(Journal of Commerce)
President George W. Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin say they are committed to easing the mounting border congestion and will consider adding a bridge or a tunnel at the Windsor-Detroit crossing, the busiest
between the two countries.
Bush told a news conference that "the deputy prime minister [Anne McLellan] talked about perhaps the need for an additional bridge, which she asked us to consider."
Three scenarios for the crossing are being discussed, including expanding the existing bridge deck; adding a new span, or converting a railway tunnel to allow vehicle traffic.
None of the three is seen as an immediate option.
Bush pointed out U.S. officials have already added four lanes to their side of the border crossing at Detroit, and have invested substantially in new equipment
to help screen more vehicles.
"I believe it is possible to be able to deal with terrorist activity and illegal activity, and at the same time have a robust commercial relationship. And a lot of it has to do
with using technologies in an effective way. And we're making good progress. And, obviously, there's more progress to be done," he said.
Martin raised the issue of border measures at several points in his
two days of discussions with Bush, and said Ottawa remains committed to strengthening its security policies as long as it continues to foster the billion-dollar-a-day trade relationship between the two countries.
"We will collaborate further to ensure our shared border is closed to terror but open to the safe movement of people and goods, which is so integral to our economic success," said Martin, adding
"concrete milestones" will be established early next year.
The two leaders spent much of today's morning session of their working visit discussing security matters, and have agreed to work quickly to
implement pre-clearance areas at some of the busiest border crossings, accelerate the implementation of 2001's 32-point Smart Border accord, and work to share more intelligence information.
Both backed already
announced border initiatives such as the pilot project at the Buffalo-Fort Erie crossing. U.S. customs officers there will clear trucks on the Canadian side of the border because of difficulties in expanding the border
post on the crowded Buffalo side.
They also agreed on the need to set common benchmarks and strike cooperative agreements to protect critical infrastructure such as the North American electrical grid and
bridges, and increase the level of cooperation on maritime surveillance and port security.
Bush was effusive in praising Canadian security and border measures, and said the top priority is to "work to
ensure that our ports of entry are closed to terrorists and criminals and deadly weapons."
At the same time, Bush said Tuesday he wanted U.S. borders re-opened to Canadian beef and cattle "as quickly
as possible," but did not deliver the firm deadline that Canadian cattle farmers wanted and a federal minister had promised.
The U.S. imposed a ban on Canadian beef and cattle when a single case of mad-cow
disease was discovered in May 2003, although the ban was later lifted for some cuts of meat.
The meeting failed to produce any progress on the continuing softwood-lumber dispute that has seen hefty levies on
Canadian exports, despite trade-panel rulings against the U.S. duties.
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