Harper's got a secret...

And as leader of Canada's Gnu Government, being open and accountable and transparent and what all, he's not going to share it with any of us:

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper departs for Australia on Tuesday for a summit of pan-Pacific leaders, he'll be carrying with him a secret agenda that is quite literally radioactive.

Harper will face questions from both Australian Prime Minister John Howard and U.S. President George W. Bush over Canada's participation in a sweeping American-led initiative still in its infancy.

The initiative, called the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, proposes that nuclear energy-using countries and uranium-exporting countries band together in a new nuclear club to promote and safeguard the industry.

So, what is it Harper doesn't want anyone to know about?

Central to the plan is a proposal that all used nuclear fuel be repatriated to the original uranium exporting country for disposal.

That has already caused a bit of a shitstorm in Australia who's government is also trying to become a member of the big new nuclear club. It's akin to having a sandpit operator responsible for disposing of the glass made by a soft-drink manufacturer.

The truth is, Canada and Australia are the world's largest exporters of uranium. The US has proposed "special rules" for both countries but how, precisely they are expected to work is not really known. Because the Conservatives are trying to keep this a secret.

At a pre-APEC briefing last week, one of the prime minister's most senior officials, flanked by his director of communications Sandra Buckler, carefully skirted a question on the GNEP.

"It doesn't feature on the APEC agenda, per se,'' said the official. "Whether the initiative has disappeared off the global agenda or the U.S. agenda, I really can't say.''

The next day, in response to a separate and unrelated media inquiry, a spokesperson from Foreign Affairs confirmed Canada has been invited to a Sept. 16 meeting in Vienna to discuss the initiative.

"Canada has been invited to join the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership and to participate in the next meeting scheduled to take place on September 16 in Vienna,'' said the official.

"Canada is reviewing the proposed GNEP Statement of Principles and a decision on Canadian participation will be made shortly.''

One thing we know for sure is that if Sandra Buckler is involved, the truth is in jeopardy. Aside from that, this statement looks like this whole thing is a side issue. Apparently, though, that's because it would appear Harper is afraid to tell Canadians what's going on.

That carefully neutral response _ which left Canadian attendance in doubt barely a fortnight before the Vienna meeting _ stands in contrast to earlier draft "talking points'' obtained by The Canadian Press under an Access to Information request.

Those heavily censored documents show much greater enthusiasm.

"Canada is very interested in examining potential areas for partnership in the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) given that we are the world's largest uranium producer,'' said one undated talking point from 2006.

The same memo continues: "Canadian officials . . . have begun discussions with their counterparts in the U.S. to consider possible parameters of Canadian involvement.''

It would appear Harper wants to sneak this under Canadian noses without a debate. And rightly or wrongly, there would be a loud and vigorous debate. Mention of the word nuclear and peoples' ears perk up. And if Canada is to become a nuclear waste dumping ground, we have a right to know exactly what that entails.

It would seem Harper is afraid to face the kind of scrutiny the GNEP brings with it. People are going to want answers. And "minority" Steve can see a dangerous political minefield being sown if people start asking questions.

Ask questions.