Opposition parties are crying foul over the Harper government's decision to hold special briefings for business groups on Friday's controversial Canada-U.S. border security deal while providing none for their parliamentary rivals.
Canadian business groups were invited to briefings at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on Friday, just as Mr. Harper holds talks with Barack Obama in Washington on an agreement to ease border congestion by closer co-operation with Americans on security. The briefing takes place at 2 pm ET, around the time the leaders are to meet.
Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae said to his knowledge there are no provisions Friday for opposition politicians to attend any briefings that would explain the details of the agreement.
He said he's puzzled by how little advance effort the Tories put into explaining these talks to opposition parties in Parliament – and predicted this low-profile approach will backfire.
"It will only cause them grief and trouble. There's no reason for them to presuppose any ill will on the part of people wanting to have a conversation about this," Mr. Rae said.
"The more they keep Parliament in the dark and the more they make this look like a strategy for the business elite only, the worse it gets for them."
The Prime Minister's Office said opposition parties should focus on the announcement itself instead of kvetching in advance.
"This a former NDP premier who opposed the free-trade agreement," PMO director of communications Dimitri Soudas said of Mr. Rae.
He urged opposition parties to pay attention the talks themselves that concern "important matters that involve both our countries."
Added Mr. Soudas: "Let's focus on what's important instead of the opposition complaining about something they started criticizing before even having the opportunity to see it."
Steven Chase