Publish Date : 01-Jun-2013
The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, along with Ray LaHood, Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, and Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, released today the first-ever joint Canada-United States Border Infrastructure Investment Plan (BIIP). The development and release of this initiative fulfills a commitment made under the 2011 Canada–United States Beyond the Border Action Plan.
"Modern border crossings are essential to the efficient flow of trade and travellers, which is why the Border Infrastructure Investment Plan and the collaborative relationship with our American neighbours are so important," said Minister Lebel. "Our government is investing in border crossings, ports and gateways to reduce wait times, increase trade and create jobs."
"This first, joint U.S.-Canada binational plan shows that our collaborative approach to border planning, which includes feedback from our local partners, will serve both of our countries well and ensures that we are working together on our common interests," said Secretary LaHood.
The BIIP is an interagency and binational planning mechanism developed to establish a mutual understanding of recent, ongoing and potential border infrastructure investments. It outlines the approach that Canada and the United States will take to coordinate plans for physical infrastructure upgrades at small and remote ports of entry. This initiative will be updated and disseminated annually.
"Our two governments are committed to enhancing our mutual security and economic prosperity through significant investments at key crossings," said Minister Toews. "These investments will reduce border delays, expedite trade across our shared border, and allow the Canada Border Services Agency to focus on facilitating the flow of low-risk people and goods while keeping the border open to legitimate trade and travel."
"An integrated, bilateral approach to border investment is critical to both the U.S. and Canadian economies," said DHS Secretary Napolitano. "The BIIP offers enhanced security along our shared U.S.-Canadian border, while reducing wait times at major border crossings—increasing the flow of traffic across the border while ensuring safe and secure trade and travel."
The BIIP, along with other initiatives under the Beyond the Border Action Plan, is designed to benefit the integrated economies of Canada and the United States, which depend on the fluid movement of commercial and non-commercial traffic across our shared border.
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