Home Border Cooperation Key Border Documents and What's New? What's New Archives Governor Ridge and Deputy Prime Minister Manley issue one-year status report on the Smart Border Action Plan - December 6, 2002

Governor Ridge and Deputy Prime Minister Manley issue one-year status report on the Smart Border Action Plan - December 6, 2002

December 6, 2002
For immediate release

Status Report

Washington, D.C. – Deputy Prime Minister John Manley and Governor Tom Ridge today released a status report to mark one year of progress on the Smart Border Declaration and its companion 30-point Action Plan. They also announced that Canada and the United States are deepening their border cooperation in several areas.

"Since signing the Smart Border Declaration, Canada and the United States have proven that tremendous progress can be made through close cooperation and a commitment to an effective philosophy of risk management", said Deputy Prime Minister John Manley. "Opening FAST lanes at the three busiest commercial border crossings on December 16 is a vivid demonstration of how far we have come in just one year."

The status report issued today outlines the significant progress made on modernizing the Canada-United States border since the Smart Border Declaration was signed on December 12, 2001, and updates the September 9, 2002, report delivered to Prime Minister Chrétien and President Bush when they met in Detroit, Michigan. Highlights of recent progress include:

• FAST lanes for pre-approved low-risk commercial traffic will open on schedule: at Windsor-Detroit, Sarnia-Port Huron, and Fort Erie-Buffalo on December 16, 2002, and at Douglas-Blaine, Queenston-Lewiston, and Lacolle-Champlain on December 31, 2002;

• Canada and the United States have agreed on detailed binational workplans to protect shared critical infrastructure in the energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors;

• Canada is participating in TOPOFF 2, a major U.S. counterterrorism exercise involving a full range of participants from first responders to top government officials; and

• Canada and the United States have signed the "Safe Third Country Agreement" to allow both countries to more effectively manage the flow of refugee claimants.

"It is clear that the United States-Canada relationship is a model in working together to ensure that our economies will not be held ransom by those who would wish to do us harm", said Governor Tom Ridge. "We are deepening our cooperation within the 30-point Action Plan to include new areas of work which will enhance the security and prosperity of our citizens."

Deputy Prime Minister Manley and Governor Ridge agreed today to secure effective private sector input into the Smart Border process by inviting business leaders to participate annually at the Shared Border Accord meeting, and to create a binational border modelling unit to harness modern technology in maximizing the efficiency of new infrastructure investments.

Canada and the United States have also agreed to deepen cooperation within the existing action plan in three key areas:

• increase security and remove barriers to cross-border truck traffic by implementing a system to streamline driver participation in smart card programs, including driver security screening for the cross-border transportation of dangerous goods;

• expand our existing efforts to improve marine security by sharing information about our respective maritime vulnerabilities, and by establishing a means to share information about high-interest vessels. Canada and the United States will also share advancements in cargo and container screening as they are developed and refined; and

• enhance the interoperability of processes, systems and communications of Canadian and United States border and law enforcement agencies, for example creating the means to allow border officials of either country to screen individuals at the border while simultaneously searching relevant law enforcement and border databases.

Deputy Prime Minister Manley and Governor Ridge also discussed an agenda for cooperative work in the areas of biosecurity and science and technology:

Canada and the United States share the risks that biological, chemical and radiological threats pose to the health of our citizens, or to the health of animals and plants on which we depend. The two countries will coordinate research and development, emergency preparedness, public health surveillance and other activities to jointly address these threats, and will work to synchronize procedures at the land border to meet both enforcement and facilitation goals.

Canada and the United States will also coordinate science and technology research efforts to find forward-looking solutions to border management challenges, such as detecting the illicit transportation of chemical, biological, radiological or explosive materials.

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For more information:

STATUS REPORT
December 6, 2002

In December 2001, Deputy Prime Minister John Manley and Governor Tom Ridge signed theSmart Border Declaration and associated 30-point Action Plan to enhance the security ofour shared border while facilitating the legitimate flow of people and goods. The ActionPlan has four pillars: the secure flow of people, the secure flow of goods, secureinfrastructure, and information sharing and coordination in the enforcement of theseobjectives.

