News Release — Canada and U.S. Committed to Faster, More Flexible Cross-Border Business

Ottawa, June 26, 2013 — A progress report on facilitating cross-border business was released today by the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, and Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.  

“With over $612 billion in annual two-way trade in goods and services, an efficient Canada-U.S. border is critical for the economic growth of both countries,” said Minister Kenney. “We will ensure that cross-border business is efficient by making entry to each other’s territory swift, simple, and secure.”

The historic Canada-U.S. Beyond the Border Action Plan, announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama in December 2011, provides a practical roadmap for expediting legitimate trade and travel across the Canada-U.S. border, while enhancing security. It will accelerate the flow of people and goods between the two countries, promoting job creation and economic competitiveness, while strengthening the security of both countries.

The joint progress report details efforts by both governments to achieve Action Plan objectives and identifies areas for improvement.

“Our Government continues to look for ways to make our border more secure and more efficient,” said Minister Toews. “The release of this report demonstrates the ongoing commitment between Canada and the United States to facilitate cross-border trade in order to enhance the economic competitiveness of both our countries.”

“Safe and secure trade and travel between the United States and Canada supports millions of jobs in both countries,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Through our joint efforts with Canada, we are facilitating cross-border business and strengthening our economic competitiveness.”

Over the past year, collaborative efforts between Canada and the U.S. to increase the flow of trade and travel between the two countries include two May 2012 consultations – in Washington, D.C and Toronto – in which stakeholders provided valuable feedback on Action Plan commitments and suggested new ways to improve cross-border business.  Beginning this year, annual consultations will be held jointly, including stakeholders from both countries.  Upcoming consultations will take place by the end of September 2013.

Two other notable examples of Action Plan commitments include enhanced guidance and training to Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to achieve maximum efficiency at all ports of entry on business traveller issues, as well as the designation of documents, such as a work permit, onto NEXUS client profiles for expedited clearances.

The progress report, which provides a status update on the six commitments in the Action Plan, is available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and DHS websites.

A summary of stakeholder and public feedback from consultations is available on CIC’s website.

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For further information (media only), please contact:

Alexis Pavlich
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

Press Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
202-282-8010

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

Backgrounders

• An overview of the Beyond the Border Action Plan: Facilitating the conduct of cross-border business
• Beyond the Border Action Plan: Progress report on facilitating the conduct of cross-border business

Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.