From the Toronto Star, Feb 8, 2011:

OTTAWA The federal government deliberately kept negotiations on a border deal with Washington secret while it planned ways to massage public opinion in favour of the pact, according to a confidential communications strategy.

The 14-page public relations document recommended that talks keep a “low public profile” in the months leading up to the announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama. At the same time, the government would secretly engage “stakeholders” - interested parties such as big business groups and others - in a way that respected “the confidentiality of the announcement.”

Read complete article here.