No More Delays - Chamber's Response to the DRIC Border Announcement (Media Release August 17,  2007)

Ontario Border Improvements
The Windsor Gateway

Project No. 5: Walker Road-CPR Grade Separation

The CPR mainline crossing on Walker Road south of Grand Marais Road East causes major traffic delays on Walker Road. The implementation of the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS) border screening system has created further delays as border-bound trains slow significantly so that their contents can be scanned. Separating the road from the rail line through a new road-CPR grade separation (rail bridge above Walker Road) will result in fewer traffic delays and improve traffic flow on this major north-south traffic artery in the city.

Current Project Status:

Next Steps:

From the Let's Get Windsor Essex Moving 

Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) Update (February 23, 2007)

Federal Government Announces Major Funding for the Canada-U.S. Border 

On January 12, 2007, the federal government announced an investment of $431.6M over five years to reinforce smart, secure borders. This funding will allow three key initiatives under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) — eManifest, Business Resumption and Partners in Protection – to move forward. 

• The $396M investment for eManifest will provide the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) with electronic data that allows for 100 percent automated risk assessment before shipments reach the border. Highway and rail carriers will be required to submit electronically and prearrival all cargo, crew and conveyance information.

• An investment of $24M will allow the CBSA to further harmonize and strengthen its business resumption planning with the United States so that trade keeps moving across the border in the event of an emergency. CBSA will continue to work with its partners, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, to conduct exercises and develop protocols to ensure it has an appropriate coordinated response that would minimize the impact on business in the event of an

incident at the border. The Canadian Chamber has been worked closely with CBSA in developing the appropriate protocols to facilitation the resumption of activities at the

Canada/U.S. border in the event of a border disruption.

• Finally, border security will be further enhanced with an investment of $11.6M to strengthen the Partners in Protection (PIP) program. PIP is an initiative that enlists the cooperation of private industry and is designed to enhance border security by combating organized crime and terrorism, and helping to detect and prevent contraband smuggling. The PIP program will expand to maximize benefits for members and become harmonized with a similar program in the United States called the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).

For more information, visit: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

September 28, 2006

Donna Cansfield, Ontario Minister of Transportation addressed the Chamber's Annual Transportation Luncheon. Read her speech pdf.

CHAMBER RELEASES BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY PRINCIPLES 

April 24, 2006 - The Windsor & District Chamber of Commerce has released a Border policy statement, confirming its commitment to see a viable solution to the long-standing infrastructure problems at the Windsor-Detroit Border Crossing.  Included in the policy statement are the Chamber’s guiding performance principles for all current and future border proposals. For more information click on the links bellow or call the Chamber at 966-3696 ext.28.

Media Release (April 24, 2006)

Detroit River International Crossing – Principles

Response to The Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC)

Previous Border Policy Statements

Joint Detroit-Windsor Border Policy (October 24, 2005)

Transportation Policy Statement (April 2005)

Business Transportation Task Force (September 18, 2002)

Transportation Policy Statement (April 2005)

Chamber's Border Management Policy Update (April 2005)

The Chamber has made changes to its Transportation Policy Statement to Include the Schwartz Report findings as the cornerstone of its current Border Policy. The current changes affect only the section of the Policy dealing with Border issues and Management. Click Here for the updated Border Management Section. For the entire click on the following link: 

Transportation Policy Statement (April 2005)

Fall 2005

Chambers Joint Detroit-Windsor Border Policy Statement (Fall 2005)

For more information, e-mail Igor Siljanoski at: isiljanoski@windsorchamber.org

Chambers of Commerce Support Schwartz Report (January 28, 2005)