As part of the Security and Prosperity Partnership, left to right The Hon. Maxime Bernier, Canadian Minister of Industry; the Hon. Stockwell Day, Canadian Minister of Public Safety; Condoleezza Rice, United States Secretary of State; and the Hon. Peter MacKay, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs met in Ottawa on Friday, February 23, 2007.Leaked U.S. cable lays out North American ‘integration’ strategy National Post:

The integration of North America’s economies would best be achieved through an “incremental” approach, according to a leaked U.S. diplomatic cable.

The cable, released through the WikiLeaks website and apparently written Jan. 28, 2005, discusses some of the obstacles surrounding the merger of the economies of Canada, the United States and Mexico in a fashion similar to the European Union.

“An incremental and pragmatic package of tasks for a new North American Initiative NAI will likely gain the most support among Canadian policymakers,” the document said.

“The economic payoff of the prospective North American initiative … is available, but its size and timing are unpredictable, so it should not be oversold.”

Many different areas of a possible integration are discussed throughout the cable, but the focus is on improving the economic welfare of the continent. It suggests one of the main benefits to Canada would be easier access across the U.S. border, calling it a “top motive” for this country.