Budget Deal Shields DHS Sequestration, For Now

According to Mickey McCarter's illuminating article at HSToday.us, DHS has been largely spared sequestration's across the board cuts.  But, unless replaced, sequestration will bring back automatic cuts over the next nine years.

From HSToday.us's Under Continuing Resolution, DHS Largely Escapes Sequestration:

Congress agreed Thursday to a continuing resolution (HR 933) to fund the federal government for the rest of fiscal year 2013, providing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with a full budget that takes most of the sting out of the automatic budget cuts under sequestration. At least for now. 

Previously, DHS faced cuts across the board in a manner that was allocated to eligible accounts, trimming about five percent of the department's overall budget in FY 2013, according to estimates from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Although the sequester remains in effect under the continuing resolution, the budget bill largely spares DHS from its worst effects for this fiscal year, drawing cuts from other areas to keep budget caps in line with levels spelled out in the Budget Control Act of 2011.

...

DHS could see sequestration cuts in FY 2014 unless the sequester is repealed or DHS is again granted authority to avoid it.

Read the article to see how the FY13 CR impacts DHS's overall budget, especially when it comes to the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Canada Budget Biggest Loser? First Nations

By Keith Edmund White

Editor-in-Chief

Canada's First Nations:  the biggest loser of Canada's 2014 federal budget.

First, there's The Hill Times interview-heavy article emphasizing the Harper government linking federal aboriginal funding to tribes supporting Conservative budget and resource development plans.  

The problem?  The First Nations oppose both the budget and Conservative resource development plans.

Some would call the tactic hardball politics.  Others call it "blackmail" and "[u]nilaterally changing agreements."  From today's article:

"Well, they’re blackmailing us into signing it. That’s what they’re doing.” [Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Alberta.]

...

The question then comes for the government that if First Nations refuse to sign these agreements and the government refuses to give them money, who’s going to pick up the cost around income assistance, all of those things that are there, what’s going to happen? We’re going to end up with a crisis here. It’s not bargaining in good faith. Unilaterally changing agreements, there’s nothing good faith about that. It’s shocking.”  [NDP MP Jean Crowder, Aboriginal Affairs Critic (Nanaimo-Cowichan, B.C.)]

And last week, rabble.ca published a predictably cutting Conservative aboriginal policy critique.  But whatever their bias, rabble.ca sure seems justified in blasting the Conservative Party over First Nations educational support and reform:

Almost two years ago, the Auditor General put out a thorough and scathing analysis of the dysfunctional and inadequate funding arrangements for First Nations schools.

In response, the Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Wernick, told the Commons Public Accounts Committee, in the fall of 2011, that he was sure we would see First Nations education legislation in 2012.

Well, 2012 has come and gone.

There were no commitments on First Nations education in the 2012 budget.

Instead that budget included massive, radical and unprecedented roll-backs of federal environmental oversight and protection and other measures that struck such fear in the hearts of First Nations communities that the Idle No More movement was born.

Why the stand still?  

From the stand-point of this casual observer, a charitable view would be that the issues facing Canada's First Nations go beyond federal initiatives and funding.  And Conservatives and First Nations aren't natural partners: the First Nations are a roadblock to Conservative energy development plans, plans considered critical to Canada's economic security.  

Worse-case:  As small group that has no constituency in the Harper government, what reason is there for Conservatives to 'own' Aboriginal issues--even if it's clear something must be done.

More Resources

2011 Senate Report on Improving First Nations Education

2005 Report on First Nations Economic Development Strategy

First Nations Development Institute

Idle No More Movement

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

Obama Compares Israel-Palestine and Canada-U.S. Relations, Triggers Harsh Hashtag

The Toronto Sun reports on U.S. President Barack Obama comparing the Israeli-Palestinian relationship to the Canada-U.S. relationship.  As you can tell, some didn't appreciate the presidential Canadian name-drop:  

U.S. President Barack Obama is taking heat for comparing relations between Israel and Palestine with Canada and the U.S.

Because Canadians are known for hurling rockets into Buffalo, right?

Obama made the comparison in the West Bank Thursday, saying Canadians and Americans have disagreements, too, but resolve them diplomatically.

