Susanne Posel
Occupy Corporatism
December 21, 2012
President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper released the 2012 Beyond the Border Implementation report wherein the Canadian-US relationship was categorized as “vital economic partners” that has a lucrative trading relationship worth an estimated $1.6 billion that must be secured as an investment of mutual prosperity.
The Canada-US Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) is imbued with devising regulations on:
• Citizens
• Corporations
• Food
• Agriculture
• Motor vehicles
• Railways
• Security
• Emissions reduction
• Pharmaceuticals
• Nanotechnology
• Personal care products
At the release of the RCC, Harper said: “Today’s reports demonstrate real and substantive progress on improving the management of our shared border and improving regulatory cooperation, both of which will improve the flow of people and goods between our countries. The Beyond the Border and the Regulatory Cooperation Council Action Plans are laying the foundation for more jobs and growth in Canada and the United States by making it easier for firms in both countries to do business.”
One pilot project is to implement the Integrated Cargo Security Strategy that will secure cargo coming into Canada and being shipped into the US. It is believed that if this strategy can be perfected, more complex projects will be added to the roster. However, behind the scenes, there are programs in the works that are far more intrusive and controlling.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) is tasked with framing trade agreements with the designation of globalization and with the international community in mind. Trade agreements are worth an estimated $2 trillion in global markets and that potential revenue must be protected. Services such as education, business, information, entertainment and tourism can expressly assist the US in capturing revenue generated in their favor.
Enabling US corporations to succeed in those global markets is the job of the ITA. Ensuring US interests and implanting their global footprint deep into interagency coordination that allows ITA customers and stakeholders of multinational corporations; including the US government, federal agencies regulatory bodies, the Congress – can and do monetarily benefit from the actions of ITA.
The Joint ActionPlan (JAP) between Canada and the US promises greater consumer choices and borders without compromise with the great cost of the rights and privacy of their citizens.
While claiming individual sovereignty retained for each country involved, there will be integrated regulatory systems that all nations must adhere to.
Conducting better business is the cause for this necessity. Yet, when two independent nations come together to agree upon one legal agreement that binds them together, there is a considerable loss of sovereignty.
In November, both the US and Canadian governments revealed that they will combine efforts against cyber-attacks with the creation of an action plan between the DHS and Public Safety Canada (PSC) to improve digital infrastructure.
In Washington, DC and Ottawa, Canada there will be a collaboration of cyber security operation centers as well as shared information and the establishment of guidelines on private sector corporations. Add to this endeavor is the governmental alliance on propaganda methods to convince the citizens of both nations that cyber security must become an over-reaching control by the two governments.
In 2005, the US, Mexico and Canada signed the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America which was promised to work in tandem with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Canada-US Smart Border Declaration (SBD) and the Canada-Mexico Partnership. These documents as well as the SPP are meant to provide “prosperity and quality of life of Canadians, Americans and Mexicans.” This is believed to be achieved with security, governmental priorities and action on issues such as:
• Border protection
• Environmental awareness
• Food and product safety
This “non-binding partnership” is a mechanism designed to strengthen governmental powers, implement corporate interests and provide “a platform [for] global success.”
With more than $1.9 billion in trade crossing borders, manufacturing and trade considered, the melding of these sovereign nations for the sake of efficient borders, smart initiatives and regulatory cooperation.
The ideology of the SPP is that “security and prosperity are mutually dependent and complimentary.” There is a recognized necessity for “intelligence, border management, law enforcement and transportation security is intended to reduce criminal activity and terrorist risks, thereby making our communities safer, facilitating legitimate trade and travel.”
As Canada, Mexico and the US come together to ensure the prevention of “disaster situations, whether public health, cyber, natural, human error or terrorist in nature”
In 2002, the SBD outlined the use of biometric identifiers, permanent resident cards, a single alternative inspection system, refugees/asylum processing, visa policies, military security, immigration, international implications, commercial processing, data bases, infrastructure, transportations systems, border/marine enforcement teams, counter-terrorism training/legislation and integrated intelligence.
Biometric border crossing cards (BCCs) have been used to identify Mexican citizens making short visits since 1997 with the approval of the Congress and in conjunction with the US State Department who employed DynCorp who is now owned by CSC. More advanced versions of the BCCs will be implemented in 2014 across the borders.
Advancements in BBCs have led to laser visas which are “machine-readable, credit-card-sized documents with digitally encoded biometric data, including the bearer’s photograph and fingerprint.”
Those in the program were fingerprinted and photographed with their information entered into biometric databases with electronic verification of authenticity.
Files were reviewed by the State Department. Once approved, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the individuals new laser visas.
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