Morning News Wrap: "Cyber-NORAD," CAN-U.S. Border and Generic Drugs, Toronto’s Mayor Wins Stay, U.S. Loses Out at WTO, Canada’s Provinces Steal the Show, and More

By Keith Edmund White, Editor-in-Chief

Woodrow Wilson Center’s Canada Institute Talks NORAD and Cyber-Security @ 1 PM.  Cyber-security and protecting critical infrastructure are big (and irksome) issues facing both Canada and the United States.  You can watch the event here.

From WWC: 

Experts expect that cyber attacks from hostile nations and rogue actors will represent one of the most dangerous threats to Canada and the United States in the coming decades. The perils are numerous and the consequences are severe for such an attack. However, there are many measures that both nations can take, individually and collectively, to ensure peace and prosperity, free from the threat of a "cyber Pearl Harbor" disaster. The Canada Institute is pleased to host a distinguished panel to discuss these threats as well as the most effective measures and best practices that the private and public sector actors can use to make both countries more secure. The panel will discuss many issues including: the vulnerability of our linked supply chain system, the role of the private sector in enhancing the national security of the United States and Canada, policy options for creating a better information sharing process while respecting privacy rights, threats to energy production in Canada, and the possibility of creating a “cyber-NORAD” to help deal with our shared threats in the most efficient way possible.

Provincial Politics Take Center Stage.  The Globe and Mail offers an excellent province-by-province political round-up piece.  (Note to self:  copy G&M.).  In short:  Alberta—character politics are beating out attempts for Alberta’s Conservatives to push a national energy policy; British Columbia—the NDP seems on course to capture to provincial parliament; Quebec—between the Charbonneau corruption commission and the PQ’s PR blunders (they tired to remove the Maple Leaf from Quebec’s parliamentary building!), the great fear a of a resurgent PQ and separation anxiety has been allayed.    

Generic Drugs Crashes Canada-U.S. Border Policy Competing Economic, Security, and Public Health Demands.   Prescription Drugs + Border Security + Generics + Health Advocates = Border Policy Nightmare.  From WSJ: 

The White House has alerted police and border agents to prepare for a possible influx of addictive pain drugs from Canada, where cheaper, generic versions of OxyContin will soon become available. U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske also called Canada's health minister last week to discuss the issue and offer assistance to address the wave of prescription-drug abuse sweeping both countries, Mr. Kerlikowske's office said. In an alert to law-enforcement agencies sent Tuesday, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy warned law enforcement to be on the lookout for cheap copies of OxyContin, which it said could hit the market as soon as next month.

Will Toronto’s Mayor Be Out Next Week, Or Live to Appeal in Office?  Globe and Mail offers real-time court updates.  Update:  Rob Ford won a temporary stay, and will stay in office while his conflict-of-interest case is appealed.

America Given Deadline to Comply With WTO Country-of-Origin Meat-Labeling Rules.  The ever-fast wheels of international trade justice!  Having lost on an meat-labeling case to Canada and Mexico in June, the United States has been given a May 2013 compliance deadline.  The Kansas City Star reports on progressive unease with the WTO tinkering with U.S. labeling requirements: 

“Consumers in the U.S. have been clear: They want dolphin-safe tuna, and if we’re not able to label tuna in the way we want to label it, I think U.S. consumers are going to be pretty angry,” said Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington state, who likened the situation to having replacement referees decide the outcome of games in the National Football League.In the most recent development, Larsen and 21 other members of Congress sent a letter last month to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, complaining that the WTO is threatening to turn back the clock to the days when tens of thousands of dolphins were killed each year "in a tuna fishing free-for-all." Critics say the WTO is running roughshod over U.S. laws that govern everything from the environment to food safety and public health.

Joan Crockatt Gets the Hill Times Treatment.  And in a nice ‘slice of life’ piece at The Hill Times, Bea Vongdouangchanh writes on one of Parliament's newest members:  Joan Crockatt.

From The Hill Times: 

Prior to getting elected, Ms. Crockatt was an outspoken pundit who appeared on several political TV panels. Mr. Martin said he hopes the PMO, known for its tight message control, will allow her to continue to be a spokesperson on several issue.  “She’ll be as scripted as any of them [Conservative MPs], I’m sure, but Joan sometimes does freelance a little bit in her commentaries and that’s always a good thing. I hope they make her into a bit of a media presence because she does do good television. But if she takes one misstep, they’ll take her off the tube and never put her back on,” he said, adding that Ms. Crockatt does give a good first impression as an MP. “She’s always walked to her own beat type of thing and suddenly becoming shoe-horned into a borg-like group think is something that’s going to be a new experience for her.” Meanwhile, both the Liberal and Green parties increased their vote share in the byelection in Calgary Centre. The Liberals increased by 15.4 percentage points and Green candidate, Chris Turner, by 14.7 percentage points from 2011 election results. That increase came at the NDP’s expense, with Dan Meades losing 11 percentages points from 2011.

The Toronto Star tells Canada to look to the United States on climate policy.  From the op-ed: 

In other words, nearly three-quarters of U.S. gains will come from tougher regulation to curb emissions, “green” government procurement, grants and loans to promote renewable electricity, and fuel conservation in vehicles and buildings. Pollution taxes, higher oil pricing and emission trading systems will also have an impact. The implications for Canada, and Ontario, are obvious. The Canadian Council of Chief Executives has called for a coherent federal climate policy, including “a clear, nationally consistent carbon price” across the economy. And the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy has urged more investment in low-carbon innovation, a major growth sector.
Until now the Harper government has adopted a wait-and-see-what-the-U.S.-does attitude, repudiated the Kyoto Protocol as too costly, and failed to come up with a credible plan to make the painful adjustments that will be necessary to develop the oil and gas sector in a more balanced and sustainable fashion, mitigating emissions. As things stand there’s no federal constraint on oilsands pollution, Pembina argues. Now Ontario, too, is falling short. The Americans don’t have all the answers. They remain huge polluters. But they are bending the curve in a better direction. We should aim to do no less.