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New Canada-U.S. Initiatives on Border Issues Announced


April 8, 1997
Washington D.C.

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced a series of agreements with the Government of the United States to accommodate the growing flow of people across the Canada-U.S. border. The agreements, concluded during the Prime Minister's visit to Washington, will streamline the legitimate movement of people and goods, while strengthening enforcement through cooperation between border and law enforcement agencies.

These measures will bring significant advantages to small border communities, busy ports of entry, businesses and travellers. They build on the landmark Shared Border Accord and Open Skies Agreement signed during the visit of U.S. President Bill Clinton to Ottawa in February 1995.

To ease the movement of people and goods across the border, the two governments agree to:

  • Reduce congestion at some of the busiest entry points by building Commercial Vehicle Processing Centres on the most suitable side of the border. The first centre will be built by early 1999 at the Fort Erie, Ontario-Buffalo Peace Bridge crossing and will provide U.S. customs services at Fort Erie to American-bound traffic. By early 1999, commercial vehicles will line up for processing at off-road facilities, eliminating traffic tie-ups and delays for other vehicles.

  • Clear commercial carriers electronically with the North American Trade Automation Prototype which will reduce traffic congestion significantly and lower costs for businesses and consumers. The initiative, based on common data, documents and procedures, begins this month on a test basis at the Buffalo-Fort Erie and Detroit-Windsor border crossings.

  • As a truck approaches the border, special transponder devices will send a signal to customs identifying the truck, the driver and the cargo. After evaluating whether the shipment meets customs clearance requirements, Customs will send a message to the truck, instructing it to enter the compound or continue on its route.

  • Offer an Automated/Remote Permits Ports program to provide round-the-clock service by the year 2000 to small communities all along the shared border, by using technology such as remote video inspection. This service will allow people in small border communities to cross the border -- for dinner or a movie, for example -- avoiding drives of up to an hour to the nearest full-time border station. Consultations on service to 22 paired border communities will begin this fall.

  • Reduce the number of customs stops from four to two for in transit commercial carriers moving goods through either country, beginning in the fall of 1997. This will eliminate 300,000 processing stops annually on the New York State-Ontario-Michigan border alone, saving truckers millions of dollars without compromising border security.

  • Construct Joint Border Facilities. The first venture will be a U.S.-Canada customs and immigration facility at the Coutts, Alberta-Sweetgrass, Montana border. Such facilities will increase efficiencies.

  • Conduct joint seminars to assist the trading community to meet Canada-U.S. customs requirements with the aim of further reducing unnecessary delays at ports of entry.

  • In July, Pre-clearance Services at the Ottawa airport will be established. This will allow airlines to provide better services to the U.S.
  • To capitalize on growing trade opportunities, Canada plans to work closely with the United States to plan more efficient and innovative cross-border transportation facilities. The purpose is to ensure that highway and rail transportation networks are adequate to meet the projected demands of the next decade and beyond. Border trade and transportation coalitions of public and private sector groups are playing a role in promoting cross-border cooperation.

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