NEWS RELEASES
RESUMPTION OF IN-TRANSIT PRECLEARANCE AT VANCOUVER AIRPORT
February 14, 2002 (1:00 p.m. EST) No. 13
RESUMPTION OF IN-TRANSIT PRECLEARANCE
AT VANCOUVER AIRPORT
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and Transport Minister David Collenette today announced the relaunch of the in-transit preclearance pilot project at Vancouver International Airport. The project was halted as a result of broad security
initiatives undertaken at airports and border crossings following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Canada and the U.S. have concluded that there are no security obstacles to resuming in-transit preclearance at Vancouver.
The resumption of the in-transit preclearance initiative delivers on a commitment made in the Smart Border Declaration and
30-point Action Plan signed by Deputy Prime Minister John Manley and U.S. Director of Homeland Security Governor
Tom Ridge on December 12, 2001. The Smart Border Declaration sets out an aggressive action plan that will allow the
most secure and efficient flow of people and goods between Canada and the United States.
"The relaunch of this project, borne out of the strong and long-standing partnership between Canada and the U.S., marks a
step forward for Canadians and our American neighbours," said Minister Graham. "We must continue to move toward
re-establishing our normal, day-to-day working relations with our partners to the south, while building on significant
lessons learned through the tragic events of last September."
Since 1997, the Vancouver Airport has housed the in-transit preclearance pilot project, which allows for a more efficient in-transit passage of travellers through Canada en route to the U.S. In-transit preclearance eliminates the need for passengers to
report to Canada Customs and Immigration before proceeding to U.S. customs and immigration preclearance officers,
reducing a two-step process to one step. The improved efficiency makes Vancouver International Airport, and the airlines
that serve it, more competitive to international travellers proceeding to the U.S.
"The resumption of in-transit preclearance at the Vancouver airport is an excellent example of the working together of the
Canadian and U.S. governments to strengthen airport and airline operations between our two countries in the aftermath of
the September 11 tragedy," said Minister Collenette. "The Department of Transport will continue to work with other
government departments and our American counterparts on implementing the Preclearance Act and Agreement on Air
Transport Preclearance, which will set the stage for the expansion of in-transit preclearance to other Canadian airports."
The Canada-U.S. Agreement on Air Transport Preclearance and the Preclearance Act, which are both expected to be
brought into force later this year, will formally confirm the Vancouver pilot project and will provide the basis to broaden its
scope to include other eligible Canadian airports.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Brian McGregor
Communications, Transport Canada
(613) 993-0055
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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