On September 9, 2002, Prime Minister Chrétien and President Bush met to discussprogress on the Smart Border Action Plan and asked that they be updated regularly on thework being done to modernize our common border. This report is the first update since themeeting of the Prime Minister and the President.

#1 BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS

Canada and the United States have agreed to develop common standards for the biometricsthat we use and have also agreed to adopt interoperable and compatible technology to readthese biometrics. In the interest of having cards that could be used across differentmodes of travel, we have agreed to use cards that are capable of storing multiplebiometrics.

Our countries have begun to integrate biometric capabilities into new programs beingdeployed. For example, the NEXUS-Air pilot program will evaluate iris scanning technologyand the new Canadian Permanent Resident Card is biometric-ready.

#2 PERMANENT RESIDENT CARDS

Since June 28, 2002, Permanent Resident Cards have been issued to all new immigrantsarriving in Canada, replacing the IMM 1000. On October 15, 2002, Canada began processingapplications for the Permanent Resident Card, for the purposes of travel, from immigrantswith permanent resident status already in Canada. Effective December 31, 2003, the IMM1000 will no longer be recognized as a document valid for travel.

The Canadian permanent resident card contains features that make it one of the mostfraud-resistant documents in the world. The card has been recognized by the InternationalCard Manufacturers Association, winning the Elan Award for Technical Achievement.

#3 SINGLE ALTERNATIVE INSPECTION SYSTEM

NEXUS is functional at Sarnia-Port Huron (since November 2000), at PacificHighway-Blaine and Douglas-Blaine (since June 26, 2002) and Boundary Bay-Point Roberts(since July 29, 2002). NEXUS will be operational at both the Windsor-Detroit and FortErie-Buffalo bridges on January 23, 2003, and at the Windsor-Detroit tunnel in March 2003.NEXUS will be expanded to the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, the Rainbow Bridge and to theWhirlpool Bridge by Spring 2003. NEXUS will also be expanded to all other high-volumecrossings between the two countries by the end of 2003. NEXUS enrollment centres opened inWindsor-Detroit and in Fort Erie-Buffalo on October 24, 2002.

Canada and the United States are also working to implement a joint NEXUS - Air programfor air travellers. NEXUS - Air will be piloted at Ottawa and Dorval InternationalAirports. Enrollment will begin in April 2003.

#4 REFUGEE/ASYLUM PROCESSING

Canada and the United States have made significant progress on a Statement of MutualUnderstanding (SMU) which will allow them to more effectively exchange information onimmigration-related issues. The two countries are also very close to an agreement whichwill permit the systematic sharing of information relating to asylum seekers. This willhelp each country identify potential security and criminality threats and expose"forum shoppers" who seek asylum in both systems. This exchange of informationwill be in accordance with the privacy laws of both countries.

#5 MANAGING OF REFUGEE/ASYLUM CLAIMS

Canada and the United States have signed a Safe Third Country Agreement that allowsboth countries to manage the flow of individuals seeking to access their respective asylumsystems. The Agreement will cover asylum claims made at land border ports of entry.

The Agreement is bound by the principle of family re-unification in determining whetheran individual would be exempted from the requirement of making a claim in the firstcountry of arrival. The Agreement also clearly identifies that individuals making a claimin either country would not be removed to another country until a determination of thatperson’s claim has been made.

Both countries will now finalize the regulatory framework and standard operatingprocedures necessary to implement this Agreement.

#6 VISA POLICY COORDINATION

Canada and the United States have agreed to enhance cooperation between our respectiveEmbassies overseas, which will allow our officials to more routinely and more efficientlyshare information on intelligence and specific data concerning high-risk individuals. Thetwo countries have also agreed to formally consult one another during the process ofreviewing a third country for the purpose of either a visa imposition or visa exemption.

