eManifest forms centrepiece of Canadian transborder plan

NEWS RELEASE

PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CANADA

************************* Canada’s new government invests over $430 million for smart, secure borders

Windsor, Ontario, January 12, 2007 - The Honourable Stockwell Day, minister of public safety, today announced an investment of $431.6 mikllion over five years to reinforce smart, secure borders.

This funding will allow three key initiatives under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) - eManifest, Business Resumption and Partners in Protection - to move forward.

"Canada's new government is taking action to keep Canadians safe from potential security and health threats, while ensuring the smooth flow of trade across our borders," said Minister Day. "This significant investment is testimony that our government is moving forward and working with the business community on key programs to increase security and support economic prosperity."

"Ensuring that the Canada-U.S. border functions well is vital for Canadian industry. That is why the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is pleased that the Government of Canada is supporting these critical initiatives," said Perrin Beatty, president and chief executive officer of CME.

"We look forward in particular to working in partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to successfully implement eManifest - an important undertaking that will further streamline cross-border trade, lead to greater harmonization between Canada and U.S. processes, and bring increased predictability to the transborder trade environment."

The $396M investment for eManifest will provide the CBSA with electronic data that allows for 100 per cent automated risk assessment before shipments reach the border.

Highway and rail carriers will be required to submit electronically and pre-arrival all cargo, crew and conveyance information.

This will allow the CBSA to have the right information at the right time in order to make informed decisions.

An investment of $24M will allow the CBSA to further harmonize and strengthen its business resumption planning with the United States so that trade keeps moving across the border in the event of an emergency.

The CBSA will continue to work with its partners to conduct exercises and develop protocols to ensure it has an appropriate coordinated response that would minimize the impact on business in the event of an incident at the border.

Finally, border security will be further enhanced with an investment of $11.6 million to strengthen the Partners in Protection (PIP) program.

PIP is an initiative that enlists the cooperation of private industry and is designed to enhance border security by combating organized crime and terrorism, and helping to detect and prevent contraband smuggling.

The PIP program will expand to maximize benefits for members and become harmonized with a similar program in the United States called the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.

For more information on the CBSA’s priorities and programs under the SPP, please visit the CBSA’s website.

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