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Cancun, Mexico - April.1.2006 A leaked video and a trip to Mexico have caused Stephen Harper’s MPs to lose their enthusiasm for his secret cabinet meetings. Harper arrived in Cancun this week for the trilateral summit with George Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox. Unknown to the media a second plane landed an hour later. Its mission to bring Harper’s Cabinet ministers in under cover for a secret meeting. Mexican police whisked the cabinet motorcade through roadblocks and beach areas strewn with trees downed by Wilma to a large hurricane shelter built beneath ancient Mayan ruins. A number of pressing issues were on the table at this meeting. They would have remained secret had it not been for a security system in the complex. Hidden video equipment displayed the scene at a monitoring station, allowing the video to fall into our possession at the Canadiana Press. The video, in my lap here in Cancun, shows Harper and his cabinet dining on water, wine and chili served at the shelter. Harper emphasizes his aims to improve our relationship with the U.S. He notes that advance talks with Bush have made a softwood lumber deal possible … only if Canada supports Bush’s new immigration policies. The Bush policies include the need to hold a new $50 US identification card. Bush also wants 12 million Mexican illegals deported. To appease the Mexican President Harper states that he will back Bush, and offer to help by fast tracking Mexican labour into Canada. This ruffles the feathers of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty who appears on camera wondering how much this will cost. Harper assures him it will be done without the hiring of a single public servant. Then an angry dispute erupts between Mr. Harper and Peter Mackay over Harper’s idea of speeding fifty thousand Mexican workers into downtown Toronto to replace the Portuguese currently being deported. “The Porkchops are better workers!” Mackay shouts. The meeting turns into a bit of a ruckus as Defense Minister Gordon O’Connor hollers, “Canadians need jobs!” “Porkchops not wetbacks!” Tony Clement and others chant. Finally Harper pounds his fist, forces agreement with a condescending glance and quietly says, “We all need jobs, but there are priorities. This is for the good of Canada.” Looking to Mackay he says, “Like Belinda, those Liberal Porkchops are gone for good.” David Emerson nods his head in agreement. “It’s a win-win deal he says. The lumber issue is settled and we get cheap labour as well.” The discussion continues with Vic Toews talking on Colin Mayes’ new policy idea. It involves the jailing of bad reporters. Harper exits to meet Bush and Fox at the Fiesta Americana Condesa. The ministers appear flustered and angered as they argue over a shortlist of bad reporters. They fail to reach an agreement, but Sheila Copps makes the top of the list. “We throw her to the wolves as a sacrifice,” Flaherty says. “Then we jail the entire CBC.” That’s the end of the video. Today Mr. Harper returns to Canada. He expects a tough battle in the house over the new guest worker deal he and Fox have signed; a deal to give 12 million Mexican illegals status in Canada. © Canadiana Press
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