Canada and the United States are also continuing to work together to identify countriesthat pose security concerns with a view toward further cooperation on visa policy. InFebruary 2002, the United States announced that nationals of Argentina would require avisa to travel to the United States. In September 2002, Canada announced that citizens ofSaudi Arabia and Malaysia would require visas to travel to Canada. Canada and the UnitedStates currently have common visa policies for 144 countries.

#7 AIR PRECLEARANCE

The in-transit preclearance project in Vancouver, suspended as a result of the eventsof September 11, was re-instated on February 14, 2002.

In support of the preclearance program, the two countries signed "The Agreement onAir Transport Preclearance between The Government of Canada and The Government of theUnited States of America" on January 18, 2001. It allows for the expansion ofin-transit preclearance to other Canadian airports and also has provisions that modernizethe regime governing preclearance.

U.S. government agencies are seeking the authority from Congress to offer reciprocalauthorities and immunities for Canadian customs and immigration officials in the UnitedStates.

#8 ADVANCE PASSENGER INFORMATION / PASSENGER NAME RECORD

Canada and the United States have agreed to share Advance Passenger

Information and Passenger Name Records (API/PNR) on high-risk travelers destined toeither country. Canada implemented its Passenger Information system (PAXIS) at Canadianairports on October 8, 2002 to collect Advance Passenger Information. The automatedCanada-U.S. API/PNR data-sharing program will be in place by Spring 2003.

#9 JOINT PASSENGER ANALYSIS UNITS

Canada and the United States have agreed to a co-location of customs and immigrationofficers in Joint Passenger Analysis Units to more intensively cooperate in identifyingpotentially high-risk travelers.

Pilot joint passenger analysis units became operational at the Vancouver and Miamiinternational airports on September 30, 2002, staffed with Canadian and U.S. officials.The pilot sites will be evaluated at the end of six months to determine the feasibility ofexpanding the units to other locations.

#10 MARITIME SECURITY AND FERRY TERMINALS

We have completed a marine benchmark study to enhance Canadian and U.S. border securityat seaports aimed at improving security and contraband interception. Agencies have begunto make improvements based on this study.

#11 COMPATIBLE IMMIGRATION DATABASES

Canada and the United States have begun discussions towards developing parallelimmigration databases to facilitate regular information exchange. The United States isstudying the feasibility of duplicating Canadian intelligence gathering software at sixpilot sites. Other examples of information exchange include lookouts from our respectivedatabases and automating existing exchanges.

#12 IMMIGRATION OFFICERS OVERSEAS

Canada and the United States have begun deploying new immigration officers overseas todeal with document fraud, liaison with airlines and local authorities, and work with othercountries to ensure intelligence liaison and to interrupt the flow of illegal migrants toNorth America.

In the past year, Canada has deployed additional officers for this purpose, bringing to74 the total number of officers engaged in these areas. In 2002 and 2003, the UnitedStates will deploy 85 new temporary officials with 40 new officials being deployedpermanently.

Working together, Canada and the United States will continue to strengthen theircapacity to ensure the integrity of their immigration programs, to combat document fraud,and to interdict irregular migrants.

#13 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Canada and the United States have worked together to provide technical assistance todeveloping countries to deal with threats to our shared security. These cooperativeefforts will continue. Joint interdiction exercises and joint training programs willassist other countries to combat document fraud and irregular migration. Such assistanceincludes improving document integrity, providing expertise on border controls, and jointtraining.

In addition, Canada and the United States conducted a joint presentation to theEuropean Community CIREFI (Immigration Center of the Council of the European Union)meeting in June, regarding the immigration items in the Smart Border Action Plan.

#14 HARMONIZED COMMERCIAL PROCESSING

Canada and the United States have established a joint program for low-risk companiesthat will expedite the movement of low-risk shipments in either direction across theborder. The program, known as Free and Secure Trade (FAST), will be available at thefollowing high-volume border crossings:

• Douglas, British Columbia / Blaine, Washington (December 31, 2002)
• Sarnia, Ontario / Port Huron, Michigan (December 16, 2002)
• Windsor, Ontario / Detroit, Michigan (December 16, 2002)
• Fort Erie, Ontario / Buffalo, New York (December 16, 2002)
• Queenston, Ontario / Lewiston, New York (December 31, 2002)
• Lacolle, Quebec / Champlain, New York (December 31, 2002)

Canada and the United States are working to align other customs processes for allcommercial shipments by 2005.

