Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08OTTAWA336, CONSERVATIVES EASILY SURVIVE FEDERAL BUDGET VOTES

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08OTTAWA336.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08OTTAWA336 2008-03-05 17:57 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Ottawa
VZCZCXYZ5342
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHOT #0336/01 0651757
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051757Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7463
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000336 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SENV KCRM EAID AF CA
SUBJECT: CONSERVATIVES EASILY SURVIVE FEDERAL BUDGET VOTES 
 
REF:  A.  OTTAWA 257 
-       B.  OTTAWA 319 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  The Conservatives' third budget marks another 
legislative accomplishment for the minority government, as it easily 
survived three confidence votes, concluding on March 4.  The budget 
is a lean, low-key document, constrained by prior commitments of 
C$60 billion in tax cuts and other spending in the October 2007 
economic statement and concern over spillover from an economic 
slowdown in the United States.  However, it did provide an 
unexpected bump-up in its already substantial aid to Afghanistan and 
other recipients, and more domestic resources for border and law 
enforcement programs and for military modernization, as well as for 
protection of Arctic sovereignty and the environment.  .  The only 
substantive concern that the USG may have over the new budget is its 
provision of C$10 million over two years to Natural Resources Canada 
to promote Canada's forestry sector in international markets as a 
model of environmental innovation and sustainability, which may be 
inconsistent with the Softwood Lumber Agreement.  End summary 
 
HOME RUN FOR THE CONSERVATIVES 
 
2.  (SBU) The House of Commons on March 4 passed the third annual 
budget from the minority government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper 
in a Conservative motion that was by definition a matter of 
"confidence."  The government had on February 28 and March 3 also 
survived confidence votes on a budget sub-amendment motion from the 
Bloc Qubcois and a budget amendment motion from the Liberal Party, 
respectively.  On the latter motion, all but seven Liberal MPs 
boycotted the vote on their own party's amendment after Opposition 
 
leader Stephane Dion made clear that the budget was not "harmful" 
enough to warrant toppling the government (ref a).   In the March 4 
vote, only 11 Liberal MPs, including Dion, showed up to oppose it, 
prompting Conservative MPs to taunt the Liberals for shirking their 
"fundamental responsibility" to represent their constituents. 
 
3.  (U) The 2008 budget, entitled "Responsible Leadership for 
Uncertain Times,"  is the smallest in 11 years.  It projects new 
spending of only C$1.3 billion (3.4 per cent growth) in 2008-2009 
(unlike the first two Conservative budgets, which expanded federal 
spending cumulatively by 14.8 per cent), and of only an additional 
C$6 billion in total over three years.  The government's earlier 
C$60 billion tax cuts (representing C$14.7 billion in annual cuts) 
and its determination to allocate all of the C$10.2 billion surplus 
for FY 2007-2008 to payments on Canada's already modest national 
debt limited the revenues available for the new budget.  Finance 
Minister Jim Flaherty called the budget a "prudent, disciplined, and 
realistic" plan that would keep Canada's finances in the black. 
 
MORE MONEY FOR AFGHANISTAN, FOREIGN AID 
 
4. (U) In the new budget, Canada committed an additional C$100 
million in assistance to Afghanistan, primarily for security and 
training of the Afghan police and army.  The one-time increase will 
bring Canada's total aid for Afghanistan 2008-09 to C$280 million 
and boosts Canada's total projected financial commitment to that 
country to C$1.3 billion through 2011. 
 
5. (U) The budget also lived up to a 2007 budget pledge to double 
Canada's international assistance to C$5 billion by 2010-11, 
including delivering on Canada's commitment (along with the other 
G-8 nations) specifically to double aid to Africa (to C$2.1 billion) 
in 2008-2009.  Canada will also contribute C$450 million to the 
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and C$50 
QGlobal Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and C$50 
million over two years to launch a development Innovation Fund. 
 
