US-CANADA BORDER PLAN TO BE SIGNED

According to a CTV News report, the new US-Canada Border Plan is scheduled to be signed soon in Washington by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and US President Barack Obama, despite issues of privacy concerns. The plan is a 32-point border action plan that will reportedly feature a new entry-exit control system that will allow the United States to track everyone coming and leaving Canada by air, land and sea.


The federal government says there is little to worry about, despite the information that will be shared with the Americans. According to privacy commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, no details have yet been shared with their office on the new rules. But she does make it clear that “Canadian sovereignty and privacy rights must be protected”. Washington claims that in exchange for this information, they will be addressing the heavy cross border traffic by setting up pre-screening stations with hopes to alleviate the congestion at the border.

According to CTV some of the features of the plan could take place within months, while others, such as the entry-exit system, could take longer to implement. The plan to push security to the perimeter of North America includes steps to screen cargo at the port of first arrival, screen air passengers at the point of departure and introduce entry-exit verification. New fast lanes may also be built at border crossings to make it easier for trucks to pass through.

For Canadian air travelers, one of the main benefits of the plan would be not having their baggage rescreened when flying through a U.S. hub. For travelers and consumers, the Border deal would also mean:

• Border crossings should move faster, with commercial traffic getting more dedicated lanes and technology to move them through faster;
• Wait times measured and posted at border crossings.
• Consumer health products that have already been approved in the U.S. could get faster approval in Canada, with regulatory bodies sharing information and adjusting labeling standards to make it easier to market a product in both countries.

The security plan includes an initiative for a pilot program to integrate some border law-enforcement teams and improve cross-border communication between law-enforcement agencies. The business community has given positive feedback to the border deals.

Reprinted from YYZ Travel Group - Business First January 2012 Newsletter