Investment $600 Million* Outcomes More efficient facilities capable of handling greater capacities at major border crossings, helping trucks travel across the busiest Canada-US border points more quickly. Improved Canada-US relations and better movement of goods, thereby contributing to increased trade and production. Improved border crossings, contributing to federal security and increased safety for Canadians.

Border Infrastructure Fund

Border infrastructure is critical to our growing economic and trade relationship with the United States. The $600 million Border Infrastructure Fund (BIF) supports the initiatives in the Smart Borders Action Plan by reducing border congestion and expanding infrastructure capacity over the medium term.

* Complementing other infrastructure investments, Transport Canada will manage the Highways and Border Infrastructure Fund. With a commitment of $2.4 billion in Budget 2006, the fund will deal with infrastructure needs at major Canada-US border points, major gateways and highways. This builds on past infrastructure investments of this sort, including the $600 million Border Infrastructure Fund.

The Smart Borders Action Plan is based on four pillars: (i) the secure flow of people, (ii) the secure flow of goods, (iii) secure infrastructure, and (iv) information-sharing and co-ordination in the enforcement of these objectives.

The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program revolutionizes the way commercial shipments move across the Canada-U.S. border which results in a streamlined clearance process and greater efficiency in the shipment of goods.

Similarly, the Canada-US border-wide "fast-lane" program called NEXUS aims at speeding the flow of pre-screened low-risk travellers.