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The Ambassador Bridge at the Windsor-Detroit inetrnational crossing is pictured on from Windsor, Ont., on Nov., 26, 2010. (Brent Foster / THE CANADIAN PRESS) Ambassador Bridge

New U.S.-Canada border plan raises privacy concerns

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CTV National News: Canada, U.S. reach deal
CTV has new details about the Canada-U.S. perimeter security deal that's supposed to make cross-border travel more efficient. CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reports.

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The Ambassador Bridge at the Windsor-Detroit inetrnational crossing is pictured on from Windsor, Ont., on Nov., 26, 2010. (Brent Foster / THE CANADIAN PRESS) Ambassador Bridge

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The Ambassador Bridge at the Windsor-Detroit inetrnational crossing is pictured on from Windsor, Ont., on Nov., 26, 2010. (Brent Foster / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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It is about time we had a system that showed who was coming into our country and what they were doing while they were here and when they left......if they left.

Ann

New U.S.-Canada border plan raises privacy concerns

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New U.S.-Canada border plan raises privacy concerns

Date: Mon. Nov. 28 2011 10:57 PM ET

Canada's new border action plan will feature a new entry-exit control system that will allow the United States to track everyone coming and leaving Canada by air, land and sea, CTV News has confirmed.

The new, 32-point border action plan will be signed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama when the pair meet at the White House in Washington next week.

But despite concerns about privacy stemming from personal information that will be shared with American authorities, the federal government insists there is little to worry about.

"When I go to the United States today, you have to provide your home, your birth date, your passport information, your travel information," said Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. "Whenever we look at security, we keep in mind privacy concerns are tremendously important to Canadians, and that's something we feel very strongly about."

But the office of the privacy commissioner has already pointed out that that the federal government has yet to share any details of the new border rules.

In past public comments, Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has made it clear that Canadian sovereignty and privacy rights must be protected.

"Rather than jumping into a newly defined relationship with both feet, we should only do so with both eyes wide open," Stoddart wrote on her blog recently.

In exchange for more information about travelers crossing the border from Canada, Washington has responded to a chief Canadian gripe about cross-border traffic: gridlock.

Along with security, parts of the new border plan will focus on trade, including pre-screening stations set up on Canadian territory, meaning less congestion at the actual border crossing.

‘The problem today is that we have bottlenecks at the border," said Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. "You have low-risk cargo, low-risk passengers crossing the border at the same time as high-risk."

Beatty said that the new plan will allow Canada and the U.S. to focus resources where it's needed the most.

Under the terms of the new deal, the U.S. will move to cut down on traffic at border crossings and allow pre-screenings on certain low-risk cargo trucks. IN an effort to speed the process, U.S. officials will only flag suspicious vehicles at the border rather than doing full inspections that hold up other passengers and cargo.

According to Birgit Matthiesen, from the trade association Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, doing so will be good for the bottom line in both countries.

But the 32-point plan also features more than just new border-crossing protocols.

In fact, both nations plan to streamline and harmonize regulations in the automotive and food sectors.

According to Beatty, the new rules are the result of the integrated nature of the continental economy.

In particular, Ottawa has already quietly prepared regulations to adopt U.S. crash-testing standards for seat belts and built-in child booster seats.

According to Matthiesen, the harmonized regulations will ensure that business is better integrated on both sides of the border.

"It will save both Canadian companies, and their U.S. buyers in a highly integrated supply chain, millions of dollars," she said.

Some features of the "beyond the border" plan could be in place within months. Others, including the exit-entry scheme, will take longer to implement, CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Monday.

Prepared with a report from CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife

Comments are now closed for this story

Matt in NB
said

If they truly believe that this agreement has our best intrests at heart and that it is not a privacy violation then why not share with us what it is before you sign it. There is only one reason they would be tring to keep behind closed doors. Because it simply is not!!!


kjs
said

I'm not totally clear on this. Does this mean the U.S. government will be given information on everyone entering or leaving Canada, no matter their origin or destination, or just those traveling to or from the U.S.? Does the Canadian government also get this information from the U.S. or is this a one sided exchange?


papers please
said

Be warned Harper now has you giving your personal information to the Orwellian American "Homeland Security" every time you enter America.Cross boarder shoppers willing to surrender their sovereignty for a few pennies?This is 1984 playing out in real time with policies that remind one of what you went through when you entered the old Soviet Union or Europe under Hitler when "show me your papers" was in fashion.Have not stepped foot in America since the crazies took over after 911.Choose other regions to get some winter sun.To my pleasant surprise they are more enjoyable and cheaper anyway.Give your wallet and personal dignity a gift by boycotting the paranoid fools.Their loss not ours!


