U.S. House speaker approves study of tie-ups at Canada-U.S. border
Beth Gorham, The Canadian PressApril 25, 2008 - 3:58 p.m.
WASHINGTON - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is spearheading a study this summer on ways to speed up trade and travel at the Canada-U.S. border so Congress can be ready with a plan for the next American administration.
Pelosi, a Democrat and the most powerful politician in the House of Representatives, met this week with Canadian politicians worried about tie-ups that are costing businesses money and frustrating travellers.
All border concerns will be on the table, Conservative MP Rob Merrifield said Friday.
"She understands the issues very well," said Merrified, co-chair of the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group. "She was very well briefed."
Canadian officials say a new administration in January will provide opportunities to promote concerns about border wait times, regardless of who wins the White House.
New York Representative Louise Slaughter, a champion of delaying the passport rule for cross-border travellers until June 2009, is also involved in the effort.
"Especially during this time of economic turbulence, our two nations must continue an open dialgoue to maintain the mutually beneficial economic relationship we have shared for over 200 years," Slaughter said.
Canada and businesses in both countries have been sounding alarm bells about the border for some time, particularly after delays hit up to three hours at some crossings last summer - the longest since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Yet travel is down, said Senator Jerry Grafstein, who also chairs the parliamentary group. Two-way trips have fallen from 175 million a year to some 135 million.
John van Dongen, British Columbia's intergovernmental minister, blames that on uncertainty about what documents are required and the sheer hassles of waiting.
The fact that the U.S. Homeland Security Department has agreed to delay requiring passports at land and sea crossings helps, he said.
But there's a lot to do before next June, he said, such as getting more people using fast-track programs like Nexus and enhanced driver's licences that will be offered in some states and provinces as altenatives to passports.
Some 520 people in British Columbia are already using the high-technology licences denoting citizenship in a pilot project with Washington state. They will be offered to everyone in the province next spring.
Ontario and Quebec are also planning to develop the licences, which will cost less than passports.
Van Dongen would like to see the two countries work on a target for an acceptable processing time for low-risk travellers.
"We don't see an appropriate balance. There's an unstated objective of zero risk. But long lineups don't necessarily translate into zero risk."
Officials blame inordinate delays on several facors, including inadequate infrastructure, too few border agents, more inspections and faulty computers.
A report in February from the Canadian and U.S. chambers of commerce focused on practical measures to reduce wait times and costs.
They include waiving new inspection fees for some Canadian businesses, a pilot project to expedite low-risk food shipments and offering round-the-clock border services at all major crossings.
Canada is also eager to resurrect plans to ease congestion by moving American customs operations to the Canadian side.
Homeland Security nixed a pilot project last year at the Peace Bridge linking New York and Ontario.
The parliamentary group also talked with several U.S. legislators about anti-NAFTA campaign rhetoric from the Democratic contenders, said Grafstein, and many agreed all the talk about renegotiating the deal has become extreme.
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