New Travel Deal

From the G & M:
"Canada, U.S. announce new cross-border deal"

Canada and the United States will introduce new legislation allowing customs officers to pre-screen travellers who are crossing the border by bus, train or boat under the terms of a new agreement aimed at reducing wait times. The deal fulfils one of the key commitments of the 2011 Beyond the Border Action Plan and will replace a current agreement allowing air travellers to be pre-screened. Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson signed the new agreement at a press conference in Washington on Monday.  Currently, about 11 million passengers are pre-cleared for flights to the U.S. each year when they depart from eight Canadian airports, according to the Canadian government. The new agreement would allow preclearance for all modes of travel, including rail, sea, road and air. “Through the comprehensive approach to pre-clearance outlined in the agreement, Canada and the U.S. are seeking to strengthen our relationship and enhance our mutual security, prosperity and economic competitiveness,” a statement from the Canadian government said. Mr. Blaney said on Monday that pre-clearance for air travellers has already boosted trade and reduced wait times. He said the new agreement means Canadian train, bus and boat passengers could also be pre-screened along with their luggage before they reach the border.

Both governments committed to expanding preclearance operations to land and sea travel in the 2011 Beyond the Border agreement. Canada and the U.S. had initially planned to come to a legal agreement on the matter by late 2012, but missed that deadline by more than two years. New legislation will be required in both countries to implement the agreement, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Blaney said. The two ministers did not provide details on how any new customs infrastructure would be financed. However, the Canadian government hinted that there could be a role for the private sector, noting in a press release that the new agreement “will allow the market to propose operations when and where it makes sense.” Land travel between Canada and the U.S. has declined during the past 15 years, according to data from the U.S. Bureau on Travel Statistics, with 34 per cent fewer vehicle passengers entering the U.S. last year compared with 2000. A study by Deloitte four years ago indicated that fewer Americans were making the return trip to Canada because of border wait times, currency fluctuations and the opening of new casinos on the U.S. side of the border. The U.S. also imposed tougher travel-document rules after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre.

 

^ I have used US preclearance when coming back from the Bahamas, Aruba and several Canadian airports. That only saved time when you landed if you had a connection to make. I don't know how you can pre-clear people coming by car, land or boat - especially those that are right on the border. I understand if you are travelling from someplace like New York City and going to Toronto by bus then preclearance would be good, but if you are going to Toronto from Buffalo then it is pointless. ^

 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-us-to-announce-new-cross-border-deal/article23468040/