Former consul general in Detroit questions U.S. position in NEXUS dispute

The recently retired consul general of Canada in Detroit is questioning why the U.S. isexerting pressureon Canada in a dispute involving the NEXUStravel program.

The NEXUSprogram gives pre-approved and "low-risk" travellers easier entry into Canada or the U.S.

The U.S. shuttered offices that process NEXUS applications during the pandemic, andwhilethey reopened the offices in the U.S. in the spring, they chose to keep Canadian offices closed.

They are asking that U.S. workers in their Canadian offices receive immunity from prosecution while working in Canada like diplomats have.

Comartin said while NEXUShas been in place for around 20 years, it's only in the last four years that the U.S. has been pushing for these changes.

"I really don't understand the pressure coming from them because the system has worked," he said.

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"None of their people have been charged with any crimes on the Canadian side, which is what they're looking for in terms of a claim of immunity for those people."

Joe Comartinmade the remarks while speaking on CBC Radio's Windsor Morning.

He retiredfrom his posting at the end of July, andColin Bird became the consul general for Canada in Detroit in September.

The dispute comes amid a major backlog in the trusted traveller program. This past summer,CBCNews reported that the number of people waiting for NEXUSapproval was in the hundreds of thousands.

• Canada's border servicenow estimates the current backlog has grown to 333,500, leaving applicants across the countryin limbo

Comartinsaid the resolution may need to come at the highest levels of government suggesting talks betweenthe prime minister and president.

"It really is an irritant and from the business community standpoint;it's a real negative in terms of being able to move freely back and forth between our two countries."

He saidhe recognizes that Canada has granted immunity to airport agents but granting it to those working with the NEXUS programwould be involvemany more people.

"It's really a question of Canadian sovereigntythat's at the Canadian side," he said.

"I just really hope it will resolve itself really quickly but they've really dug their heels in on this one."

The U.S. says it's repeatedly informed Canada for several years that this was a priority. A U.S. Embassy spokespersonin Ottawa said last week that the U.S."stands ready to reopen NEXUScentres in Canada once Canada addresses these concerns."

Emergencies Act testimony

Comartinis also set to testifyat the Emergencies Act Inquiry underway in Ottawa, he said, sometime in November.

The inquiry is looking at the federal government's invocation of the act during anti-vaccine mandateprotests in Ottawa and at the Ambassador Bridge in February.

"It will be fairly narrow what I'll be asked about, which is more about what went on in this area Southwestern Ontario and the states of Michigan and Ohio in particular in terms of our interaction with the political people," he said.

He said the protest was among the most surprising situations that arose during his tenure.

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"We had not anticipated it at all up until about five days, six days before," he said.

"We were beginning to get feedback from our intelligence services that a number of the border crossings would be hit and obviously we recognize that Windsor and Sarnia would be major targets because of the amount of traffic."

On retirement

Comartin, 74,had a 60-year career. He hada law practice in Windsor and also served as the NDP MP for a Windsor-area riding between 2000 and 2015. He becameconsul general in 2018.

Comartin said he was looking forward to retirement, so the transition away from the position wasn't difficult.

I feel I've put in my time and I'm going to spend time with family now.- Joe Comartin

He saidthe highlightfor him, in all his roles, was interacting with people.

"Whether it was a number of the governors I got to be fairly friendly with, Indiana and Michigan in particular and a number of the other elected officials," he said.

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"Also the contacts we were making at my level with a number of the business leaders really on both sides of the border... alot of interesting people you get to meet."

Comartin said in retirement would be spending most of his time with his seven grandchildren.

"Up to this point, I've avoided requests to take on committee or board appointments and I'm hoping I can continue with that," he said.

"I feel I've put in my time and I'm going to spend time with family now."