Canada, U.S. Come to Terms on Security Perimeter

And all for the low, low cost of $1 billion and a whole lot of personal information.

The Canada-U.S. "perimeter security" pact is apparently a done deal, and will cost taxpayers at least $1 billion to ease trade and travel across the border (and "protect our freedoms" or whatever). Canadian Press reports that while both countries have essentially signed off on the deal, we shouldn't expect a signing ceremony with U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper due to concerns that the pact won't be too popular in the increasingly isolationist U.S. Regardless, sources say the new pact will aim at cutting down "red tape" at the border, such as by harmonizing the two countries' customs processes, developing programs for frequent border-crossers, and reducing the amount of paperwork required for importers. What sources haven't mentioned is what the deal will cost Canadians in terms of privacy, as numerous reports have said the U.S. wanted greater access to Canadian police and government records on civilians to help make border traffic "smarter." Right.