#15 CLEARANCE AWAY FROM THE BORDER

Canada and the United States are developing approaches to move customs and immigrationinspection activities away from the border to improve security and relieve congestionwhere possible.

Canada and the United States have completed a joint analysis of the operationalbenefits that could be achieved with the implementation of small and large sharedfacilities located in one country or the other. Both governments continue toexplore approaches to the legal challenges that flow from border inspection services ofone country operating in the other.

We are considering innovative procedures to improve rail enforcement activities and atthe same time facilitate the flow of rail traffic, such as conducting rail enforcementactivities before the border and trade compliance processes at the destination.

#16 JOINT FACILITIES

Canada and the United States have agreed to consider the following locations for jointor shared facilities pending the outcome of feasibility studies:

• St. Stephen, NB / Calais, ME
• River de Chute, NB / Easton, ME
• Bloomfield, NB / Monticello, ME
• St. Croix, NB / Vanceboro, ME
• Morses Line, QC / Morses Line, VT
• Highwater, QC / North Troy, VT
• Winkler, MB / Walhalla, ND
• Northgate, SK / Northgate, ND
• Snowflake, MB / Hanna, ND
• West Poplar River, SK / Opheim, MT
• Chopaka, BC / Nighthawk, WA
• Rykerts, BC / Porthill, ID

#17 CUSTOMS DATA

Canadian and U.S. Customs agencies have extended the scope of information they sharethrough:

• the Cooperation Arrangement for the Exchange of Information for the Purposes of Inquiries Related to Customs Fraud, signed in December 2001; and

• an agreement, reached by our customs agencies, on the principles to be included in the exchange of information related to NAFTA rules of origin. The agreement will be signed in March 2003, and includes audit plans, audit reports, the results of advance rulings, and origin determinations and re-determinations.

#18 CONTAINER TARGETING AT SEAPORTS

Through an innovative solution to ensure that containers can be examined where theyfirst arrive, regardless of their ultimate destination in North America, Canadian and U.S.Customs agencies have created joint targeting teams at five marine ports. In the ports ofVancouver, Montreal and Halifax, U.S. officials aid Canadian customs officials inidentifying which containers to examine. In the ports of Newark and Seattle-Tacoma,Canadian officials provide the same assistance to U.S. Customs agents. The work of theseteams will be facilitated through the electronic transmission of advance manifest data forincoming ships and the containers they carry.

#19 INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

Both governments have committed funds for border infrastructure. Under Canada's newBorder Infrastructure Fund, C$600 million will be provided over five years for physicaland technological improvements at key border crossings. The United States TransportationEfficiency Act for the 21st Century also funds transportation projects along U.S.corridors and at border points along the Canada-United States border.

New funding will support FAST and NEXUS and facilitate the secure and efficientcross-border movement of people and goods, for example through dedicated lanes forcommercial and passenger vehicles at the border between the British Columbia LowerMainland and Washington state.

Canada and the United States are working together at key border crossings to developcomputer simulations aimed at ensuring that border infrastructure investments are put tothe most effective use. The two countries will establish a binational border modelinggroup to analyze border congestion on an ongoing basis.

#20 INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Canada and the United States are piloting the Automatic Identification System (AIS) onthe St. Lawrence Seaway, which uses transponder and Global Position System (GPS)technologies to allow for more effective monitoring of ships. The Cascade Gateway AdvancedTraveler Information System (ATIS) will be installed at the Pacific Highway and Peace Archcrossings to enhance the mobility of people and commercial goods between Canada and theUnited States. We will also invest in high-energy gamma-ray systems to support jointefforts in screening marine containers arriving at marine ports in both countries.

