Coutts, Alberta, August 18, 2008 - Rick Casson, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, Alberta, on behalf of the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Stockwell Day, announced today that a NEXUS lane and enrolment centre have opened at the Cou utts, Alberta–Sweetgrass, Montana border crossing.
"The Government of Canada is proud that NEXUS is expanding at the land border in Coutts, Alberta," said Minister Day. "This lane will enable both Canadian and American NEX US members to travel quickly and securely between Canada and the United States."
The new enrolment centre, located on the U.S. side of the border, will also make it more convenient for residents of the Coutts region to apply to the NEXUS p rogram.
NEXUS is a joint Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that is designed to simplify border crossings for pre-approved travellers. On land, NEXUS members can use NEXUS lanes at 15 locations when travelling across the Canada–U.S. border.
The NEXUS program is also available at eight major Canadian airports and at over 450 locations for the marine mode of transportation. In addition, the NEXUS card is an accepted alternative document to the passport under the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative when travelling to the United States by air (at designated airports), land and sea.
This NEXUS expansion also demonstrates how the CBSA is preparing to ensure the smooth flow of l egitimate travellers across the border in the lead up to the 2010 Winter Olympics.
For more information, please visit the NEXUS Web site.
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For media information:
Mélisa Leclerc
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863
Lisa White
Media Relations
Canada Border Services Agency
403-292-4011
CBSA Media Relations
