ARCHIVED - Speech at the 22nd Annual Pacific Northwest Economic Region Summit

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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
July 16, 2012

Check against delivery

Good morning.  It's a pleasure to be back in Saskatoon – especially among so many friends and colleagues.

I would like to thank the organizers for their kind invitation to speak.

And welcome to all of the delegates from Canada and the United States who have made it a priority to be here for this important Summit.

Your attendance speaks to the fact that for more than two decades, the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region has set a leadership example of what can be accomplished when regional partners work together on common issues.

Over the next few days, there will be a lot of discussion – and you will hear from many esteemed speakers on issues such as sustainable development, trade and economic development, Canada-U.S. border issues, and security and emergency management.

As many of you know, I am the Federal Minister of Public Safety.  CSIS, the RCMP, the Parole Board of Canada, Correctional Service of Canada and Canada Border Services all fall within my portfolio.

This morning, I'm going to speak about a new initiative – a new vision – if you will, announced on  December 7th, 2011 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama.

Specifically, the Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness. I'm going to give an overview of what it entails and why it represents the most significant step forward in Canada-U.S. cooperation since the North American Free Trade Agreement.

I would note at the outset that, in launching this Action Plan, our two nations agreed on two fundamental principles:

First, each country would respect the other's sovereign right to act independently in accordance with their own interests and laws; and

Second, promotion of the principles of human rights, privacy and civil liberty by both countries is essential to the rule of law and effective management of our perimeter

As neighbours, we have long collaborated and cooperated with each other on trade and security measures at the border.

We do so because it makes sense and it's in our best interest.

Nearly $1.6 billion in commercial transactions cross our border with the U.S. every day — that's over $1 million every minute.

Additionally, hundreds of thousands of people cross our shared border every day.

With our economy, industries and supply chains increasingly integrated, border management has become even more critical to our mutual success, as economies, societies and countries.

The Action Plan envisions a border that serves as a trade and economic growth facilitator rather than a business irritant and trade inhibitor.

The plan commits our governments to find new ways to exclude terrorists and criminals who pose a threat to Canadians and their families.

And it commits us to finding ways to eliminate needless barriers to cross-border trade and travel.

Simpler rules lead to lower costs for businesses and consumers, and ultimately this leads to more jobs.

So what does this mean, in tangible terms, for travellers and businesses?

First, we agreed, that smarter systems can reduce the needless inconvenience posed to manufacturers and travellers by duplicate inspections of freight and baggage.

Goods arriving in Canada or the United States from outside the North American perimeter will be screened once at their first point of arrival.

They would then be shipped directly to their North American destination without the need for duplicative inspections along the way, even if they cross the land border.

The Action Plan will move us from a supply chain with multiple stops and checks, to one based on the principle of “screened once, accepted twice.”

And just as threats should be stopped at the perimeter, trusted travellers should cross the border more quickly.

We have already added NEXUS lanes in U.S. air pre-clearance facilities.

We have made our air cargo screening programs mutually recognizable, therefore eliminated the re-screening of cargo loads.

New passenger baggage screening machines are being installed in Canadian airports that will end duplicate screening when transiting a U.S. airport.

And bi-national Port Committees have been established at our 20 largest land Ports of Entry, and at eight of the largest airports where travellers destined for the US are pre-cleared.

These are just a few of the initiatives already underway.

We are making great progress.

And more work continues every day.

For example, we're working toward a joint strategy to address risks associated with shipments arriving from offshore.

Together with the U.S., we're preparing to launch pilot projects to test out and validate this Integrated Cargo Strategy.

For example, here in Canada, the pilots will involve marine cargo arriving at Prince Rupert Port destined for Chicago by rail, as well as marine cargo arriving at Montreal destined for the United States by truck.

These pilot projects will help to make the concept of “screened once, accepted twice” the new normal.  

We are also moving forward to streamline trusted trader programs.

First and foremost, we will harmonize the U.S. and Canadian flagship programs — the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, and the Partners in Protection program.

Applicants will be able to apply once for both programs, and will receive a similar package of benefits, such as access to FAST lanes at specific locations.

We will seek to align Canada's Customs Self-Assessment (CSA) and the United States' Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) programs, while giving members the flexibility to select the benefits that meet their business needs.

As part of this alignment, Canada will fully implement its Partners in Compliance program later this year, which will reduce customs compliance for member companies.

In addition, we are developing and implementing pilots to test the feasibility of extending membership in these programs to trade in regulated products, such as those in the agri-food sector.

Our governments have committed to putting a system in place by 2013 that will allow traders to electronically submit all data required by any government agency through a single, easily accessed electronic window.

Once the data are received, the government system will forward the necessary pieces to each department or agency required to provide a border-related decision.

So as you can see, we're reducing barriers to trade.

We're streamlining and aligning standards.

And we're doing so in a way that ensures that our prosperity and security will not be compromised.

It's as simple as that.

We've formed these agreements to yield lasting benefits to travellers, traders, and manufacturers whose legitimate business or pleasure takes them across the border.

And we're taking these steps to protect jobs, to grow our economies, and to keep our citizens safe.

Our Government's top priority is creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.

In closing, much work will be done over the coming years to fully implement this new shared vision for perimeter security and economic competitiveness.

It's an ambitious agenda.

But we're prepared.

We share a long history of cooperation with the U.S. in defending our values and freedoms.

We share responsibility for the safety, security, and resilience of our respective countries in an increasingly integrated and globalized world.

The Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness, does indeed represent the most significant steps forward in terms of our cooperation since the North American Free Trade Agreement.

I'm proud to be part of a Government, who under the direction of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has moved this forward.

I'm proud that we're delivering for Canadians.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to be here, and best wishes for a productive Summit.

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