
“This is not a priority for us,” said Swann.
“There’s all sorts of things we want to do. This just isn’t one of them,” Swann added.
Don’t worry, it’s not a priority for America either. Both the Senate and the Adminstration are strong barriers to the passage of this into law.
I’m trying to think of a security measure that would provide a lower return on investment than a wall on the US-Canadian border, and my mind is blank.