For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
October 14, 2004

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan today highlighted continuing progress on the implementation of the Smart Border Action Plan, including an agreement to engage stakeholders in a discussion on the pre-screening of commercial traffic and on work towards a pilot of full pre-clearance at the Fort Erie-Buffalo Peace Bridge.

“By screening travelers, shipments and conveyances prior to their reaching the border through a bridge or tunnel, we will increase security and decrease congestion,” said Secretary Ridge. “The discussions we initiated today about pre-clearing people and cargo will ultimately result in better protection for our shared border.”

Highlights of progress since October 2003 include:

• A joint plan to engage stakeholders in a discussion on commercial pre-screening that would enhance traffic flow and security at the Fort Erie-Buffalo Peace Bridge.  The two countries have also agreed to work with stakeholders to examine a pilot on full pre-clearance at the same crossing, with appropriate legislative changes to enhance inspection authorities;
  
• The commitment by Canada to partner with the U.S. in their Container Security Initiative, including the deployment of Canada Border Services Agency officials to a foreign marine port by April 2005 to assist in the targeting and verification of shipping containers destined to North America;
  
• The implementation of the joint NEXUS-Air pilot program at Vancouver International Airport on November 30, 2004.  NEXUS-Air will use biometric technology and will be open to citizens and permanent residents of both Canada and the United States;
  
• The signing of a Letter of Intent on radio interoperability to ensure that first responders and officers involved in joint force operations can quickly and easily communicate.  It will also facilitate the implementation of the radio interoperability project that will test new technology that should enable radios to communicate, regardless of make, model or radio channel being used;
  
• The expansion of the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) to the Sault Ste Marie region.  The IBET is a multi-agency law enforcement team that emphasizes a harmonized approach to Canadian and United States efforts to target cross-border criminal and terrorist activity; and
  
• The creation of two new dedicated FAST lanes - southbound at Pacific Highway (British Columbia) / Blaine (Washington) on October 20, 2004, and in both directions at the Windsor-Detroit Ambassador Bridge on November 1, 2004.

“These achievements demonstrate the important progress that Canada and the United States continue to make in enhancing the security of our citizens while facilitating the largest trading relationship in the world,” said Deputy Prime Minister McLellan. “We are now turning our attention toward identifying additional steps that might be taken to further modernize the border, with the input of border stakeholders.”

Canada and the United States will issue the fifth Smart Border Action Plan Status Report in the coming weeks.

Finally, Deputy Prime Minister McLellan and Secretary Ridge also announced that Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada and the Department of Homeland Security are enhancing cooperation in the areas of national emergency response and the protection of shared critical infrastructure. Progress on this cooperation, to be overseen through semi-annual meetings of senior officials, includes:

• Conducting joint vulnerability assessments and priority setting for the protection of shared infrastructure;
  
• Improving joint plans and protocols for bi-national emergency response; and
  
• Improving information-sharing regarding alerts and warnings, emergency public information, and the sharing of information with key stakeholders.

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Related Story

• October 14, 2004 - Remarks by Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge at a Joint Press Conference with Deputy Prime Minister Anne Mclellan