US President George W Bush, his Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon and Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper are expected to attend a two-day summit held in the Canadian resort of Montebello in relation to the Security and Prosperity Partnership, security being seriously tightened in the region.

The leaders will meet with businessmen in order to strengthen regional ties, especially in the trade sector. Border security is also a top issue on the agenda, along with immigration and conditions for people who desire to work in Canada.

Other subjects refer to the tense situation in the Middle East and Mexico’s campaign against drugs. Canada’s dispute in the Arctic region is another point of interest for the three leaders.

Meanwhile, additional security measures have been imposed in the small town and its suburbs. Police vehicles were patrolling the region after protesters have announced their presence.

In order to prevent incidents, authorities have set up a 3-metre-high steel fence arround the Château Montebello, the summit’s venue. Two areas for demonstrators have also been designated, a measure that would permit security forces to closely monitor the activity of activists.

Aircrafts were banned from flying over the region, as large vehicles have to use alternative routes to get through the area, police restricting their access into Montebello. Precautionary measures were also taken on water, boats being escorted through the Ottawa River that flows near the venue.