#21 CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Our governments have agreed on a Joint Framework for Canada-U.S. Cooperation onCritical Infrastructure Protection and have established a Binational Steering Committee toassess threats to our shared critical infrastructure and ensure an ongoing, high-levelfocus on the issue by both governments. The Committee has developed detailed workplans forcollaboration in the areas of energy, telecommunications and transportation, and hasestablished working groups to address horizontal issues such as research and development,interdependencies, mapping and threat information sharing. The next meeting of theSteering Committee will be held in early 2003.

#22 AVIATION SECURITY

We have agreed to recognize each other’s national standards for security inairports and on board flights, and to coordinate measures that are essential to protectingour citizens. With the creation of the new federal transportation security agencies andthe augmentation of existing departments, the two governments have strengthened theirrespective capacities to set regulations, review standards, and monitor and inspect allair security services. The two governments have also assumed direct responsibility forsecurity standards, and will work to identify best practices with a view to improvingthem.

#23 INTEGRATED BORDER AND MARINE ENFORCEMENT TEAMS

Canada and the United States have identified 14 geographical areas for the deploymentor enhancement of Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETS). IBETs are currentlyoperational in 10 of the 14 geographic areas, and will be operational in all 14geographical areas by December 2003. IBETs will focus on criminals and terrorists that mayattempt to cross the Canada-United States border.

The two countries have also begun comprehensive training programs for IBET personnel,from both Canada and the United States, to enhance their awareness and understanding ofone another’s laws and regulations. Two joint training sessions have been held withadditional sessions planned in the near future. These initial training sessions will formthe foundation of a long-term integrated training plan.

#24 JOINT ENFORCEMENT COORDINATION

The latest Canada-United States Cross-Border Crime Forum (CBCF) took place on July21-22, 2002. The participants at the CBCF reiterated the importance of the role of ProjectNorthstar. Since becoming formally aligned with the CBCF in early 2001, the role ofProject Northstar as a mechanism for joint law enforcement coordination has beensignificantly enhanced. Project Northstar will have a border-wide meeting in Winnipeg inApril 2003.

Project North Star will continue to:

• identify and prioritize joint obstacles for law enforcement at the border;

• bring these obstacles to policy makers at the Canada-United States Cross-Border Crime Forum for resolution; and

• work to increase and establish new, joint representation of the American and Canadian law enforcement community at the binational, regional, and local levels.

Planning is currently underway for the next Cross-Border Crime Forum, which will behosted by the United States, in late Spring 2003.

#25 INTEGRATED INTELLIGENCE

The Government of Canada has established Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams(INSETs), which will include representatives from federal enforcement and intelligenceagencies, as well as international law enforcement partners such as the U.S., on acase-by-case basis. Canada has also been participating since April 9, 2002, in the U.S.Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force (FTTTF) in Washington, to detect, interdict, andremove foreign terrorist threats.

#26 FINGERPRINTS

With the development of a Memorandum of Cooperation, the RCMP and the FBI willimplement an electronic system for the exchange of criminal records information, includingfingerprints, using a standard communication interface.

#27 REMOVAL OF DEPORTEES

Canada and the United States are continuing cooperation in removing individuals tosource countries. To date, Canada and the United States have conducted 5 joint operationsresulting in 313 removals.

#28 COUNTER-TERRORISM LEGISLATION

President Bush signed anti-terrorism legislation on October 26, 2001. In Canada, the Anti-TerrorismAct came into force on December 24, 2001.

#29 FREEZING OF TERRORIST ASSETS

Canada and the United States have a working process in place to share advanceinformation on individuals and organizations that may be designated as terrorist in orderto coordinate the freezing of their assets. To date, Canada and the United States havedesignated or listed over 360 individuals and organizations.

#30 JOINT TRAINING AND EXERCISES

Canada and the United States have been conducting a series of counter-terrorismexercises of increasing complexity that will culminate in the full-scale TOPOFF IIexercise in May 2003. TOPOFF II will include a wide range of participants, from firstresponders to senior government leaders at the local, state/province, and federal levelsand ask them to respond to multiple terrorist attacks within the United States which havecross-border implications. This exercise will provide the foundation for an ongoingprogram of joint training activities.