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Border Efficiency and Security
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Credit: Craig Hutton, Transport Canada
Continuing to enhance border efficiency and security is critical to the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor. The region's extensive transportation system carries international freight and passengers across international borders by sea, rail, air and road.
In particular, as a gateway to North America, an efficient and secure Canada-U.S. border is crucial for the success of the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor. Of the 16 international highway border crossings between New Brunswick and Maine, St. Stephen/Calais and Woodstock/Houlton serve as key commercial processing centres for the region's road-based trade.
Over the past several years, Canada and the United States have worked to develop, implement and expand a number of trusted trade and travel programs such as:
- U.S. preclearance services, offered to passengers at the Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport;
- Free and Secure Trade Program (FAST) - a joint Canada - U.S. program for the expedited movement of low-risk goods and truck drivers;
- NEXUS - a joint program to facilitate the movement of low-risk, pre-approved individuals who frequently cross the border; and
- Advance notification requirements that expedite the movement of goods being shipped into Canada and the United States by all modes.
To ensure the border infrastructure keeps pace with the ever-changing dimensions of international trade and travel patterns, as well as security requirements, the governments of Canada and New Brunswick have committed approximately $400 million in highway and border-related projects along the New Brunswick-U.S. border to increase capacity and support new processes, at Andover, Woodstock and St. Stephen, since 2001.
Border-related initiatives, combined with improvements (both completed and planned) to the region's marine, rail and airport facilities, generate increased trade opportunities and efficiency gains that benefit all Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor partners.
Credit: Craig Hutton, Transport Canada
Figure 10 - Distribution of Atlantic Gateway Road Exports to United States by Border Crossing, 1998 - 2007
The new international border crossing between Calais, Maine and St. Stephen, New Brunswick is the first international bridge to be built between Canada and the United States in over 30 years. Opened to cross-border traffic on November 16, 2009, this cooperative project includes investments of over $366 million to a new international bridge, new Port-of-Entry commercial and travellers facilities and related improvements to New Brunswick Route 1, cost-shared by the Governments of Canada and New Brunswick. It will result in greater efficiency and security at the 8th busiest commercial crossing along the Canada-United States border, and the busiest border crossing in the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor.
Commodities - 2008 Total Value to/from United States (CAD) - $2.8 billion
Commercial Vehicles - 2008 Total Volume to/from United States - 95,607
Passenger Vehicles - 2008 Total volume to/from United States - 1,604,530
Immediate Measures
New International Bridge: St. Stephen, New Brunswick/Calais, Maine The first international bridge to be built between Canada and the United States in over thirty years opened to cross-border traffic on November 16, 2009.
Assessing Gateway and Trade Corridor Security The Government of Canada will assess the security of key elements of the supply chain of the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor to identify strengths and opportunities for improvements. Key stakeholders will be engaged to identify priorities and participate in the security assessment process.
Engage U.S. Partners Advance discussions aimed at achieving a secure but 'thin' border.
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