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Defence, Security and Foreign Policy

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The United States is Canada's most important ally and defence partner. Defence and security relations between the two countries have been characterized as longstanding, well entrenched and highly successful. This relationship reflects a unique friendship, underpinned by close economic interdependence and common values, that has evolved over the course of the last century.

Canada's foreign policy priorities in the defence and security sphere are to maintain international peace and prevent violent conflict. We do this through a range of initiatives, including collective security and defence arrangements, our human security program and conflict prevention, human rights promotion and peacebuilding activities.

Adding to the US$8.6 billion in national security investments made since December 2001, Canada’s 2006 budget provides an additional US$1.25 billion to protect Canadians, secure our borders and to increase our preparedness to address public health threats. This brings Canada’s total new spending on security since December 2001 to more than US$10 billion. In U.S. terms, this would be the equivalent of $100 billion, given the relative sizes of the two economies.

Protecting Our Borders

Canadians and Americans have a long tradition of working together to promote security and facilitation at our borders, to ensure that they remain open to trade and legitimate travellers, and closed to terrorists.

• Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA)
  • Nexus, a joint customs and immigration family of programs for frequent travellers that both the Canadian and American governments have implemented.
  • Free and Secure Trade Program (FAST), a joint Canada-United States initiative involving the Canada Border Services Agency and the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which supports moving pre-approved eligible goods across the border quickly and verifying trade compliance away from the border.
  • Partners in Protection, a program designed to enlist the co-operation of private industry in efforts to enhance border security, combat organized crime and terrorism, increase awareness of customs compliance issues, and help detect and prevent contraband smuggling.
  • CANPASS, streamlines customs clearance for frequent travellers
  • Container Security Initiative (CSI), a multinational program designed to safeguard global maritime trade while allowing cargo containers to move faster and more efficiently through the supply chain at seaports worldwide.
• Smart Border Declaration and Action Plan
• Canada-United States Integrated Border Enforcement Teams, a coordinated approach to identify and stop the high-risk movement of people and goods between the ports of entry on the Canada-United States border.
• Canada's Commitment to Marine Container Security
• The Container Journey
• Canada-United States Cross-Border Crime Forum
• Misperceptions about Canada's Immigration Policies

Defence Relations

Defence cooperation with the United States maximizes the security of Canadians as our nations continue to work together to effectively counter new threats to the continent. Please visit CanadianAlly.com for more on Canada's role in defense, security and the War on Terror.

• Defence Policy Statement
• Canada-United States Defence Relations
• Enhanced Canada-U.S. Defence Cooperation and the Bi-National Planning Group
• National Defence and the Canadian Forces: Current Operations
• Backgrounder: NORAD
• Campaign Against Terror
• The Canadian Forces and National Defence: A Snapshot

Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP)

Canada joins its neighbors — Mexico and the United States — in a common commitment to work together to build a safer, more secure and economically dynamic North America.

• Ministers Report to Leaders on Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) Initiatives (Second report, September 7, 2006)
  • Progress Report to Leaders
  • Accomplishments
  • Security (also in PDF format, 224K)
  • Prosperity (also in PDF format, 256K)
• Canadian Membership in the North American Competitiveness Council (June 13, 2006)
• Leaders' Joint Statement (March 31, 2006)
• SPP Report to Leaders (First report, June 2005)

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

The Government of Canada is working collaboratively with the U.S. government to ensure that the WHTI is implemented in a way that meets the security needs of both countries while facilitating the flow of legitimate travellers and goods.