Canadian Deputy Prime Minister, Anne McLellan, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge highlighted
continuing progress on the implementation of the Smart Border Action Plan, including an agreement to consult stakeholders on the pre-screening of commercial traffic and a pilot on full preclearance at the Fort
Erie-Buffalo Peace Bridge.
"The consultations we are initiating on land pre-clearance have great potential to address issues of security and congestion at the border between our two countries," said
Secretary Ridge. "By screening travelers, shipments and conveyances prior to their reaching the adjoining country via a bridge or tunnel, we will be able to enhance national security and better protect critical
border infrastructure."
"These achievements demonstrate the important progress that Canada and the United States continue to make in enhancing the security of our citizens while facilitating the largest
trading relationship in the world," said Deputy Prime Minister McLellan. "We are now turning our attention toward identifying additional steps that might be taken to further modernize the border, with the
input of border stakeholders."
Highlights of progress since October 2003 include:
. a joint plan to engage stakeholders in a discussion on commercial pre-screening that would enhance traffic
flows and security at the Fort Erie-Buffalo Peace Bridge. The two countries have also agreed to work with stakeholders to examine a pilot on full preclearance at the same crossing, with appropriate legislative changes
to enhance inspection authorities;
.
the commitment by Canada to partner with the U.S. in their Container Security Initiative, including the deployment of Canada Border Services Agency officials to a foreign marine port by April 2005 to assist in the targeting and verification of shipping containers destined to North America;
.
the implementation of the joint NEXUS-Air pilot program at Vancouver International Airport on November 30, 2004. NEXUS-Air will use iris scan recognition biometric technology and will be open to citizens and permanent residents of both Canada and the United States;
.
the signing of a Letter of Intent on radio interoperability to ensure that first responders and officers involved in joint force operations can quickly and easily communicate. It will also facilitate the implementation of the radio interoperability project that will test new technology that should enable radios to communicate, regardless of make, model or radio channel being used;
.
the expansion of the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) to the Sault Ste Marie region. The IBET is a multi-agency law enforcement team that emphasizes a harmonized approach to Canadian and United States efforts to target cross-border criminal and terrorist activity; the creation of two new dedicated FAST lanes ? southbound at Pacific Highway (British Columbia)/ Blaine (Washington) on October 20, 2004, and in both directions at the Windsor-Detroit Ambassador Bridge on November 1, 2004; and
. Canada and the United States will issue the fifth Smart Border Action Plan Status Report in the coming weeks.
Finally, Deputy Prime Minister McLellan and Secretary Ridge also announced that
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada and the Department of Homeland Security are enhancing cooperation in the areas of national emergency response, law enforcement and the protection of shared critical
infrastructure. Progress on this cooperation, to be overseen through semi-annual meetings of senior officials, includes:
.
conducting joint vulnerability assessments and priority setting for the protection of shared infrastructure;
. improving joint plans and protocols for bi-national emergency response;
and,
. improving information-sharing regarding alerts and warnings, emergency public information, and the sharing of information with key stakeholders.
Bob Armstrong, president and CEO, I.E.Canada, was a special
guest at a small, intimate gathering of business leaders with Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, and senior officials from United States Customs and Border Protection and
the Canada Border Services Agency.
"We had a healthy discussion about the roles business and government should play to move forward at the border. In particular, I raised the issue of the limited number of
Canadian companies registering for the FAST program," said Bob Armstrong. "I volunteered to take the lead to work with other associations and the Canada Border Services Agency to ensure that more and more
Canadian companies participate in the FAST initiative," added Armstrong.
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