Ottawa, October 14, 2004 -- Canadian Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Anne McLellan, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge today highlighted continuing progress on the implementation of the Smart Border Action Plan, including an agreement to engage stakeholders in a discussion on the pre-screening of commercial traffic and on work towards a pilot of full preclearance at the Fort Erie-Buffalo Peace Bridge. "By screening travelers, shipments and conveyances prior to their reaching the border through a bridge or tunnel, we will increase security and decrease congestion," said Secretary Ridge. "The discussions we initiated today about preclearing people and cargo will ultimately result in better protection for our shared border." "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 flow 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 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; and, 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. 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 and 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. - 30 - For more information: Alex Swann Director of Communications Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (613) 991-2924 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Press Office (202) 282-8010 CANADA - UNITED STATES SMART BORDER DECLARATION AND ACTION PLAN Backgrounder The Smart Border Declaration was signed in Ottawa on December 12, 2001. In the three years since the tragic events September 11, 2001, the Smart Border Declaration and its accompanying Action Plan have served to build stronger border cooperation between our two countries. The vision was not to take the border back to September 10, 2001, but to develop a 21st century border that advanced both facilitation and security. Effective risk management is key to achieving this vision. We agreed to work to develop a smart border B one where we could identify and expedite low risk people and goods, and focus our resources on higher risk traffic. The Smart Border Declaration is founded on the principle that national and economic security are not competing objectives. A clear example of this is today's announcement on consultations on pre-screening and a full land preclearance pilot at the Fort Erie-Buffalo Peace Bridge. This initiative has potential to significantly enhance border security and efficiency. This Smart Border Declaration was put into practice through the implementation of the 30-point Smart Border Action Plan. This blueprint for action has four pillars: The secure flow of people is about separating low risk travellers from high risk travellers and facilitating the movement of those who pose little risk our security. For example, Canada and the U.S. have established NEXUS, a voluntary program for facilitating the low-risk movement and people. NEXUS is in place at 11 high-volume border crossings, and will be extended to air travellers through the implementation of NEXUS-Air at Vancouver International Airport on November 30, 2004. The secure flow of goods is organized around a similar principle. In partnership with the private sector, we use advanced information and technology to identify and expedite low-risk shipments across our shared frontier. For example, the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program facilitates the cross-border movement of low-risk, pre-approved commercial goods and truck drivers. FAST is now operational at the 12 highest-volume commercial border crossings. Today Secretary Ridge and Deputy Prime Minister McLellan announced the Canada-U.S. partnership in the U.S. Container Security Initiative. Investing in secure infrastructure to protect and improve our air, marine and land gateways. The Government of Canada is investing $665 million to improve border infrastructure. The U.S. Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century also funds transportation projects along U.S. corridors and at border points along the Canada-United States border. The two countries continue to enhance border infrastructure to better support programs like NEXUS and FAST as demonstrated by today's announcement of the scheduled expansion of dedicated FAST lanes to the Pacific Highway and the Ambassador Bridge. Coordination and information sharing in the enforcement of these objectives. Canada and the U.S. have established Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETS) to jointly investigate cross-border criminal and terrorist activity. With today's announcement of the new IBET at Sault Ste Marie, IBETS are now operational in 15 geographic regions across the land border. Reflecting the success of the original Action Plan, in December 2002, the Prime Minister and President expanded our Smart Border cooperation to include Science and Technology and Biosecurity. These measures continue to facilitate the secure movement of people and goods across our shared frontier even in the face of periods of heightened alert. The process developed to drive the Action Plan has served as a model internationally for successful border management and cooperation. In effect, the Smart Border process has become widely recognized by the public, industry and other governments as a model of success.
