NEXUS Expansion will Enhance Passenger Facilitation at Airports

Tuesday, May 2, 2006 -

NEXUS Expansion will Enhance
Passenger Facilitation at Airports

OTTAWA – May 2, 2006 - The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) today welcomed the federal government’s announced $25 million expansion plan of the NEXUS air program – an important development for the secure facilitation of U.S. trans-border travel and trade by air.

“With rising passenger volumes at Canadian airports, smart technologies and risk-based approaches to security, such as the NEXUS program, are some of the most effective ways to maintain secure borders without stifling trans-border trade with the U.S.,” said CAC President and CEO Jim Facette. He also said, “we look forward to working with the CBSA to coordinate an effective marketing and communications campaign to promote the NEXUS air program to Canadian travellers.”

Tested in Vancouver successfully since 2004 cooperatively between Canada and the U.S., NEXUS Air simplifies and expedites air border crossing for pre-approved, low-risk cross-border travellers. The CAC has encouraged expansion of the program as a way to improve the facilitation of trans-border passengers by allowing border officials to concentrate on passengers who represent the greatest risk.

While applauding the expansion of NEXUS Air, the CAC also cautioned the federal government not to forget other Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) budgetary constraints that are limiting air service and economic growth for many Canadian airports and the communities they serve.  The CAC contends that CBSA must be properly funded so that airports do not have to continue to pay for CBSA services.

“The provision of border services at Canadian airports essentially has not changed in 20 years – despite increased trade due to NAFTA and other free trade agreements,” said Mr. Facette.  “Constraints on CBSA service expansion and the requirement for some smaller communities to pay for CBSA services, put an inappropriate limit on the ability of Canadian communities to offer international air service, and accordingly, to take full advantage of the opportunities in the global economy.” 

In addition, the CAC also is pleased to see the following initiatives in the budget:

• $133 million over two years ($45 million in ‘06-‘07 and $87 million in ‘07-‘08) to assist the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) in coping with increasing passenger flows and related operating pressures.
• Canada/U.S. harmonization of security regulations for all cargo in all modes of transportation in order to facilitate trade and enhance security.
• $26 million over two years for the design and pilot testing of an air cargo security initiative covering both security throughout the supply chain as well as the evaluation of screening technologies.
• $1 billion over five year to further improve Canada’s pandemic preparedness – $600 million is to be allocated to departments and agencies and $400 million is to be set aside as a contingency (latter money will be used to enhance Canada’s preparedness if an elevated pandemic risk were to occur).
• $12 million for pandemic business resumption planning

View budget summary from the CAC.

About the Canadian Airports Council

The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) is the voice for Canada’s airports.  Its 45 members encompass more than 150 airports, including all of the National Airports System (NAS) airports and most significant municipal airports in every province and territory. Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation’s air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95% of domestic passenger traffic.  They create well in excess of $30 billion in economic activity in the communities they serve.  And more than 150,000 jobs are directly associated with CAC member airports, generating a payroll of more than $8 billion annually.