Masse's Massive Success

Breaking BLOG news........Here is the followup story. Here is proof of how ineffective my NDP member, Brian Masse is!

Honestly, I don't make this stuff up. No one has an imagination this good.

If you read the Star, you'd think that the border was high on the priority list for the Legislators who came to Windsor over the week-end.

Au contraire mes amis.

IF you can find any story at all in the media on this meeting, this is what was viewed as important and it's not our border crossing:

Press Release

• "Congressman Paul Hodes is in Windsor, Ontario in Canada today to take part in a series of discussions on trade and environmental issues...
  
  Among the topics to be discussed is the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document."

The Star Tribune reported:

• "Chairs of the Canada-U.S. Inter-parliamentary group, Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., were in Canada over the weekend for the group's 48th annual meeting.
  
  Major discussion topics on the agenda were the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Great Lakes water quality and climate change."

FOX Detroit and CTV news said

• "Canadian, U.S. Legislators Meet to Discuss Issues
  
  Canadian and U.S. legislators met in Windsor, Ontario over the weekend to discuss border security and other issues important to people living on both sides of the border.
  
  The agenda included discussions of new passport rules, Great Lakes pollution, invasive species and softwood lumber."

I was shocked...Where was Brian's big accomplishment reported. I decided to go to the source himself:

• To: Brian Masse
  Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 4:09 PM
  Subject: Canada-U.S. Inter-parliamentary Group Resolution
  
  I would appreciate if you would provide me with a copy of any resolutions passed this weekend at the meeting of the Canada-U.S. Inter-parliamentary Group meeting in Windsor.
  
  I would appreciate a copy of all resolutions as introduced with any amendments that were finally agreed to."

Nothing yet but I did receive the Press Release on the meeting from the Association Secretary. Naturally, I assumed the issue would be right at the top of the release and that I would see several paragraphs about this vital issue. WRONG.

I'll let you read through it and find the mention for yourself. Don't blink....you might miss it!

Once you locate the story, see where it is positioned and judge the size of it compared with other matters. You decide how important this was and whether the Star coverage reflected what this story was all about.

Sophocles would be proud!

• N E W S R E L E A S E
  
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2007
  
  ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL MEETING OF FEDERAL AMERICAN AND CANADIAN LEGISLATORS
  
  “We are committed to moving forward on issues that affect the bilateral relationship”

From May 18-21, 2007, members of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group met in Windsor, Ontario for the Group’s 48th Annual Meeting. The meeting was attended by four U.S. Senators and 10 members of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as by two Canadian Senators and 16 members of the House of Commons. The list of delegates is attached.

“This meeting involved the candid exchange of views that always characterizes our annual meeting,” said Senator Jerry Grafstein, Senate co-chair of the Group. “We are very committed to working together in resolving issues on which we may not agree and in looking outward to the global factors that affect our bilateral relationship and North America’s place in the world. Certainly, a number of very important issues were discussed during our plenary and committee sessions, and we were able to identify a number of priority items for the year ahead.”

Mr. Rob Merrifield, M.P., House of Commons co-chair, continued: “We were especially pleased to welcome a number of new delegates from the United States and, in particular, Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota, the new U.S. Senate co-chair. We were also happy to see that our friend Representative Jim Oberstar, also from Minnesota and a long-time member of the Group, has become the House of Representatives co-chair. I join Senator Grafstein in noting that the frank discussion resulted in the identification of areas where we need to work together, both domestically and internationally.”

During the plenary and committee sessions, delegates agreed to the following:

The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group recommends that the Departments of Homeland Security and State develop and implement the regulations for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) in a manner which minimizes border delays, harm to business and tourism, and inconvenience for individuals. Delegates urge the U.S. Administration to intensify cooperation with Canada to identify mutually agreeable documentation requirements and ensure a common vision for WHTI implementation. Consultation with stakeholders in the business community, and outreach to the general public, will also be necessary for smooth implementation of the regulations.

Recognizing the growing problem of intellectual property theft, the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group supports reciprocal provisions which would ensure that such theft – including camcording in movie theatres – constitutes a criminal offence. Adequate human and financial resources should be devoted to the enforcement of provisions in respect of counterfeited and pirated goods, particularly at the shared border.

The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group supports a science-based approach in respect of North American and international trade in cattle and beef products.

The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group recognizes the enormous sacrifice of those Canadians and Americans serving in Afghanistan as part of the United Nations (UN) mandated international mission to stabilize that country. Delegates affirm the importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), based on its historical role as the primary transatlantic mechanism for the preservation and expansion of liberty and democracy. Delegates believe that all NATO allies must accept adequate burden-sharing and recognize the challenges of trans-national threats.

The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group recognizes climate change as an important issue. Individual citizens as well as nations – including developing nations – must be good stewards of the environment. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is critical to our sustainable future and will require efforts by all nations.

The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group recognizes that a cooperative approach to develop a North American Energy Strategy and solutions is critical. Our future energy security will depend on conservation and the development and implementation of new technologies. The transfer of technology globally will help to address the global problem of air pollution and climate change. Both countries should be encouraged to become world leaders in: conservation; carbon dioxide capture and sequestration; coal gasification; efficient use of fossil fuels; and development and implementation of a wide variety of alternative energy sources. Delegates support efforts by North American trade partners to work toward an energy security plan characterized by self-sufficiency. This plan should focus on both renewable and non-renewable energy sources, and should contemplate minimum standards for renewable energy.

The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group urges Canada and the United States to find a way to resolve the outstanding issues surrounding the subject of pre-clearance at our border.

The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group recognizes the need for an additional crossing at Detroit-Windsor and encourages the expediting of its construction.

The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group urges the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of the United States, within the framework of the existing international agreements, to declare a bilateral commitment to the restoration of the Great Lakes and that a compromise plan be agreed upon between Canada and the United States to achieve this restoration.

The 48th Annual Meeting concluded with agreement on the following statement:

The North American space we share exists within a global context. We work together to ensure North American competitiveness and prosperity, as well as a rising standard of living and quality of life for all our citizens. To ensure this outcome, we must look beyond our North American boundary and assess worldwide events affecting us.

The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group believes there are looming issues that have yet to be mutually explored. We will monitor them as they affect our bilateral relationship. These issues include: the global environment and climate change; emerging transnational security threats; and manufacturing developments that have economic and trade consequences.

The Group’s aim is to find points of convergence in our respective national policies, initiate dialogue on points of divergence, encourage the exchange of information, and promote better understanding between Canadian and American legislators on shared issues of concern.