Pat Buchanan strikes again. The target this time: Canada. He is complaining that our neighbors to the north are a veritable conduit for terrorists, happily rubber-stamping every suspicious person into their country.

Rather than expressing gratitude that Canada is not a troublesome neighbor, Buchanan most recently ruffled more than a few maple leaves by complaining that Canada is a “whining” country that has happily free-loaded off the largess of American defense spending for decades. Rather than groveling at our feet for protecting them, according to Buchanan, Canadians have the audacity to let foreigners into their country — foreigners who very well may become terrorists.

The worst was that he stooped to call our neighbors to the north Canuckistan — implying that by not following Buchanan’s ultra-conservative plan for stopping immigrants cold in their tracks they are some kind of quasi-Soviet state. Buchanan’s erroneous belief that Canada is tacitly allowing terrorists to carry out their evil deeds and thus needs to be smited is embarrassing. Canadian immigration policies have little to do with terrorists threatening American security.

Buchanan’s accusations are, however, a starting point for a frank discussion in bilateral U.S.-Canadian relations. Especially in the area of social services, Canada desperately needs more workers to fill the gaps left by their aging population. Canada needs immigrants, but it has to be choosy: with its socialized medical system Canada has little financial incentive to admit anyone not capable of giving back to the society.

Moreover, not only have the terrorists Buchanan believes Canada to be harboring sought out U.S. flight schools over Canadian ones, it is ultimately U.S. officials that wave Canadian emigrants onto U.S. soil.

Rather than accepting excuses for flaws in U.S. immigration policy, we should examine our own practices, resources and standards for Canadian emigrants. By shifting the blame onto our neighbors, we cheat ourselves and disrespect them. Certainly, as nations with high standards of living, both the United States and Canada are sought-after destinations for those who come from nations of little opportunity or prosperity. United States-Canadian cooperation on the shared border is crucial to the security of both nations.

By working in concert to establish protocol for border crossing, the United States and Canada can effectively improve the safety of North America. We cannot pass the buck of our national well-being to any institution but a U.S. institution.

Pat Buchanan and others like him will only serve to divide two nations with a long history of cooperation and mutual respect. The unfortunate result is that such inflammatory speech will only serve to keep us distracted from solving our problems here at home.

Editorial Board:Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Ayrel Clark, Charlie Weaver, Rachel Faber Machacha, Zach Calef.