Chamber Of Commerce Says SPP Will Protect 10 Million Jobs

PERRIN BEATTY
Globe and Mail Update
April 21, 2008 at 6:26 AM EDT

Canada and the United States enjoy a special relationship, built on shared values developed through the long history of family, friends, and visitors who live on both sides of the border. However, this unique relationship is at risk, along with the benefits that come from the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world that sees $1.5-billion (U.S.) in two-way trade cross the border each day.

Much has been said about the 'thickening' of the Canada-U.S. border - the layering of costs and wait times associated with people and goods crossing our shared border - but more must be done. Both Canadian and U.S. businesses are sounding the alarm about the escalation of these costs, and about how they are squeezing North American companies, and endangering investment...

[snip]

In a recent coalition report, Finding the Balance: Reducing Border Costs While Strengthening Security, 45 Canadian and U.S. business associations, led by the Canadian and U.S. Chambers of Commerce, called for specific near-term measures to reduce border-related costs and burdensome border requirements and to facilitate the movement of legitimate people and goods.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is currently joining U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe de Jesus Calderon in New Orleans for the annual leaders' summit. The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) Leaders' Summit provides a venue for the Canadian and U.S. governments to step forward with commitments to deal with this serious border problem and strengthen not only the Canada-U.S. relationship but also the ability for North American companies to keep these jobs at home.

The recommendations of our report are very much in line with the SPP's initial framework, released in June, 2005. Our border report also provides a practical list of priority areas where government must act to ensure our economic competitiveness without undermining our security...

Ten million jobs on the line at the border