The Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) announced plans to launch a preclearance operation sometime this year at the Cannon Corners port of entry in New York, which is adjacent to the Covey Hill port of entry near Hemmingford.
The two-year initiative, which was unveiled in a January 2 press release, will see the creation of a shared facility where CBSA officers will work at the Cannon Corners port or entry to process travellers entering Canada. The Covey Hill port of entry will be closed to travellers for this duration.
Officers will examine travellers and goods at the preclearance site as they normally would at a Canadian port of entry, where screening takes place for dangerous goods like firearms or drugs.
Officers will also be able to conduct most types of immigration processing; however, refugee protection claims can only be processed at a Canadian port of entry.
The federal minister of Public Safety, David McGuinty, referred to the announcement as evidence of a shared commitment with the United States to bolstering border security and streamlining the flow of legitimate trade and travel between the two countries.
“Preclearance is yet another example of how Canada and the United States work together every day to intercept security threats early, while delivering large-scale economic benefits for Canadians and Americans,” commented McGuinty.
The United States currently runs preclearance operations at eight Canadian airports, including Trudeau International in Montreal, MacDonald-Cartier International in Ottawa, and Pearson International in Toronto.
The CBSA has yet to confirm a launch date for the preclearance operation. (SR)