The Canada-U.S. Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness builds on existing initiatives to accelerate the flow of trade and people across the border.
At borders on land, at sea and in the air, Canada and the U.S. are collaborating to mitigate threats that would hinder our economic prosperity.
Since the 9/11 attacks, Canada and the U.S. have been working on ways to restore the flow of priority goods and people across the border following a major incident.
Canada has continued to pursue major initiatives that demonstrate its commitment to keeping its border open to the movement of travellers and goods, and closed to those that would do both our countries harm.
SECURITY AT THE BORDER AND ON LAND
Trusted Trader Programs
Facilitated border trusted trader programs allow the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to better manage risk at the border by facilitating the flow of low-risk commercial businesses and goods, thus permitting the Agency to focus its efforts on businesses and goods of unknown or high risk. This helps to reduce wait times and traffic congestion, which in turn supports commercial trade and the economic prosperity of Canadian business.
Partners in Protection (PIP)
The PIP program enlists the cooperation of individual companies to assist the CBSA in enhancing border and supply chain security, combating organized crime and terrorism, and detecting and preventing contraband smuggling. Under this voluntary program, the CBSA is developing strategic partnerships with private industry to secure international cargo and facilitate the flow of low-risk, legitimate goods across our border.
One of these partnerships is with the United States Commercial-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). The CBSA and the United States Customs and Border Protection moved to align the policies, processes and information sharing requirements of the two programs, as committed to by the Canadian Minister of Public Safety and the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. This will now allow the two organizations to commence the initial phases of implementation with the longer-term objective of program harmonization. This alignment is a tangible example of the benefits of working together to integrate our border management regime, streamline trade processes and allow trade to flow more smoothly across our shared border.
The information required to establish and maintain compliance for PIP and C-TPAT applicants and members will be shared between both countries, but with a commitment by both countries to maintain the privacy rights of applicants and members. Trade data and the names and dates of birth of company directors will not be shared.
Customs Self Assessment (Customs Self Assessment (CSA)
The Customs Self Assessment (CSA) program is a facilitated border program specifically designed to support commercial trade. It offers low-risk importers streamlined border clearance, plus simplified accounting and payment options. Currently, the program allows Customs Self Assessment (CSA) importers to move qualified goods coming from North America through a facilitated border clearance process.
eManifest
On October 31, 2010, the CBSA officially launched eManifest, a major initiative that will further strengthen and align our mutual border requirements starting with the highway mode. eManifest will require trade partners in all modes of transportation (air, marine, highway and rail) to submit cargo, crew/passenger, conveyance, secondary and importer data to the CBSA prior to arrival at the border. This will allow Border Services Officers to identify potential health, safety and security threats to Canada, while facilitating the movement of low-risk shipments across the border.
Trusted Traveller Programs
Canada has implemented a series of trusted traveller programs, including the domestic CANPASS suite of programs for individuals travelling to Canada, and the two Canada-U.S. binational programs – NEXUS and the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) driver program for individuals travelling to both Canada and the United States. These programs provide for shorter wait times and streamlined border clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers.
NEXUS currently has over 470,000 members, which is a 39 percent increase over last year. It is expected that the NEXUS program will reach the 500,000 milestone before the end of March 2011. The usage of dedicated program commuter lanes and self-serve airport kiosks has also increased. For example, in the air mode, there was an increase of 27.8% in fiscal year 2009/10 when compared to the previous year, to some 472,000 passages. Likewise in the land mode, passages saw an increase of 26.2%, to more than 2.79 million passages, during that same period. NEXUS members are also now benefitting from the "Trusted Traveller/NEXUS Trial" which allows expedited pre-board screening by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) for NEXUS participants at three Canadian airports - Toronto (Terminal 1), Montreal and Ottawa.
Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record Program (API/PNR)
The Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) program provides information about travellers in advance of their arrival to Canada. This information allows the CBSA to effectively risk assess all travellers coming to Canada thereby allowing the Agency to focus its attention more efficiently on those who may pose a threat or risk to the safety and security of Canadians.
Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs)
The Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) enhance border integrity and security along the shared Canada/U.S. border, between designated ports of entry, by identifying, investigating and interdicting persons, organizations and goods that threaten the national security of one or both countries, or that are involved in organized criminal activity.
The five core organizations participating in the IBET program include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), CBSA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Coast Guard. There are 15 IBET Regions along the Canada-U.S. border with dedicated IBET personnel operating in 24 strategic locations in those regions.
IBET units protect both Canada and the United States from potential threats of terrorism and impede the trafficking/smuggling of people and contraband.
AVIATION SECURITY
Passenger Protect Program
The Passenger Protect program was implemented on June 18, 2007. The program is an aviation security initiative designed to identify individuals that may pose a threat to transportation and disrupt their ability to cause harm or threaten aviation, adding another layer of security to our aviation system to help address potential threats.
Under the program, airlines must compare passengers' names against a list that is controlled and managed by Transport Canada before a boarding pass is issued. When an airline finds a possible match with an entry on the list, it must contact Transport Canada, which will then confirm the identity and take action as appropriate.
While this made-in-Canada program enhances security and respects the needs and realities of the aviation industry, it also ensures that the privacy rights of individuals are protected.
Air Cargo Security
Our Government has introduced sweeping changes to Canada's aviation system to ensure it is one of the safest and most efficient, and meets the highest standards in the world. In June 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced funding to strengthen air cargo security, which has since enabled significant work with industry to develop the best Air Cargo Security Program for Canada possible. The new Air Cargo Security Program, announced in May 2010, is a $95.7 million investment over five years, to be phased in and fully implemented by 2015.
Implementation of this initiative will contribute to enhanced aviation security by:
- Strengthening the regulations, standards and technologies for air cargo screening.
- Increasing the participation of shippers, agents/freight forwarders and air carriers in a secure supply chain that mitigates the risks of terrorist or unlawful interventions.
- Reinforcing industry awareness and commitment to air cargo security.
- Increasing the confidence of Canadians and international partners in Canada's air cargo security regime.
- Contributing to the achievement of the Government's commitment as a strong partner in global efforts against terrorism.
MARINE SECURITY
Shiprider
In October 2010, Our Government introduced legislation to strengthen policing efforts between Canada and the United Sates to more effectively identify, assess and eliminate border threats in shared waterways, especially organized criminal activity and threats of terrorism. The Keeping Canadians Safe (Protecting Borders) Act would implement the Canada–U.S. Framework Agreement on Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations. If passed, the proposed legislation will permit RCMP and other designated Canadian law enforcement officers to work jointly with United States Coast Guard (USCG) and other designated United States law enforcement personnel on maritime law enforcement vessels in boundary waters, such as the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, and off both east and west coasts. Successful pilot projects were already used to support the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games in Vancouver, and the G20 summit in Toronto requirements.
