As I have periodically reminded constituents of Vegreville-Wainwright over the past 12 months or more, the United States’ new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is now in place. As of June 1st, U.S. legislation requires full documentation when travelling across the border.

In anticipation of this, and the expected increased demand for Canadian passports, our Conservative government has taken many steps to make the process as quick and easy as possible.

We have simplified the requirements for renewing passports, changed the regulations regarding guarantors, and have opened a total of 200 new Service Canada passport Receiving Agent sites.

I urge constituents who may be travelling to, or through, the United States in the future to apply for their passports as early as possible.

We have implemented further provisions aimed at helping frequent travelers.

Free and secure trade program (FAST)

FAST is a commercial clearance program that helps ensure safety and security while expediting legitimate trade across the Canada–U.S. border.

A joint initiative between the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it enhances border and trade chain security while making cross-border commercial shipments simpler and subject to fewer delays.

It is a voluntary program that allows the CBSA to work closely with the private sector to enhance border security, combat organized crime and terrorism, and prevent contraband smuggling. And, under the U.S. WHTI, FAST members who are Canadian or U.S. citizens can use their FAST membership card as an alternative document to the passport when entering the United States by land or water. Permanent residents of Canada or the United States will still require a passport and visa (if applicable) to enter the United States.
 
As a FAST member,

• you can use dedicated lanes (where available) for faster and more efficient border clearance;
• you benefit from a streamlined process that reduces delivery times and landed costs of imports;
• you don’t need to transmit transactional data for every transaction;
• you need minimal documentation to clear the border;
• you have increased certainty at the border, which results in fewer delays;
• you have a unified, ongoing partnership with the CBSA;
• you are helping to promote Canadian competitiveness; and
• you are helping to advance voluntary compliance and self-assessment.
  

There are some specific requirements to be eligible for this program. Commercial drivers, carriers and importers can find out if they are eligible for FAST and how to apply by calling 1-800-842-7647 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time), by visiting the nearest FAST enrolment centre or by visiting the CBSA’s website at www.cbsa.gc.ca

NEXUS

NEXUS is a joint initiative of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  It is designed to expedite the border clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk NEXUS members travelling between Canada and the United States. This allows both countries to focus their efforts on unknown and potentially higher-risk travellers and goods. NEXUS members are subject to the same rigorous security standards as all travellers.

NEXUS members can now enjoy the benefits of simplified border crossings whether they are travelling by airplane, car or boat.

• Save time crossing the border by using automated NEXUS self-serve kiosks at designated international airports;
• Enjoy a simplified entry process by using designated NEXUS lanes at the land border;
• Ensure smooth sailing by reporting to border officers by phone in advance of your arrival in your recreational boat; and
• Use the NEXUS card as an alternative document to the passport under the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative when travelling to the U.S. in the land and marine modes and in the air mode when used at participating airports.
  

You may qualify to participate in NEXUS if you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the United States and have continuously lived in Canada and/or the United States for the last three years. There are some stipulations which must be met, but the benefits for frequent travelers are significant. For more information, visit the NEXUS Web site at www.nexus.gc.ca or call 1-866-NEXUS-26 (1-866-639-8726).

REDUCTION IN BORDER RED TAPE FOR BUSINESSES

As another initiative to assist Canadian businesses, our Conservative government is committed to managing our border in a way that strengthens security while supporting jobs, trade and economic growth. Through the Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative (PBRI), the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has eliminated over 1600 requirements imposed on businesses.

These reductions eliminate obsolete, non-essential administrative demands, making the CBSA commercial process easier for Canadian businesses to understand. Obviously, the less time entrepreneurs spend on red tape, the more time they have to grow their businesses, and this is good for the local and national economies.

The CBSA has formed a Working Group, co-chaired by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, to work with private-sector partners to continue reducing the paperwork burden on Canadian businesses. 

CONCLUSION
This Conservative government is working to ensure that Canadians are not negatively impacted by changes implemented outside our borders. We want to keep trade and travelers moving as freely as possible while ensuring security concerns are addressed.