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Message from the Minister for International Trade
With the murderous events of September 11, Canadians shared the trauma felt by our American neighbours. It was an attack not just on the lives of the innocent victims, but on our way of life, on our values and our prosperity. We are now left with a heightened awareness that the world is a less certain place.
As you well know, one impact was the backlog at the border, where people and products were delayed while both countries grappled with security concerns. Factories were temporarily idled, products for consumers bogged down in long line-ups. Images of trucks and people backed up on the border made the evening news. Jobs hung in the balance.
Until September 11, many had taken for granted that trade and investment would always move smoothly between the world's two biggest trading partners. With over 25% of US exports heading north to Canada, and over 80% of our exports heading into the U.S., we each have a huge economic interest in ensuring the flow of goods and services across our border is unimpeded. We exchange nearly $2 billion a day with our American neighbours, well over one million dollars per minute. Our continued ability to attract investment from abroad brings new capabilities and renews our industry. Our trade with the world drives our prosperity and helps finance the social system we value.
Recognizing that we cannot take for granted our open border, this government has acted swiftly on a range of fronts. We must now ensure that we work with you and with our American partners to bring certainty back to our economic security.
Over the last month, I have had the opportunity to speak with many Canadian business people on the issues that now confront all of us. As representatives of businesses whose operations depend on a free flow of goods and services across the Canada-U.S. border, many of you have expressed a desire to have a concise package of information that rolls-up all the various steps that the Government of Canada has taken since September 11.
I hope this document will be valuable in reassuring your customers, suppliers, employees and investors as we evaluate the current situation's longer-term business implications.
I will continue to seek out your views, and provide further information as it becomes available.
Sincerely,
Pierre S. Pettigrew
Campaign Against Terrorism
- We are engaged in a new kind of long-term struggle against a new kind of enemy. Defeating these bands of marauding extremists will require action on a broad front, including military, diplomatic and financial action. Humanitarian relief. And enhanced domestic security programs and legislation.
- The horrendous events of September 11 have taught us that no nation is immune to terror. And our government has taken vigorous action to protect Canadians.
- The Government of Canada has introduced an Anti-Terrorism Plan, which has four objectives:
- stop terrorists from getting into Canada and protect Canadians from terrorist acts;
- bring forward tools to identify, prosecute, convict and punish terrorists;
- prevent the Canada US border from being held hostage by terrorists and impacting on the Canadian economy; and
- work with the international community to bring terrorists to justice and address the root causes of such hatred.
- We have begun to announce a wide range of new measures to make sure that we continue to have the appropriate technology, training and personnel to meet modern security challenges.
- These measures are an important part of the Government's $280 million Anti-Terrorism Plan - a plan that brings to $1.8 billion the amount the Government of Canada has invested in policing, security and intelligence since Budget 2000.
- And next week, we will announce a legislative and program package that will substantially upgrade the tools we have to counter and turn back the forces of terror.
- These new initiatives will follow the measures already in place to protect Canadians. For example:
- The RCMP and the Canadian Security and Intelligence service are working with international investigators to track down and catch terrorists and destroy their networks.
- Canada's border crossings remain on a high state of alert.
- Security measures for air travellers have been increased.
- Any assets of Osama bin Laden or his associates in Canada are frozen.
- We have implemented tough new regulations aimed at suppressing the financing of terrorism.
- Parliament is studying legislation introduced last spring that will reinforce immigrant and refugee screening, as well as impair the ability of terrorists to raise money in Canada.
- The Prime Minister confirmed in his address to the nation on October 7 that Canada will contribute to the multi-national military coalition against terrorism.
- This contribution will include significant navy and air force components, representing a total of over 2,000 men and women of the Canadian Forces.
- Preparations for all military personnel involved have already begun. The first deployment will begin in the next few days and will continue over the coming weeks.
Border Issues
- The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring public safety and security at our borders, while facilitating $1.3 billion in daily trade and travel by 200 million people per year.
- Prime Minister Chrétien and President Bush have agreed that the movement of goods and services across our border should be normalized as soon as possible.
- Policies will be aimed at streamlining border management for the frequent and low risk travellers while focussing on high risk individuals, and taking full advantage of intelligence sharing arrangements.
- Canada Customs and Revenue Agency received additional funding of up to $87 million to improve its capacity to implement border initiatives.
- On both sides of the border, effective solutions are being used to deal with the unusual delays resulting from the heightened level of vigilance.
- Traffic flow is essentially normal at border points but does fluctuate from time to time, particularly at major southern Ontario and British Columbia ports of entry.
- Bill S-23, currently in the House of Commons, includes measures for the expedited processing of shipments coming into Canada by pre-approved, low risk businesses.
- Canada Customs has cooperated very closely with US Customs, even performing export checks on trucks leaving Canada to assist in reducing delays
- Several initiatives are underway to create more effective and enhanced monitoring regimes at the Canada/U.S. Border Ports of Entry, such as joint CIC-CSIS interviews, the use of more advanced information technology (such as electronic passport scanners and licence plate readers), and enhancing information exchanges between Canadian and U.S. officials.
Security Issues
Measures announced on October 12:
http://www.sgc.gc.ca/Releases/e20011012.htm
Immigration Actions
Measures announced October 12:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/press/01/0119-pre.html
New Initiatives to Enhance Airport Security
Measures announced October 11:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/releases/nat/01_h126e.htm
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