Canada Announces Remote Traveller Processing Pilot Project to Extend Service Hours at Piney, Manitoba Port of Entry

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - May 24, 2013) - The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, announced today that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will proceed with a remote traveller processing pilot at Piney, Manitoba, in April 2015. This pilot project is part of the Small and Remote Ports of Entry Initiative, one of the deliverables under the Beyond the Border Action Plan.

The objectives of the pilot are to test the viability and potential benefits of expanding remote traveller processing at select small and remote ports of entry as a way to increase efficiency, while maintaining border integrity and access to needed border services.

"Our government remains committed to keeping our shared border efficient, while addressing risks at the earliest possible opportunity," said Minister Toews. "This pilot site will maintain high security standards while improving access to after-hours border services for legitimate travellers between Canada and the United States."

The pilot at Piney, Manitoba is a registered-user approach that will use technology to process travellers remotely. The CBSA will conduct pre-screening verification on those interested in participating, at no cost to the applicants. This approach will enable the CBSA to assess a registered-user approach as a means to reducing the risk of inadmissible or high-risk travellers using the port of entry. Applicants must be Canadian or American citizens, Canadian permanent residents, or lawful permanent residents of the United States. Only those who meet the assessment criteria will be permitted to participate in this pilot.

During the pilot, travellers arriving at the port of entry after hours will be processed by a border services officer located at a remote processing centre through a two-way audio and one-way video kiosk. Cameras will be installed to provide the officer with the ability to see the traveller and the vehicle. No changes will occur during regular business hours and travellers will be processed according to normal procedures.

The Piney, Manitoba port of entry was chosen as a pilot site due to the low volume of commercial traffic and low traveller volumes processed on a daily basis. Further, the layout of the port of entry is such that remote technology could be installed to provide the required security measures. This is one of two pilot projects, with the other at the port of entry at Morses Line, Quebec.

The CBSA will continue to enforce Canadian laws and perform its role in interdicting Criminal Code offences in the remote traveller processing environment. Law enforcement partners are supportive of the pilot and will continue to work with the CBSA as required.

On February 4, 2011, Prime Minister Harper and President Obama released the Beyond the Border Declaration, articulating a shared vision in which our countries work together to address threats at the earliest point possible while facilitating the legitimate movement of people and goods and services across our shared border. The Beyond the Border Action Plan, released in December 2011, outlines the specific steps our countries intend to take to achieve the security and economic competitiveness goals outlined in the Declaration.

For more information on the Beyond the Border Action Plan, please visit the Web site at www.actionplan.gc.ca/border.

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