6 September 2007

Report details delays at U.S.-Canada crossing

The following is excerpted from the 31 August edition of “Journal of Commerce”.

Border crossings between Canada and the United States are "suffering the worst [vehicle] backlogs since 9/11," [according to] the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

Canada and the United States are "creating more and more roadblocks" to the world’s largest exchange of trade goods between two countries, said Len Crispino, chief executive of the Chamber.

Crispino's comments came as the organization released a report criticizing border procedures during a media presentation at the Blue Water Bridge linking the Canadian province and Port Huron, Mich.

The report echoed earlier estimates that border delays drain C$13.6 billion (US$14.4 billion) annually from the Canadian and U.S. economies, with the province of Ontario alone absorbing C$5.25 billion of that cost....

Chuck Chrapko, president of Canada's Blue Water Bridge Authority, said the back-ups are disrupting critical just-in-time shipments. He urged Ottawa and Washington to develop "a short-term plan and long-term solution to deal with this debilitating problem."

The report calls on the respective governments to accelerate plans for a proposed Detroit-Windsor bridge, and to persuade Michigan lawmakers to reject a move in the state legislature to stop funding for the project.

The report urges more federal funding on both sides of the border to upgrade the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel for double-stack trains. It also recommends the U.S. Department of Homeland Security resume negotiations with Canada on pre-clearing trucks entering the United States at the busy Buffalo-Fort Erie, Ont. Peace Bridge, a pilot project intended to speed border traffic.

The report calls for harmonization of safety and security standards for goods and for rail and truck transportation, by "at least 44 different Canadian and U.S. agencies (with) jurisdiction over border operations."