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“The 2009 World Police and Fire
Games and the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are just two of the
region’s next major tourism opportunities. But congestion and delay at the
border could sour their benefits if we don’t act now to streamline and improve
day-to-day travel and trade in advance of these events,” said van Dongen. “Expanding the enhanced driver’s
licence program is one of several key recommendations to make the border more
efficient for trade and tourism and more effective at keeping our countries
safe.”
More than 500 B.C. enhanced driver’s licences (EDL) are now in use for
Canada-U.S. land and sea border crossings under the first phase of the EDL
program.
“Our government is committed to smart and
secure borders,” said the Hon. Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, who
will deliver a keynote address at the PNWER summit. “That is why today I am encouraged by the
ongoing collaboration between the various partners involved in the Pacific
Northwest Economic Region and their efforts to streamline cross-border travel
and trade, under the new Border Charter.
The new PNWER Border Charter calls on the two federal governments to
ensure a convenient and welcoming border crossing experience for travellers and
the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, reduce congestion and streamline
flows of legitimate trade and travel, and improve outreach and expansion of
frequent border crossing programs.
“The border is the first experience travellers have of a country, and
the more we can do to make this experience positive for them, the more likely
we are as a region to encourage travel and see long-term benefits from major
events the Pacific northwest will host through 2010 and beyond,” said Stephen
Regan, president and CEO of the Council of Tourism Associations (COTA).
Other major recommendations in the PNWER border charter include:
· reduce congestion and streamline flows of legitimate trade and travel, including increased staffing levels and traffic capacity, more use of technology for pre-clearance and processing prior to physical arrival at the border and improved signage directing traffic towards less congested border crossings and lanes, and improved procedures for frequent business travellers;
· increase outreach and expansion of frequent border crossing programs to improve security by focusing resources on higher-risk traffic through increased use of Nexus cards, designated flexible lanes, and improved public communication on document requirements in partnership with the tourism industry, border communities and regional organizations.
The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER), with its network of
private and government officials, is a best practice in organized regional
cross-border cooperation. PNWER has 17 different working groups and members who
include premiers, governors, legislators, private sector leaders, industry
associations, counties, and economic development commissions.
The 18th PNWER annual summit in
-30-
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Jamie Edwardson Communications Manager Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat 250 888-0021 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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