1 November 2002

Correspondence with CCRA Assistant Commissioner regarding CAED and AMPS

The following letter to CCRA Assistant Commissioner Denis Lefebvre was sent from CSCB President Carol West on 1 November 2002.

The CSCB is completely committed to the use of electronic processes to facilitate the movement of international trade. Our members make extensive use of technology in their own businesses, with clients and with partners, and with government agencies such as CCRA.

Since the implementation of AMPS a few weeks ago, we have become very concerned that officers at ports of exit do not have access to CAED, the Canadian Automated Export Declaration system. You have extensively promoted the use of CAED and automated export processes, and have encouraged exporters to file their export reports electronically. However, we understand that the only way an officer can determine that goods have been reported in accordance with the legislative requirements is to request a paper copy of the CAED report.

We do find it ironic that, prior to the implementation of AMPS on October 7, 2002, we hadn’t heard major complaints about this. Could it be that, with penalties in place for failure to report exports, officers are more zealous in their requests for proof of electronic export reporting?

This concern was also raised from the audience with Commissioner Wright at the recent CAIE meeting in Toronto, so I would expect that there has been some internal discussion of this situation. Your comments would be very much appreciated.