While attention remains focused on the U.S.-Mexico border, the U.S. Canadian border is also the beneficiary of an evolving relationship with two new strategies being announced. The first, announced in December 2011 by Prime Minister Harper of Canada and President Obama, was the Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan. This Action Plan focuses on four key areas: Addressing Threats Early; Facilitating Trade, Economic Growth and Jobs; Cross-Border Law Enforcement; and Critical Infrastructure and Cyber Security.

Subsequently, The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy announced the release of its Northern Border Counter Narcotics Strategy  (PDF, 80 Pages, 635KB) on January 20, 2012. The latest strategy built on the 2010 U.S-Canada Joint Border Threat and Risk Assessment  (PDF, 544KB), which highlighted the threat of illicit drug movement as a two-way problem that required joint responses.