Transport Minister Meets with US Transportation...

February 28, 2005

28 February 2005

Transport Minister Meets with US Transportation Secretary

The following message is excerpted from a press release issued by Transport Canada on 24 February 2005.

Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre … met with U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta while attending the Canadian Airports Council Open Skies Forum.

After the meeting, Secretary Mineta and Minister Lapierre issued the following statement:

We are both very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet and discuss issues of mutual interest. We had an open and productive exchange of views that reinforced our shared commitment to ensuring safe, efficient and secure transportation and trade across our border. We noted in particular the high level of cooperation between our two countries on transportation security matters since September 11, 2001. …

We also discussed the pressing need to increase border capacity at the Windsor-Detroit Gateway. Our governments are committed to an efficient and secure Windsor-Detroit Gateway and will continue to work together, through the Bi-National Partnership, to expedite the planning and environmental studies so future traffic demands across this vital gateway can be accommodated as early as possible.

Both of our governments are moving ahead with the next phase in the process, which is the coordinated bi-national environmental assessment. This assessment will allow us to decide on the location of a new or expanded international crossing taking into account the impact on the environment and local communities.

The assessment will be completed by the end of 2007, by which time the partnership will have developed, consulted on and carried out the preliminary design of a recommended plan for additional border capacity.

Construction would begin in 2010, leading to the opening of additional crossing capacity in 2013. …

The press release in its entirety is available on the Transport Canada web site, at:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/statements/2005/2005-02-24.htm


Topic(s): 
Canadian Economy & Politics
Information Source: 
Canadian News Channel
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