Trevor
said

The only people whose privacy will be compromised by this will be the super elite like South Carolina Governor Sanford, who say they're going one place, but are actually jaunting off to South America to cheat on their wives. Ordinary people have nothing to fear from this.


Sober
said

Privacy is an illusion.


Dennis L. Krahn
said

worse than I imagined: You are a dumpster diver; (not even a very intelligent one) if you took the time and spent the money you would find that there is no difference between a US restaurant and a Canadian restaurant that have been equally graded. The average American is no different than we are, he or she or in pairs, are trying to survive high taxes, wasteful government spending and hoping that they don't their ass blown off by some nut bar. For those of you who never travel to the US, how are you able to denigrate the country and its citizens?


Katie
said

Its about time we establish a North American security perrimiter. I've been traveling Europe for years moving freely from country to country without all of the stupid hassel that we have at the American/Canadian border. The United States is a wonderful country in which I also feel very much at home. For all of you who hate the U.S. well than you can just stay at home in front of your televisions.


TEA from Sask
said

Yet many of the same people will tell you the government should not destroy firearm registration records...


Happy Canadian
said

Privacy is important. Security is important. Trade is important. Balancing all these important items is important.I travel a lot, and to many parts of the world. Exit and entry visas and inspections, personal data, questions, are all the norm even through Commonwealth countries.I have worked in the US for both Canadian and US companies, which required some very significant security clearances.Canada's open border with the US is really quite nice. Access is usually quick, and the the vast majority of Immigration and Customs people are professional and pleasant, I have more beef with Canadian counterparts than the US ones.In this day and age, if you want to travel you will have to provide personal data to do so. The data being transferred is all Name/Date/Address type stuff in your passport, and may trigger further investigation. Same thing would happen if you got pulled over for a traffic stop and had similar information as a wanted person.Should the US have access to information on people entering and leaving Canada that are not transversing through the US? No, not really. But the cost may be a very constricted border due to US paranoia. Even Homeland Security (1984 anyone?) Janet Nepolitano and her crew still believe the 9/11 highjackers came through Canada, even though it has been proven otherwise.Truth is your going to have your privacy invaded if you want to travel and see this world. And not just by the US. If you're not willing to do so, don't travel then. Your loss.


Business travel trumps shopping trips
said

I used to travel for the company I worked for and crossing the border, especially by road, was always a headache. This move will streamline trans border commerce and is a good move i.e. saves money, for companies who move people across the border. I think average people need to have an understanding greater than that provided by a few lines in a news article before they can comment. Like most things regarding privacy, legal, honest legitimate people have no concern about big brother and the police state. However, I can understand how criminals and tax evaders will have a problem with the new rules. I know of one booze smuggler who's moaning about the new rules.


Sherry
said

Those who post against the U.S. and Conservs just show that they have one mind-set - nimrod thinking. The security has always been there - every time you use your passport, drivers license etc. We need to know who's going where - most of those with terrorist ideas have used Canada to get to where they want, many of them live here in Canada - protected by our "privacy" laws. To allow the wrong people to live here and move freely is just stupid-we need to finally gain control over our country before it's too late. This hate mongering and crying about our privacy just makes the bad guys laugh - we help them to control fear and terror - and they don't have to do anything - just let people post the garbage they do! Would you rather they caught the bad guys BEFORE they do something - or AFTER your family dies???Blame the extremists for the loss of certain freedoms we always had - they are the real bad guys - otherwise you wouldn't have the freedom to post all that you do!


davew
said

From numerous news stories I have read, one of the biggest issues is the US having out of date information.


fernandpare
said

If you have nothing to hide then what is the big problem?? All law abiding persons should welcome this..............


Worse than I imagined
said

Before these dictators giveaway our right to privacy to the United terrorist States. I would demand to know exactly what they are giving away. I am also sickened to hear this agreement will also lower our food standards to the inedible garbage they sell south of the border. Curse you people that voted for this madness!


jenn from ottawa
said

Does it work both ways, and says who is coming in and out of Canada?


J. David Scott
said

Harpo is simply handing Canada to the U.S. piecemeal.Harpo once boasted that when he was done, you wouldn't recognize Canada. It's apparent now that he didn't mean that in a good way.


joe canada
said

Don't care, I have not been to the states in decades and have no intentions of ever going back. It is a horrible country. I just wish they were not our neighbour.


SG
said

This kind of heightened security regime is the principal reason why I never, and I mean never, travel in the U.S. I refuse to trade my fundamental human right to privacy for security that borders on outright paranoia.


Ann
said

It is about time we had a system that showed who was coming into our country and what they were doing while they were here and when they left......if they left.


p3000g
said

Welcome to the United States of Canada


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