JIM BROWN
OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's economic health, not civil liberties, was the chief concern in a cross-border security deal with the United States in the wake of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, says the former deputy prime minister. <snip>
The comment came as Manley was pressed by Lorne Waldman, one of Arar's lawyers, about the so-called smart border agreement he negotiated with American officials in late 2001.
The main aim of the deal was to ensure a continued free flow of tourist and commercial traffic by speeding low-risk individuals and goods through customs checkpoints.
But the agreement also provided for enhanced information-sharing between Canada and the U.S. on everything from the screening of airline passengers to exchanges of immigration, intelligence and police data. <snip>
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