Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Long-Awaited Canada Border Bill Moves Ahead In U.S. Congress

The Canadian Press, 08 Dec, 2016 01:04 PM
    WASHINGTON — A bill to simplify crossing the Canadian-U.S. border moved ahead in the American Congress on Wednesday, with little time left to get it passed before lawmakers break to form a post-election legislature in the New Year.
     
    It's a long-awaited development.
     
    The Harper and Trudeau governments both signed so-called preclearance deals with the Obama administration, but the arrangement required implementing legislation and U.S. lawmakers have not made it a priority.
     
    The bill finally got some attention Wednesday evening. It sailed through the House of Representatives without objection. Lawmakers there urged the Senate to adopt it quickly, and make it law before breaking next week for the holidays.
     
    Lawmakers from different parties and different parts of the U.S. spoke in favour of the bill, before moving it forward.
     
    "(This) is great news for U.S.-Canadian relations," said New York Republican Elise Stefanik.
     
    "Canada is more than just a bordering nation. They are our neighbours, our friends and our largest trading partner. Plattsburgh, a city in my district, has even branded itself as Montreal's U.S. suburb."
     
     
    The plan stems from the oft-stated goal of policy-makers to achieve two goals: Simplify movement to avoid the border snarls that have frustrated commerce and travellers since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, while also maintaining security.
     
    It involves a pilot project to test a new way of crossing the border by getting people screened before the actual international boundary — better known as pre-clearance. Many Canadians are already familiar with the system because it exists at major airports, where they clear U.S. customs at home and avoid potentially longer lines after they land.
     
    Now it could be extended to trains, buses and potentially someday even cars on highways. The first pilot projects will occur at train stations in Vancouver and Montreal. They would only begin once implementation bills become law in both countries.
     
    The U.S. legislation makes clear American customs agents accused of committing crimes on the job would be prosecuted in U.S. courts. A Texas Democrat, Sheila Jackson Lee, said the bill offered multiple benefits — safer screening of visitors before they reach the U.S., cheaper processing costs and faster travel.
     
    "That's a very, very important aspect of this legislation," she said of quicker travel.
     
    The Canadian version has already been introduced and is expected to pass, given that both the current and previous majority governing parties, the Conservatives and Liberals, both supported the plan. 
     
    More recently, the Canadian government has lobbied to have pre-clearance adopted by the current Congress.
     
    A Canadian-U.S. business group saluted Wednesday's development.
     
     
    "We are hopeful that this common-sense, bipartisan, bicameral effort will bear fruit before the end of this congressional session," said Maryscott Greenwood of the Canadian American Business Council. 
     
    "It's a long time coming, but well worth the effort in terms of efficiency along the most productive border crossing in the world."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    All-Gender Washrooms In Schools Raises Question: Who Cares Where You Pee?

    All-Gender Washrooms In Schools Raises Question: Who Cares Where You Pee?
    REGINA — The small picture of a black toilet on a white background above the word "washroom" has become a big sign of inclusion for a rural school district in Saskatchewan.

    All-Gender Washrooms In Schools Raises Question: Who Cares Where You Pee?

    Man Faces 8 Charges In 7-Vehicle, 1-Building Collision In Port Colborne, Ont.

    Man Faces 8 Charges In 7-Vehicle, 1-Building Collision In Port Colborne, Ont.
    PORT COLBORNE, Ont. — Police say a 51-year-old man is facing eight charges following a series of collisions in Port Colborne, Ont., that involved seven vehicles and a building, and sent two people to hospital.

    Man Faces 8 Charges In 7-Vehicle, 1-Building Collision In Port Colborne, Ont.

    Police Warn P.E.I. Drivers To Stop Being So Nice After Series Of Accidents

    Police Warn P.E.I. Drivers To Stop Being So Nice After Series Of Accidents
    CHARLOTTETOWN — Police in Prince Edward Island are warning drivers to stop being so nice to each other, after a number of accidents caused by motorists trying to be kind.

    Police Warn P.E.I. Drivers To Stop Being So Nice After Series Of Accidents

    RCMP Agent Goes Over Sting Operation Against Quebecer Facing Terror Charge

    RCMP Agent Goes Over Sting Operation Against Quebecer Facing Terror Charge
    MONTREAL — A Quebec man on trial on a terrorism-related charge was the subject of an elaborate sting operation by the RCMP.

    RCMP Agent Goes Over Sting Operation Against Quebecer Facing Terror Charge

    Proposed Changes To Statcan Designed To End Political Interference: Navdeep Bains

    Proposed Changes To Statcan Designed To End Political Interference: Navdeep Bains
    OTTAWA — The federal Liberals are moving on their promise to build a political firewall around Statistics Canada, but the fine print of the proposed legislative changes would maintain the government's power to tell the agency how to do its job. 

    Proposed Changes To Statcan Designed To End Political Interference: Navdeep Bains

    Trial Hears Sect Followers Could Foresee Girls Moved To U.S. For Sexual Purpose

    Trial Hears Sect Followers Could Foresee Girls Moved To U.S. For Sexual Purpose
    Peter Wilson delivered closing arguments at the B.C. Supreme Court trial for Brandon Blackmore, Gail Blackmore and James Oler, who are charged with removing girls from Canada for a sexual purpose.

    Trial Hears Sect Followers Could Foresee Girls Moved To U.S. For Sexual Purpose