“We can’t afford to have our kids in bed sleeping and suddenly a rocket comes through the roof, but my argument is even though both sides may have areas of strong disagreement, may be engaging in activities the other side considers to be a breach of good faith, we have to push through those things to try to get to an agreement.”

For those wanting a hilarious distraction, check out #thecanucksarecoming.

Now, to be fair, Canadians (in a loose sense) burnt down the White House.

G&M: "The 2000s were a lost decade for Canadian exports to the United States"

Yes, the a budget dropped in Ottawa.  

But I'm finding Michael Burt's Globe and Mail article a bit more significant to the Canada-U.S. relationship's overall trajectory:

In short, Canada and the United States are becoming less dependent on one another, and, in most cases, China is the X factor. The Conference Board of Canada discusses these trends, their causes and implications in its recently published report, Walking the Silk Road: Understanding Canada’s Changing Trade Patterns.

The most resilient industries in terms of Canada’s share of U.S. imports are generally service industries. A highly educated work force, similar cultures, and a shared language have helped Canadian firms maintain their competitive position in the U.S. market. In contrast, Canada has generally lost the largest market share in manufacturing industries where labour is a major share of total costs, such as furniture manufacturing, printing and textiles. Industry specific issues can be an additional factor, such as the shift in consumer demand for flooring and cabinets away from traditional hardwood products toward those made from bamboo or more exotic hardwoods.

The link above goes to a webinar; if you want to access the actual December 2012 report, go here. 

 A summary of the report and webinar will be up by next Monday.

Achieving Columbia River Treaty 2.0: Challenges of A 21st Century Update to An International Dam and Power Generation Treaty

By Keith Edmund White

Source:  CRT Digital Library, http://crtlibrary.cbt.org/items/show/125

Editor-in-Chief

A local Washington State paper, talks Columbia River Treaty (CRT) renewal, detailing the ecological pressures that accompany updating a 20^th century power generation-flood control treaty to reflect 21^st century concerns.  But are renewal talks over CRT, a treaty that whose expiration clock starts running in 2014, more likely to stumble over financial terms?  

Then again, will this impressive water-management/power generation treaty, which stretches from British Columbia to Montana, be able to adapt to ecological concerns or the demands of Native peoples on both sides of the border?  

Keith White discusses the CRT's impressive 50-year evolution.

The Columbia River Treaty:  'Kaiser City' Floods, 50 Years Canada-U.S. Flood and Power Cooperation Starts

In May 1948, a ten-foot high deluge inundated the city of Vanport, then the second-largest city in Oregon locate between Portland and Vancouver.  The Vanport Flood not only washed a city (striking “Kaiser City” from the U.S. cultural lexicon), but ushered in a impressive treaty where the United States swapped power generation in return for Canada providing regional flood control.  (Page jump after the photo)

Source:  CRT 2014/2024 Review-Recent  U.S. Entity Study Results available in full below.

9th Circuit Says No to "Computer Strip Searches," Narrows Border Search Doctrine, and May Change the Canada-U.S. Security & Trade Relationship Too

By Keith Edmund White

CrimPro meets border policy courtesy of child pornography.  Why an apparent court victory for digital privacy rights might be a 21st century Trojan horse, and its impact on the Canada-U.S. border security and trade relationship. 

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held today (United States of America v. Cotterman) that reasonable suspicion is needed to forensically examine electronic devices seized during a border search (and not risk having any incriminating evidence kicked out of court).

OK, boiled down:  The 9th put up red light to a "computer strip search" without reasonable suspicion.

Might not sound like a big deal, but this decision reflects an interesting development in the suspicionless searches of personal property (yes, there are times law enforcement officers can search your stuff without showing an iota of cause).

Oh, and it might just impact America's border security and trade policies.

Disclaimer:  I haven't fully digested, let alone have the expertise of others, like the Brennan Center for Justice, to fully assess this case.  The post,  found after the jump, simply highlights:

• even a cursory read of the decision's summary suggests that this decision reflects something more complicated than a 'win' or 'lose' for digital privacy rights, and 
• perhaps the most important aspect of the case, whether giving heightened protection against computer strip searches impacts U.S. border security, gets shockingly short attention by the Court.   

U.S. Transportation Budget Woes? Just Copy Canada

By Keith Edmund White

Canada may just save U.S. state legislators from raising taxes to fund road repairs.