MONCTON, July 11, 2008 - The Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Stockwell Day, today announced that effective July 14, 2008, the Government of Canada will offer extended border services at the Moncton, Fredericton and Charlottetown airports. This investment of an estimated $1 million per year will extend the hours of border services to 16 hours a day (from 8 a.m. to midnight), 7 days a week.
"Today's announcement is the result of much hard work by our Government and clearly demonstrates our commitment to the economic prosperity of this region," said Minister Day. "Extended hours of clearance services will allow these airports to be more competitive because they will attract more international flights and this will contribute to the development of the tourism industry in Atlantic Canada."
"Our Government recognizes the importance of extending border services to these three airports," said the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Regional Minister for New Brunswick. "The extra hours will provide businesses and other travellers with more choices - and that will increase economic development and tourism opportunities."
Prior to this extension of border services, the airport authorities and airlines were required to pay cost recovery fees for Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) passenger clearance services after 5 p.m. This extension means that the top 20 airports in Canada will all receive a minimum of 16 hours of publicly funded passenger clearance services.
An overall review of CBSA core services is ongoing. In the meantime, as further options are considered and decisions are made, the CBSA will continue to offer a service delivery approach that is fair, transparent and flexible.
Information:
Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863
Canada Border Services Agency
Media Relations
613-957-6500
