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Beyond the Border:A Shared Vision for Perimeter

Security and Economic Competitiveness

CSG-ERCCanada-U.S. Relations CommitteeAugust 7, 2011

Canada-U.S. Relations• World’s largest bilateral economic relationship

– Bilateral trade in 2010: over $500 billion– Approximately $1.5 billion every day– Over $1 million per minute

• Mutual foreign direct investment is over $250 billion annually

• 8 million U.S. jobs depend on trade with Canada• Canada is the U.S.’s largest export market• Exports to the U.S. support one in seven jobs in

Canada

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Canada-U.S. Border

• Longest non-militarized border in the world (8,891 km - 5,525 miles)

• Almost 400,000 people cross the border every day at 119 land border crossings

• Canada-U.S. trade is highly integrated– Vehicle can cross the border 5 times during

assembly

• Strong partnerships to keep the border secure

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Working Together

• It is in both countries’ interests to ensure that our shared border remains open and efficient

• We also must work together to ensure that it remains secure

• We need to find new ways to exclude terrorists and criminals who pose a threat to our peoples.

• We also need to find ways to eliminate regulatory barriers to cross-border trade and travel

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Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for

Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness

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Beyond the Border• Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S.

President Barack Obama issue joint declaration on a Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness, February 4, 2011

• Key commitment: Joint Action Plan with specific initiatives to address the areas of work identified in the Declaration

• Action Plan is being developed by a Beyond the Border Working Group, established under the Declaration

Working Group• Led by a senior official from each country.

• Includes representatives from relevant departments and agencies of the respective federal governments

• Leads are responsible for ensuring inter-agency coordination and consultation

• Canadian lead supported by secretariat at Industry Canada, drawn from various departments

• U.S. lead named from White House National Security Council

• Declaration included a commitment for the Beyond the Border Working Group report to Leaders with an Action Plan

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Action Plan

• Canada and the U.S. share responsibility for the safety, security, and prosperity of our countries in an increasingly integrated global economy and complex threat environment

• Goal is not to replace or eliminate the border, but to streamline border operations

• Aligning resources effectively at the border can help expedite trade, ultimately leading to economic growth and job creation

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Key areas of cooperation

• Addressing threats early– Quicker, more effective responses– Improved intelligence and information gathering, joint threat

assessments

• Trade facilitation, economic growth and jobs– Solutions to manage the flow of cross-border traffic– Investment in modern infrastructure and technology at busiest

ports

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Key areas of cooperation • Integrated cross-border law enforcement

– Develop next generation of integrated cross-border law enforcement building on existing bilateral law enforcement programs

– Expand programs to cross-designate officers to jointly identify and interdict transnational crime (Canada-U.S. Shiprider)

– Improve information sharing practices to allow law enforcement agencies to better identify serious offenders

• Critical infrastructure and cyber-security– Prevent physical and cyber disruptions of critical infrastructure– Enhance security of our integrated transportation and

communications networks

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Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC)• Announced at the February 4th meeting of the Prime

Minister and the President

• Aimed at reducing red tape by making regulations in a range of sectors more compatible and less burdensome in both countries

• Related process but separate initiative from the BBWG, with its own time-frame, agenda and consultation process

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Recent Developments• Canadian Public Safety Minister Toews and U.S.

Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano met on June 17

• Regulatory Cooperation Council held its first meeting in Washington, D.C. in June

• Action Plan expected to be announced later this year• Resolution supporting the Shared Vision was adopted

at the 35th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in July

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Consultations

• Consulting with stakeholders a critical part of developing the Action Plan

• Public consultations held in Canada from March 13 until June 3

• Public report on consultations will be released later this year

• U.S. Government undertaking similar consultations

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Implications for New England and Eastern Canada

• Efficient movement of legitimate goods and travellers is vital to both countries’ economies as they recover– Canada-New England trade: $29.6 billion in 2010– In 2010, over 550,000 trucks crossed the N.E.-Canada border– Over 400,000 jobs in New England depend on Canada-U.S. trade

• Many communities, businesses and families in New England and Eastern Canada rely on an efficient and secure border– In 2010, over 7.8 million people crossed the N.E.-Canada border– Collaborative approach will keep them safe and prosperous

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Questions/Comments?

More Info:

www.borderactionplan.gc.ca

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