KELOWNA – Premier Gordon Campbell and Washington Governor
Chris Gregoire will co-lead a mission to Ottawa
and Washington to present a new joint Border Action Plan, signed today at the
third annual B.C.-Washington Joint Cabinet Meeting. The plan calls for the
Canadian and U.S. federal governments to continue to work with B.C. and
Washington state to streamline cross-border travel and trade to avert mounting
border line-ups as the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games approach.
“B.C. and Washington share a
$9.5-billion trade relationship, close personal ties, and strong cultural
connections. Working with Governor Gregoire’s administration, we have reached
agreements that will help improve the traffic situation at the border,” Premier
Campbell said. “Both federal governments have supported B.C. and Washington on the Enhanced Driver’s Licence program and Canada’s
federal government has partnered with B.C. on a $285-million infrastructure
improvement program. As the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games approach,
it is important that all levels of government continue to partner to ensure we
have a safe, secure border that is able to move people and goods efficiently.”
“With the 2010 Olympics fast
approaching, the time is now to tackle some of our border challenges,” said
Governor Gregoire. “We need secure borders. We also need a system in place that
allows traffic to cross the border safely and quickly if we want to continue to
promote trade and tourism. I appreciate the partnership Washington has developed with B.C., and I’m
pleased with the progress we have made together so far. But we have more work
to do. We can’t put this off any longer, and we need the co-operation of both
federal governments to finish what we started.”
More than 1.3 million trucks cross
the U.S-B.C. border each year. The four main ports of entry between B.C. and
the Puget Sound area include the third-busiest
passenger vehicle and the fourth-busiest commercial crossings along the
U.S-Canada border.
The
agreement signed today by B.C. and Washington will see the province and state
work together and engage with the federal governments for action on several key
areas:
- Action on border infrastructure
and operations:
- Ensure that construction plans
for the Peace Arch entry point allow that 10 booths will be available on
the U.S.
side in time for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games;
- Ensure adequate staffing of
the four Cascade border crossings, especially during the 2010 Olympics
and upgrading of Peace Arch;
- Action on border waits and processing
– improve infrastructure and upgrade secure Remote Frequency Identification
(RFID) readers to support NEXUS, FAST and Enhanced Driver’s Licences;
- Action to increase use of NEXUS
and FAST – marketing to frequent border crossers in the Lower
Mainland and Puget Sound areas in partnership with the business community,
tourism industry, and regional organizations;
- Action on the Enhanced Driver’s
License program – increase promotion, practical support, and consider Enhanced
Driver’s Licences as a valid document for Canada-U.S. air travel;
- Action
to reduce emissions at the border – develop a joint anti-idling
program and improve communication on wait times and line-up conditions for
border crossings to help drivers make informed decisions about where and
when to travel;
- Action on compatibility of cross
border communications – ensure first responders can communicate
effectively in emergency situations on both sides of the B.C.-Washington
border and work to harmonize transportation communication systems.
Five other agreements were also
signed during the B.C-Washington Joint Cabinet meeting, including:
- Work-plan
on Public Safety and Transportation Radio Communications Systems;
- Memorandum
on Greening the Border
- Memorandum
on Alternative Fuel Distribution
- Memorandum on Coastal Climate Change
Adaptation
- Memorandum
on Collaboration on Tourism
This is the third joint Cabinet
meeting between B.C. and Washington.
Since 2005, B.C. and Washington
have signed 17 agreements, including collaboration on Climate Action and
Pacific Ocean Preservation (2007), forests (2007), clean-technology market opportunities
(2007) the Enhanced Drivers Licence (2006), emergency management (2006), public
health (2006) and transportation (2006).
-30-
