Resolution: Issues and Opportunities at the U.S.-Canada Border
Adopted on May 7, 2002

Whereas, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River form much of the boundary between the Great Lakes states and Canada; and

Whereas, cross border travel by private and commercial motor vehicles is available at only 30 locations in the Great Lakes states, three of which are vehicle ferries; and

Whereas, such vehicle traffic is concentrated at a few locations so that about half of the appropximate 60 million crossings annually occur at two bridges and a tunnel in eastern Michigan and a bridge in western New York; and

Whereas, the purposes of cross border vehicle travel are varied including the movement of vast volumes of commercial cargo, job commuting, retail shopping and a wide range of leisure travel; and

Whereas, in 2000 U.S. Great Lake state visitors to Canada made 6.5 million trips spending $1.7 billion (U.S.) and Canadian visitors to the top five Great Lakes states accounted for 5.2 million trips spending $1.4 billion (CA); and

Whereas, the Great Lakes states account for about half of all U.S.-Canada trade and 43 percent of all visitors to Canada (2000) and Canadian visitors to the top five Great Lakes states account for 35 percent of all Canadian visitors to the U.S.; and

Whereas, trade between the U.S. and Canada is growing, partly in response to trade initiatives such as NAFTA, and inadequate border crossing infrastructure coupled with time consuming border control and inspection processes threaten just-in-time inventory and distribution systems for manufacturers and otherwise burden cross border travel; and

Whereas, the terrorism events of September 11, 2001 and subsequent concerns about the integrity and efficiency of the border control and inspection services require priority attention by the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission commends the U.S. and Canada governments for addressing border issues through the December 12, 2001 Smart Border Declaration with its 30 point action plan, and urges both governments to give high priority to its implementation; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Commission also commends the U.S. and Canadian governments for working with high volume trade/border traffic businesses to expedite commercial vehicle border passage through such means as the Customs Self Assessment Program and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.

Unanimously adopted by the Great Lakes Commission at its Semiannual Meeting, May 7, 2002 in Québec City, Québec.