Security perimeter touted by Tory

Federal conservative leadership hopeful Scott Brison told members of the Essex Federal PC Riding Association Saturday he favours a security perimeter around North America to protect the $2-billion-a-day trading relationship between Canada and the United States.

"We have to find ways not only to protect that trading relationship, but ways to expand that trading relationship," said Brison. Brison made the comments at the riding association's annual general meeting.

The conservative member for Kings-Hants in Nova Scotia is among seven candidates seeking to replace outgoing Leader Joe Clark this spring. Brison is on a tour of Canada trying to drum up support among potential delegates to the leadership convention.

Brison is proposing standardizing the process for inspecting overseas cargo shipments and a North American ID card to allow goods and travellers to move across the border easier. "And we would not be, in any way, shape or form, compromising our sovereignty ... because we would be playing a leadership role and agreeing to mutual standards," said Brison. "It hurts Canadian sovereignty to have Canadian companies lose money because their goods are held up at the border."

He said the federal government must provide the funding for infrastructure to speed traffic across the border. "We can't leave that up to municipalities."

The federal PC leadership convention will be held May 29 to June 1 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.