Bush Talks Security With Mexico, Canada

Leaders Of 3 North American Nations Tout Close Ties At Quebec Summit

President Bush's summit with the leaders of Canada and Mexico is likely to produce little more than promises of cooperation — and some signs of disunity.

Mr. Bush came to this resort town on the Ottawa River to strengthen his ties with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon. They were poised to announce at least one wrinkle, an effort to clarify border security plans in emergencies.

Yet for all the gestures of unity, there were differences that were handled much more gingerly, spanning from Arctic waterways to passport policies to the war in Afghanistan.

Overshadowing the two-day event was the menacing Hurricane Dean — to the point that the schedule was rearranged to accommodate Calderon. He will attend every event Tuesday but will leave Canada earlier than planned to head home and deal with the storm that started moving ashore before dawn Tuesday.

The summit resumed Tuesday as the three leaders began talks with a council of corporate executives from each of the countries. The business group is pushing for broader coordination across North America, from regulatory standards to emergency planning.

Security and trade issues dominated talks among the North American leaders. Their goal is to make their borders safer without impeding their trade-and-tourism relationship.

Yet even their security partnership has stirred fears in Canada and the U.S. that more North American integration will derail national sovereignty. About 2,000 demonstrators descended on the Montebello in protest; police used tear gas to push back several dozen.