In a letter, sent January 28 to Canadian Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, the leaders of the Chamber of Marine Commerce, the Shipping Federation of Canada, the St. Lawrence Shipoperators, the Ontario Marine Council, and the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council (SODES) suggest that the CBSA should now prioritize trade facilitation in addition to border security.
The letter to Minister McGuinty outlines the pressures on existing ports, since the CBSA operates only five container examination facilities across the country at Halifax, Saint John, Montréal, Prince Rupert and Vancouver, and the significant need to create new marine container examination facilities at key trading hubs along the Great Lakes-St Lawrence Corridor.
“The Canada-U.S. trade relationship depends on efficient borders. The Great Lakes St. Lawrence region alone accounts for over 50% of bilateral trade and boasts a combined GDP of US$6 trillion. Secure, functional borders in this region drive economic growth for both countries."