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(NaturalNews) An article titled "Canada, U.S. Agree To Use Each Other's Troops In Civil Emergencies" appeared on CanwestNews Service on February 22, 2008. According to the report, Canada and the U.S. have signed an agreement that paves the way for the militaries of either nation to send troops across their borders during emergencies. This agreement was signed in Texas on February 14th, but neither the Canadian government nor the Canadian Forces announced it.

The U.S. military's Northern Command did announce the agreement with a statement outlining how its top officer, Gen. Gene Renaurt, and Canadian Lt.-Gen. Marc Dumais, head of Canada Command, were signers of the plan, which calls for the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during periods of civil emergency.

According to the Canwest article, this agreement has been greeted with suspicion by Canada's politically left wing, and America's politically right wing. The liberal leaning Council of Canadians is campaigning against what it refers to as the increasing integration of the U.S. and Canadian militaries.

According to Stuart Tew, a researcher with the Council of Canada, "It's kind of a trend when it comes to issues of Canada-U.S. relations and contentious issues like military integration. We see that this government is reluctant to disclose information to Canadians that is readily available on American and Mexican websites." There is potential for the agreement to militarize civilian responses to emergency incidents.

Tew noted that work is also underway for the two nations to put in place a joint plan to protect common infrastructures such as roadways and pipelines. He questions whether U.S. troops will be seen on Canadian soil for minor potential threats to these infrastructures.

Tew also noted that since the U.S. military does not allow its soldiers to operate under a foreign command, there are questions about who would control the American forces if they are mobilized for service in Canada. "We don't know the answers because the government doesn't want to even announce the plan", Tew said.

A Canadian Command spokesman, Commander David Scanlon, said it will be up to civilian authorities in both countries to determine whether military assistance will be requested or used. The agreement simply sets up the stage for military co-operation, planning and co-ordination. According to Scanlon, if U.S. forces come into Canada they would be under tactical control of the Canadian Forces, but still under the command of the U.S. military.

News of the deal and allegations of it being kept secret are hot topics on blogs and internet sites as examples of the dangers of the growing integration between the two countries and their militaries. It is believed that under the North American Union, foreign troops, not bound by U.S. laws, could be used by the American federal government to override local authorities. People are being warned that the next time their town has an emergency, they may expect Canadian soldiers to respond. Canadian soldiers are not bound by posse comitatus, a U.S. law that prohibits the use of federal troops from conducting law enforcement duties on domestic soil unless approved by Congress.

According to Scanlon, the reason there has been no announcement of the agreement to the public is that it requires approval from both nations, and that decision has not yet been taken, he said.

Of course, one must question how national approval of such an agreement could be achieved without public scrutiny.

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