Reported security deal draws House sparks

The federal Liberals are raising questions over a reported agreement in the works between Canada and U.S. that would see their security bureaucracies more interlinked.

The National Post first reported that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives areset to announcea landmarkperimeter security and tradeagreement with the U.S. aimed at ensuring the trade flow isn't restricted by American security agencies.

In a heated lead-off exchange during Thursday's question period in the House of Commons, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieffqueried whether the Conservatives can be trusted with protectingCanada's sovereignty and Canadians' civil rightsin"secret negotiations with the Americans."

"This government has already surrendered energy policy and climate policy to the Americans,"Ignatieff told the House. "The question is, what is next?"

The prime minister was not in the House. But after Mark Warawa, parliamentary secretary to the minister of the environment, replied by stating the government's goals at the UN climate change negotiations in Cancun, Ignatieff then angrilydemanded the Conservative MP "wake up and treat the House with respect."

That drew a response from Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, who quipped: "Well, Mr. Speaker, I thought it was a secret, and so that was the appropriate response."

Toews then said Ignatieff was asking him to comment on "media speculation and hearsay,"and slipped in a barb at Ignatieff'scareer abroad as an academic in the United States.

"I can only speak to the facts, and that is that all Canadians win from increased co-operation,national safety and protection with the Leader of the Opposition's homeland," the minister said.

The mediareports cited a draft agreement stating the two countries intend to establish a "Beyond the Border Working Group" of officials to "pursue a perimeter approach to security, working together within, at and away from the borders of our two countries in a way that supports economic competitiveness, job creation and prosperity, and in a partnership to enhance our security and accelerate the legitimate flow of people and goods between our two countries."

Canadian officials have long been concerned that enhanced security in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States would hinder the flow of daily trade between the two countries along the border.

Thereports alsosaid it wasnot clear how close Canada and the U.S. are to signing a deal.