Prime Minister Stephen Harper toured Canada's Arctic last week for the fifth time since he took office, in an effort to reaffirm Canada's claims to the region. In 2009, Harper's tour resulted in the establishment of an official Northern strategy and the creation of CanNor, a regional economic development agency, in the interest of supporting socio-economic development, Canada's Northern sovereignty, the improvement of Northern governance, and the protection of the Northern environment. This year Harper's weeklong tour demonstrated that the federal government aims to reinforce these goals.

Borders and Bridges: Recent Shifts in North American Relations   Presented by the Hudson Institute

Released August 9, 2010, this latest report on the Canadian federal government's Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF), reveals some interesting assessments on the progress of the program's implementation. This report, the third in a series completed by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, found that essentially all of the CDN$4 billion in program spending has been allocated, but that there have been notable delays in project start  dates when compared to original projections.

A high level trade mission from the United States will be in Mexico City September 27-29 for "the first ever Green ICT & Energy Efficiency Trade Mission to Mexico City."  The purpose of this mission by the US Commercial Service is to promote the entry of green business and Smart Grid companies into Mexico. Coinciding with the Mexican government's Green Expo 2010, this American mission plans to capitalize on Mexican President Felipe Calderon's move towards lower national carbon emissions and a ‘greener' economy.

Backgrounder Published by the Heritage Foundation Abstract: The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has repeatedly adapted to meet a range of national security concerns. First created to confront the growing Soviet bomber threat, NORAD's mission has been expanded to provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America. However, U.S. and Canadian security interests do not end at the U.S.-Mexico border. To enable NORAD to better fulfill its mission, the United States and Canada should invite Mexico to join NORAD.

At the end of June 2010 there were approximately 55,625 cases pending before the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board with an estimated wait time for processing of nineteen months. In an effort to reduce this backlog, the Federal Government tabled Bill C-11, which allows for quicker processing for both those in need of protection from torture and persecution, as well as a the swift removal of failed asylum seekers.

Toronto, July 22 - Cross-border investment disputes have supplanted trade disputes as the main focus of legal actions under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), according to a study released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In "Trend Spotting: NAFTA Disputes After Fifteen Years,"  author Lawrence Herman finds a growing number of these investment disputes entail challenges by American investors against Canada's provincial, as opposed to federal, laws and regulations.

In preparation for high level climate change talks set to take place in Mexico at the end of this year, the Mexican government launched its COP 16: Mexico 2010 website in early July.  On November 29, 2010 leaders from around the world will descend on the resort city of Cancun, Mexico for the two week COP 16 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The meeting will build upon negotiations that took place in Copenhagen at the end of 2009.