 
6.  (U) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAIT) received an 
additional C$89 million over two years to add new staff, embassies, 
and missions to enhance Canada's overseas network and operational 
priorities, including under Canada's new Latin America strategy 
(septel). 
 
BORDER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BEEF-UP 
 
7.  (U) The budget allocated C$165 million over two years for 
measures to improve management of the border, including: 
 
-- C$75 million for the Canada Border Services Agency; 
-- C$14 million to expand NEXUS; 
-- C$6 million to support provinces introducing enhanced drivers' 
licenses (EDLs); 
-- C$26 million to incorporate biometric data into Canadian visas; 
-- C$15 million to establish a permanent facility to enhance 
security of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway; 
-- C$29 million to meet Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) 
priorities, including  for increased regulatory cooperation, better 
protection of the North American food supply, and improved 
trilateral cooperation on energy research and compatibility of 
energy efficiency standards; 
-- introduction of a higher-security 10 year electronic Canadian 
passport by 2011. 
 
8. (U) Living up to the Conservatives' 2006 campaign pledges and 
priorities from the October 2007 Throne Speech, the new budget also 
included: 
 
-- C$400 to encourage provinces and territories to recruit 2,500 new 
front-line police officers; 
-- C$122 million over two years for federal corrections; 
-- C$32 million over two years for the Public Prosecution Service; 
and, 
-- C$30 million for the National Crime Prevention Strategy. 
 
MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE CANADIAN FORCES 
 
9.  (U) The defense budget is projected to rise to approximately 
C$18.9 billion in FY 2008-2009, a 5.9 per cent increase over FY 
2007-2008, reflecting Conservative policy decisions already in 
place.  Beginning in FY 2011-2012, the automatic annual increase in 
defense spending will rise from 1.5 to 2 per cent, providing the CF 
with an additional C$12 billion over the next two decades to buy new 
equipment.  The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) also 
received an additional C$43 million over two years to keep pace with 
advances in technology. 
 
THE ARCTIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT 
 
10.  (U) The 2008 budget earmarked C$720 million for a new 
Polar-class ice breaker (ready for duty in 2017) to replace the 
current aging vessel, as well as C$20 million over two years to 
collect data and for legal work to support Canada's submission to 
the UN Commission on Limits of the Continental Shelf and C$34 
million over two years for geological mapping to support Arctic 
economic development.  The budget also set aside C$8 million over 
two years to build a commercial harbor in Nunavut to help Arctic 
fisheries. 
 
11.  (U) On the environment more broadly, the budget provided: 
 
-- C$250 million for the Automotive Innovation Fund to help auto 
companies build more environmentally-friendly and fuel-efficient 
vehicles; 
-- C$250 million to support research on and deployment of carbon 
capture and storage technology in the power generation sector; 
-- C$300 million to support nuclear energy, including the continued 
development of the Advanced CANDU reactor; 
-- C$33 million for better environmental law enforcement; and, 
-- C$66 million to support development of a regulatory framework for 
industrial air emissions. 
 
COMMENT 
 
12. (SBU)  Having successfully -- and easily -- weathered the three 
confidence votes on the budget, passed its flagship crime bill (ref 
b), and achieved apparent consensus with the Liberals on a March 13 
confidence motion to extend the Canada Forces' mission in 
Afghanistan until 2011, the government has made significant progress 
on its desired policy agenda.  NDP leader Jack Layton has threatened 
to table another confidence vote on March 7, when the NDP will 
control the topic of debate as one of several upcoming (and 
required) "opposition days," but the risk of such a vote succeeding 
remains slim as long as the Liberals appear willing to avoid an 
election at any cost.  The only substantive concern that the USG may 
have over the new budget is its provision of C$10 million over two 
years to Natural Resources Canada to promote Canada's forestry 
sector in international markets as a model of environmental 
innovation and sustainability, which may be inconsistent with the 
Softwood Lumber Agreement. 
 
WILKINS