Canadians should be concerned that the Harper government's perimeter security talks with the United States might leave Canada trapped inside a U.S.-dominated "Fortress North America."
Ever since 9/11, the Canadian military and big business establishments have pushed for closer military relations with the United States, without considering the harm it would cause to our sovereignty and independence.
In fact, the same people who backed Canada's joining Bush's missile defence scheme are pushing to increase Canada-U.S. military integration by expanding NORAD, and even spending 16 billion or more of our tax dollars on U.S.-built stealth fighters.
Canadians weren't convinced that Canada should join missile defence, and they were right. They are just as sceptical about the F-35 stealth fighters. The government needs to come clean with what it is planning for NORAD and the secretive perimeter security deal.
Steven Staples is the president of the Rideau Institute, an independent research, advocacy and consulting group in Ottawa. He is also author of Missile Defence: Round One.
