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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">October 2, 2006 <i>(10:40 a.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 114</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">PRECLEARANCE COMES TO HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the inauguration of preclearance
services for travellers to the United States from Halifax International Airport.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Preclearance will be a great convenience for travellers to the United States from
Halifax and throughout the Atlantic Region,” said Minister MacKay. “It builds on the New
Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cross-border ties while supporting the
common security interests of Canada and the United States. Today we are seeing the
successful conclusion of joint efforts by Canada, the United States and the Airport
Authority to bring preclearance to Halifax.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“This new preclearance facility will contribute to the economic vitality of the air travel industry while providing a more convenient service for passengers,” said Minister Cannon. “It will facilitate business,
tourist and family travel between our two countries.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Preclearance allows U.S. officers to inspect travellers for customs, immigration, public
health, food inspection, and plant and animal health purposes before they depart
Canada for U.S. destinations, thus enabling travellers to avoid clearance delays upon
arrival. As well, passengers enjoy shorter connection times at U.S. airports, where
passengers are treated as domestic connecting passengers. Preclearance also allows
for direct air services to U.S. airports that do not have customs and immigration
facilities.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Halifax joins Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal
as airports providing U.S. preclearance services.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The implementation of preclearance at Halifax International Airport is one of the joint
initiatives under the Security and Prosperity Partnership for North America.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Minister MacKay will participate in the opening ceremonies today at the airport along
with U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins.</span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012504/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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